Question:

What is the most effective way to hunt Mule Deer in and area that is wide open all around, but has one major draw that is almost too thick to navigate? The deer congregate in that draw and signs are everywhere.

Use a rifle. Very effective.

Thanks SNS! I was planning on it. Great tactical info.

Get on top of the hill, always keep the sun at your back, and look in the brush for long periods of time, if a deer laid down , it could be 2 to 4 hours before they get up. You need a very good spotting scope with good eye relief.

Outdoorsman, I was planning to do that. I hunted them like that in the Panhandle, but have never hunted a draw that is so thick before. Trail cam shows that it's holding everything from Mulies to javelinas & pigs to cats and yotes! Should be fun, but tough with all that brush. Thanks for the info!

Outdoorsman,
Any thoughts on how to tackle the thick stuff?..............Or just glass and wait for them to make a mistake!

I wouldnt go trapsing in the thick.. they will see you well before you see them... scout and find the trails leading to and from the thick... maybe they are going to a feed location or water.. set and watch those entrance/exits to the thick... I would say five days of sitting and watching should show whats hiding in there... I did similar hunt in West Tx and on the 3rd and 5th day we got bucks on the ground... biggest was a 22 inch wide 8 pt that showed up at dusk on last evening hunt.. GOOD LUCK!

Find a buddy who will walk through it while you hold the high ground.

I agree with Copperhead. Find a good ambush location that funnels the deer. Have a buddy walk through the thick stuff. This will move them to you. Muley's will lay down about 1/2 to 3/4 up a draw in the shade and look downhill with the wind in their face. Usually late morning after they water. Most the time the wind currents flow uphill with daytime heating which is in your favor. My experience is they will move and stop to look back at what's chasing them. The ranch where I hunt has thick draws and other hunters on the property riding 4 wheelers. I usually get up real early and head to the tops of the draws and wait for the 4 wheeler hunters with binocs looking up the draws. Usually they see the deer and scare them towards me. This has been my secret to shooting a muley every year in NM. Don't tell anyone.

I use high rack seat in my Polaris Ranger. I want as much elevation as I can get. I also have a tower for the truck I normally use for calling but works as well for glassing.