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Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
#7195176
06/11/18 10:43 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 779
Come And Get 'Em...
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 779 |
Sorry if this has been posted before but i couldnt find anything on search.
It looks like me and a friend will be heading up to the panhandle this fall in search of mule deer. We will shoot for some of the better draws but if that fails well go to Meredith. I dont expect any advice on good spots, because if you post them and others see, i might be counter-actively fighting more space issues than i already will be.
I just need the basics. As of now, ive found just enough research to know that we need to focus on glassing, but what terrain situations are best? We are both capable of 400 yd kill shots. Do we focus on glassing and plan to move in if we see deer or should we plan to glass from where we would shoot, hypothetically? Do we focus on food or water? Or daytime bed cover and browsing areas? What exactly are their daily routines and when/where are our best chances for catching them where we can get a shot? How separated are the mature bucks from the young ones and the does in pre or early rut? Lastly, what is there preferred food source in non-farm areas such as canyons?
Thanks in advance for any and all information!
Republic Fence & Stain Residential fence construction & Repair Certified Applicator of Wood Defender Fence & Deck stain/seal
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7195286
06/12/18 12:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 29,105
TXHOGSLAYER
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 29,105 |
PM stxranchman. He hunts for Mulies and is a wealth of information, not to mention an absolute gentleman.
LETS GO BRANDON
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7195312
06/12/18 12:32 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,284
scalebuster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,284 |
Drive around and look them over. The biggest Mulie I ever killed was 30 yards from the Truck. A doe looked back behind her and I walked towards her. A giant jumped up and I shot him in the back of the neck running away at 50 yards. He plowed a big nose hole 12” long when he hit the ground.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7195437
06/12/18 03:09 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,586
ckat
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,586 |
Understand that they are NOT whitetail. They will not act, or react, like a whitetail. Most does and small bucks are perfectly fine with standing like a statue and letting you cruise right on by. More mature bucks will give you a SNEAKY slip. You will think, "He has to be right here," never to be seen again ..
They blend into canyons better than you would anticipate. They may be right where it looks the "deeriest," or might be standing in the wide open.
They are a peculiar animal that I am in love with...
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7195548
06/12/18 12:16 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 |
I agree with the posts above that if you try to hunt them like a whitetail you will disappointed. They feed and live in areas of much different habitat than a whitetail IME. Mule Deer actually prefer the more open country at times while there are times they are in the thickest cover you have. Finding the food source is the key to finding them consistently. IME in the Trans Pecos area is that the time between the start of Mule Deer season and early hard frost can be huge. You can find the deer in a certain area or type of terrain then get a freeze and they have moved. I found a 4 yr old MD buck with 9 does on opening day of the season and found him exactly 2 weeks later 5.75 miles to the south with the same herd of does. He was very easy to recognize as a very tall 4x4 whitetail looking rack with crab clawed front forks. He stayed with the does the whole season while other bucks were alone in bachelor groups on the same ranch. One year a Mule Deer buck with a WT looking rack but forked backs and 4's was seen in one area of the ranch then 8 miles to the east of there the next year. The closer to the rut you get the more the older bucks become visible. The more hunting pressure around you can also move bucks into an area that seemed to not have any mature deer. I have also hunted an area several times early in the season not seeing any deer at all only to return on the last day or two to find it full of deer. I hunted Mule Deer north of Jayton for 3 years and the habitat was varied from CRP to red wash canyons on the edge of farmland on that ranch. The deer were very unpredictable to find unless you had wheat. Hunting the canyons close was productive for numbers but not so much for the mature deer till closer to the rut. The best mule deer bucks I found were while hunting whitetails, but the mule deer season was not open yet. Most of those mule deer bucks were never seen in the mule deer season again. I hunted Mule Deer in the Trans Pecos region in Pecos County for 10 years. Much different habitat and terrain. Rainfall and temperature was the key to finding mature bucks. In 10 years the ranch habitat became much thicker and taller, making it difficult to find areas to sit and glass for deer. Those areas still had deer just could not see them or find them in the taller cover. I also hunted Mule Deer in Kansas for 2 yrs when I drew an either species permit. Really open terrain without out many trees or thicker type cover. Mainly rolling to broken terrain with grass cover, CRP land and farmed crops. I also hunted Alberta for 2 years and it was very similar to Kansas in the areas I hunted. Both areas I hunted, sitting and glassing