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Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
#2676397
10/19/11 06:38 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 848
Ryan F.
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 848 |
Shot my first doe last year on a friend of mine's place. (dad never did hunt, fishing is his thing) This year my uncle said I could go and hunt mule deer on his 1000 acre farm. He says he has seen some monster mulies around. It's in Gaines county. Problem is, I don't know how to go about it. He doesn't have a feeder set up or anything like that. Apparently, they just roll through every couple of days and feed on his crops. He has wheat, peanuts and cotton. Its mostly just farmland.
So my question is, how should I go about it? Buy a pop up blind and camp out a couple of days? Mule deer season is only one week long in Gaines county and I really want to bag my first buck.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Ryan F.]
#2676442
10/19/11 06:57 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 185
SemperFiHunter
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 185 |
Ask your uncle where he sees them. If it's his farm, he should know what areas/crops they are frequenting.
Go out a few days early and do some scouting from vantage points using binos. But I would stay out of their areas until time to hunt, if possible.
If you can determine their bedding areas and feeding areas during your scouting, or your uncle can give you this info, you may be able to ambush one travelling between the two. Just pay attention to the wind.
Good Luck, and post some pics when you get back.
SFH
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: SemperFiHunter]
#2676495
10/19/11 07:12 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Get at the best vantage point watchin the most amount of feeding area, sicne your not sure were just spot and stalk if thats possible...what the country like up there
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Navasot]
#2676592
10/19/11 07:47 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,765
jskin
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,765 |
Take me with you. You shouldn't go by yourself, too dangerous.
"While we are postponing, life speeds by"
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Navasot]
#2676596
10/19/11 07:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 20,988
BuckRage
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Mulie is gonna be more spot and stalk so like Navasotbred said find a good vantage point where you can see a lot of the places your uncle points out and get out there two or three days early and scout. Just stay put and see where they are coming from and going to and if you don't see anything move to another good vantage point. During the mid morning glass the hill sides with sun and the opposite mid afternoon and be set up on the fields during prime times.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: BuckRage]
#2676728
10/19/11 08:39 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 848
Ryan F.
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OP
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Posts: 848 |
The country is flat for the most part. Lots of mesquites and brush. Thanks for all the info. Really needed the help
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Ryan F.]
#2676755
10/19/11 08:46 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 20,988
BuckRage
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probably not as flat as you think. If there aren't hills they will be down in the dips of the terrain. If you walk it you will see what I mean. It should make it easier for you to spot them coming and going when you scout.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: BuckRage]
#2676769
10/19/11 08:49 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 195
Wacohunter36
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 195 |
I would also have to say you should take ME with you to help out.
A virtue in wildlife ethics is that the hunter has no gallery to applaud or disapprove of his conduct. Whatever his actions, they are dictated by his conscience, rather than by onlookers. It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of this fact."
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Wacohunter36]
#2676828
10/19/11 09:09 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,124
LandPirate
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Whatever you do, don't spook off the fields. Stay down wind. Sit, watch and wait. Learn what they're doing, how they're moving and then figure out an ambush point. They'll hit the fields early and late. Sneak in before daylight but don't encroach on them until you've picked one that you want to go for. In the evening get there before they do.
Just FYI, when spooked, Mulies tend to run a short distance and stop to have a second look. If you spook 'em be ready to take a shot if they stop to look.
Good luck
Last edited by LandPirate; 10/20/11 12:47 AM.
Mike Buda, Tx Hunt near Freer
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: LandPirate]
#2676869
10/19/11 09:20 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 20,988
BuckRage
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yes^^^^^^^^ mulies will run but are curious and will stop and take a second look.... big mistake
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: LandPirate]
#2676871
10/19/11 09:21 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 848
Ryan F.
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Called my uncle today. He said that they seem to be staying on the outside of clearings where the crops start. Before the rain they were coming onto the circles and drinking water from the irrigation system/eating crops. Sounds to me that it will make it quite a bit tougher. Am I right? It's still a month away and man I am getting pumped!!
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Ryan F.]
#2676968
10/19/11 10:05 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,641
DiverTexas
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,641 |
If he has any round bales of hay, ask your uncle to set one up a hundred yards or so from where he is seeing them. They work well as a make shift blind to hide yourself.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: DiverTexas]
#2676972
10/19/11 10:07 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,017
NEVAGA
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: DiverTexas]
#2677154
10/19/11 11:16 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 848
Ryan F.
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If he has any round bales of hay, ask your uncle to set one up a hundred yards or so from where he is seeing them. They work well as a make shift blind to hide yourself. That's a great idea. Don't know why I didn't think of it myself. Although he may actually have a field full of freshly cut peanut hay turned in bales by the time I go hunt it.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Ryan F.]
#2677394
10/20/11 12:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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Take a big enough caliber and shooting sticks.I like what land pirate said about not pushing them and staying downwind.That land is not completely flat,there will probably be some dips.Good binoculars are a must,and a sharp knife w/sharpener.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Ryan F.]
#2677471
10/20/11 01:01 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,659
Hopedale
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,659 |
Ryan, Are you some what computer savey? Could you get a screen shot of your Uncle's farm, and post up to the thread. You'd want to mark where your uncle sees the deer come in, and put a compas on the screen (north, south, east, west). I went to google maps, typed in Gaines county Tx. Switched to satilite view. Once I zoomed in to where I wanted, I pressed and held the Alt key on the keyboard, while pressing the Print Screen key. Open Paint Select Edit Select Paste Select File Select Save As Name file Change file type, by slecting the drop down arrow. Select file type .jpg Goto photobucket, and upload photo Post pic to thread.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Hopedale]
#2677885
10/20/11 02:59 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 834
MBrown
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 834 |
I have hunted Mule Deer in the Panhandle. It is s lot of fun, but scouting the area first is going to be key.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: MBrown]
#2677920
10/20/11 03:11 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 31
sb0808
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 31 |
I've found mule deer will sometimes lay down (like a dog) or hide behind brush instead of running off....it's funny. When this happens I toot on a varmit call to stand them back up and show their horns.
also X2 on shooting sticks and good glass. I mounted a spotting scope and a sling to an old gun stock....pretty handy and easy to steady that way when on foot.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Hopedale]
#2678110
10/20/11 04:53 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 848
Ryan F.
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 848 |
Ryan, Are you some what computer savey? Could you get a screen shot of your Uncle's farm, and post up to the thread. You'd want to mark where your uncle sees the deer come in, and put a compas on the screen (north, south, east, west). I went to google maps, typed in Gaines county Tx. Switched to satilite view. Once I zoomed in to where I wanted, I pressed and held the Alt key on the keyboard, while pressing the Print Screen key. Open Paint Select Edit Select Paste Select File Select Save As Name file Change file type, by slecting the drop down arrow. Select file type .jpg Goto photobucket, and upload photo Post pic to thread. I have a Mac, but I am sure I can find it out somehow. I will post a pic once I know exactly where the land is. I will call him tomorrow sometime. I haven't been to his place in quite a while so I don't really know where it is.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Ryan F.]
#2678141
10/20/11 05:22 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 848
Ryan F.
OP
Tracker
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 848 |
I jogged my memory for a while and I think I know where it is. If I'm not mistaken its near a draw somewhere. Not totally sure though. I will update tomorrow sometime just to make sure.
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Re: Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.
[Re: Ryan F.]
#2679102
10/20/11 05:13 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 68
SkinnyT
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 68 |
Good luck. Gaines county has some HUGE mulies.
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