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Feb 7th, 2025
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 Tx mule deer
#3534836
09/02/12 01:14 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,016
JThoele
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OP
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I have the opportunity to hunt in Dryden TX this October for archery mule deer. Only going for a weekend, but would still like to see some success. Have never hunted this area or mulies before. No clue as to what their behavior tends to be in mid October. Any rut action? Hunting out of a popup blind is the plan. Not sure if there are feeders there at this place or not. Have thought about using one of those lightweight 2d Montana decoys of a mule deer doe, but not sure that would have any positive and or negative effect. At the end of the day it's not a do or die hunt, as I am excited to share the hunt with my grandfather, but any knowledgeable information would be appreciated.
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: JThoele]
#3534854
09/02/12 01:26 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 823
westexhunter
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 823 |
Hunted down there last october, no rut activity for sure, saw a ton of deer, our feeders where in place and had ground blinds in place, so i dont know about decoying or popups.. but you will see alot of deer/javi's fun trip
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: westexhunter]
#3534867
09/02/12 01:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 14,185
NDN98
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Mid-October is well before the mule deer rut in Texas. The rut generally hits after the season is over.
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: NDN98]
#3534874
09/02/12 01:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 262
Farmhand
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 262 |
I would set up around water holes.
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: Farmhand]
#3534923
09/02/12 02:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,718
safdm44
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water holes and do not leave...stay in one spot.. I did this on an archery hunt on public land I saw less deer while sitting over water.. but the two biggest bucks that came within distance to shoot were over water a six and eight.. my dad killed the eight.. 
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: safdm44]
#3535060
09/02/12 03:24 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,116
Ranch Dog
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Dryden is just about as "East" as it gets. So with the close access and land fragmentation (small places) receives quite a bit of hunting pressure. I agree, remote water over feeders and stay put. Not much cover and mule deer excel at catching small movement over the large distances.
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: Ranch Dog]
#3535241
09/02/12 05:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,715
grout-scout
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Hey Ranch Dog, I have been seeing Mulies as far east as between Langtry & Comstock, so they are spreading out. But other than that every thing posted above is pretty much spot on. No rut, going to be a very challenging hunt and the most likely thing you will see is a javi.
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: grout-scout]
#3535368
09/02/12 06:09 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Do not try to hunt mule deer like you would whitetail. They will utilize more open terrain than you would think. I have pulled up on water troughs and seen deer at them. Put up a camera and not get a pic of deer for two days. They do not go to water everyday except in extremely cold days or extremely hot times. From what we have seen in western Pecos County the does go about every other day, with bucks going every 3-5 days to water. They come in one trail and go out another. We find most mule deer about 3/4 mile from water when bedded. They will feed in that area and then feed to water when they need to drink. They will bed in the open areas and will use greasewood or mesquites for shade in flat areas. IMO they do these things due to predation. Find the feed and you can stalk the deer. Find them from a distance first and watch them be then take you time and stalk in on them.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people? ![[Linked Image]](http://neoswarm.com/images/Bug_Crawling.gif)
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: Farmhand]
#3535376
09/02/12 06:14 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 687
Hunter_812
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 687 |
I would set up around water holes.
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: stxranchman]
#3536983
09/03/12 05:19 AM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29,138
Western
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Posts: 29,138 |
Do not try to hunt mule deer like you would whitetail. They will utilize more open terrain than you would think. I have pulled up on water troughs and seen deer at them. Put up a camera and not get a pic of deer for two days. They do not go to water everyday except in extremely cold days or extremely hot times. From what we have seen in western Pecos County the does go about every other day, with bucks going every 3-5 days to water. They come in one trail and go out another. We find most mule deer about 3/4 mile from water when bedded. They will feed in that area and then feed to water when they need to drink. They will bed in the open areas and will use greasewood or mesquites for shade in flat areas. IMO they do these things due to predation. Find the feed and you can stalk the deer. Find them from a distance first and watch them be then take you time and stalk in on them. We hunted 2 years just South of Paces and a year or 2 near Ft Davis. What Ranchman said is 100% what we observed. Our better success came from glassing and then stalking from "above" if it was possible, the Mulie bucks seem to sit tight longer than a Whitetail if you make a good, silent, up wind approach. That is what worked for us any way.
If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is not for you..
"Don't trust everything you read on the Internet"- Abraham Lincoln
Dennis
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: Western]
#3537059
09/03/12 07:19 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,016
JThoele
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OP
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I have no clue how this property is set up, if there is any water or feed source or if there is any cover at all. Not sure if spot and stalk will be approved, I was told we would hunt from a pop up, but that may be because they think that is the only way to get close enough to make an archery shot. Like I said I don't have high expectations of seeing much less shooting a mule deer with my bow on just a random weekend hunt, but am thankful for the invite nonetheless. Regardless, I have seen on some hunting shows and read articles, where people make ridiculously obvious stalks up to bedded or grazing mulies and make a slam dunk 30-50 yard shot. Are they really that curious or oblivious to allow hunters to approach so easily?
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: JThoele]
#3537464
09/03/12 02:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,068
jdickey
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
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Hunted the late season last year just southeast of Dryden. Saw about 40 deer....mostly does, one spike buck. The deer really liked alfalfa hay!
Be sure you stop and shop at the Dryden Walmart!
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: jdickey]
#3537472
09/03/12 02:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
If they are making you sit in blind then I would make the best of it. If they will allow to glass and stalk then I would do that midday after the first morning sit. With only 2 days to hunt I would make the most of glassing and stalking to cover as much ground as I could. A lot of how the deer react to people and your stalk will depend on the deer in that area and the hunting pressure. You will be amazed at what you can do in open terrain if there is any elevation changes when stalking. I have walked slowly stopping and glassing and then moving some more into what I considered good bedding/loafing areas and walked right up on bucks bedded in semi-open low brush. Never knew I was there. Lot closer than 60 yds also.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: Western]
#3537742
09/03/12 04:11 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,116
Ranch Dog
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Yeah, I agree spot and stalk but I hunt on 250,000 acres. The OP did not mention the size of the place but when I think of Dryden, I think small. A lot of mule deer in that area are killed at feeders or at least driving along 90 and with the visibility for US 90, you can see feeders and blinds everywhere. There is also a lot of country that looks good but simply doesn't have any mulies in it. No particular reason.
Seven years ago, I looked at 790 acres between Dryden and River that was for sale. It was an interesting property that was a bowl, from surrounding ridge lines into the base. All their mule deer hunting was feeder and blinds. Only problem was that it was surrounded by small tracts and an endless line up of blinds immediately across the fences.
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: Ranch Dog]
#3539895
09/04/12 03:50 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 51
brokenmoutfitter
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 51 |
Hunt in Sanderson (20 miles west) and as previously mentioned the rut happens well after our season. Water is key out there. Our mules hit the water probably 3x times as much as they hit our feeders. I actually sit up high where I can watch two water holes and if I see deer then try to close the distance. Practice longer shots and make sure you have good glass, you'll need to be looking through them a lot.
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: brokenmoutfitter]
#3541346
09/04/12 07:55 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,578
txtrophy85
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Dryden is so-so deer country. As mentioned, there has been a lot of fragmentation.
Hunting pressure can be heavy to non existent. From being around some ranches out there, neither the whitetail or the mule deer are very large from what I've seen
If feeders arnt in place, I would set up next to a water hole and hope for the best.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Tx mule deer
[Re: txtrophy85]
#3541466
09/04/12 08:34 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,538
aoudadhunter
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Well I would set some feed by a water trough with good activity and leave it alone with your pop-up in place. But before you hunt that pop up spot and stalk. If you get eyes on a shooter in the morning stay back and follow him till he beds down and use the terrain to your advantage to stalk. Stay out of sight until your within range or try and anticipate where he will go when he gets up and ambush him. It's going to be a hard hunt and I wouldn't put your shooter bar too high. Be patient and concentrate on 1 buck at a time. If all else fails try the blind on the last day and sit all day long.
Bar B Diamond Outfitters www.barbdiamondoutfitter.comSpecializing in Free-Range Aoudad Sheep Hunting. Also offering Muledeer, Whitetail, Exotics, Predator and Wingshooting Adventures!!!!
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