long distance was the key to success or finding deer. They tended to travel more from food source to bedding area on those hunts vs. Texas mule deer IME. Both leases in Texas what I found that made hunting consistent was food source and temperatures. Find the food source and find the deer. Temperature made them more likely to up and feeding and easier to spot. Good glass makes finding much easier. Binos and spotting scope was a must for us. Good glass will help with the eye fatigue. For me I liked to spend my time sitting and glassing large areas of good habitat. It might be ridges, draws, greasewood flats, higher ground or water sources. IME water sources was the least consistent hunting due to the fact we rarely ever got a mature buck on a TC only to find them close to water. Most bucks and does stayed about 3/4 mile from water. They would feed in from one direction and drink water then feed out a different direction. Does, fawns and younger bucks might water every day to every 2-3 days between trips. Whereas mature bucks might only water every 2-5 days. As far as the state WMA draw hunts, you can get lucky and get a draw the first time but do not expect it. IIRC I had 7 or 9 draw points when I got drawn. But I hit the holey grail of MD draws in Texas and drew a Yoakum Dunes WMA mule deer permit. The habitat there was nothing like I had ever hunted other that it was some what rolling and more open terrain in areas. What it had a lot of was sand dunes and shinnery oak. IMO the hunt time was about a week or possibly 2 weeks to early. Mature bucks were very hard to find and temperature was the key. I had great temps the first afternoon and next morning then it got hotter. Deer moved great the first afternoon then went downhill after that. Glassing and driving all day produced very little in areas we had seen tons of deer for the next 2.5 days. The last morning we woke to 22 deg temps and saw 18 bucks that morning back in areas where nothing was seen the previous days. Only one mature buck(mid to upper 150's) that morning though. I chose not to shoot a buck that trip but that was my choice since I went with a mindset to kill a great buck or nothing at all. What I have learned is that hunting for Mule Deer can change a lot from one year to the next. Mule Deer will move great distance to better feed and rainfall. In the Panhandle they are doing research in the farmland on how far deer will move to farmed crops. They are also implementing antler restrictions in areas now and may in others in the future. Hunting Mule Deer is addicting and frustrating at the same time. Until you throw out all of your whitetail hunting habits you will be frustrated. When you start to understand what drives a mule deer then you will get addicted. For me I can hunt the full season and not kill a Mule Deer and had the most enjoyable hunt. I am not an expert by any means at hunting mule deer by I am addicted to it. I always learn something new about Mule Deer and hunting every season.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7196013
06/12/18 10:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 507
TWarren
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 507 |
Another note relating to throwing out the white-tail tendencies is cover. Mule deer don't necessarily use or need cover like white-tails. A large rock, small ledge, or clump of tall yucca is sometimes all they need for bedding. Just don't let them smell you and always, always note the wind.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7196025
06/12/18 10:33 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 779
Come And Get 'Em...
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 779 |
Such great and helpful comments already! Thanks guys!!
Stxranchman, thanks for the in depth and broad experience! I knew just by terrain that I was going to throw whitetail knowledge out the window, and it’ll help that I’ve never hunted WT in that kind of environment. I figured I’d treat the hunt more like an elk hunt, not so much becauseMD and elk are similar, but because the terrain features and environment in general is more similar. The advice on water not playing as big a part as one would expect is huge. I would have put more value on water. But I take it that hunting early and if it’s hot, I should still keep one eye on water, or at least routes to it. I habe a decent sorting scope and a couple of decent pairs of binos, but I think I’ll invest in an even better pair, as my 16x Leupolds are a little bulky. My scope is top end and plenty capable (Vortex Vioer PST 6-24x50mm) and I like to range with that and double check misc spots in my field on a map with UTM grid. I’ve been successful at 10,8,6,4, & 2” plates in that order at 500yds in crosswinds, so I’m comfortable at 400-500 if I HAD to. Obviously there are other factors and I would turn down any unethical shot opportunity. Turned down a 40+ inch private land Palo Duro Aoudad at 150yds due to him hanging too close to a ewe...
Really good stuff guys!
Republic Fence & Stain Residential fence construction & Repair Certified Applicator of Wood Defender Fence & Deck stain/seal
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7196048
06/12/18 10:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,641
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,641 |
I have hunted the southern panhandle around Spur in southern Dickens county for the past ten years. We hunt the salt fork of the Brazos. Undulating terrain with some deep draws and cedar breaks. I have learned that our herd travels in a big circle that probably encompasses 25-30 miles IMO. You find the areas they like and keep checking in to see if their "in town". I've found where I hunt the mature bucks are solitary for the most part until the rut gets in full swing in early to mid December. They like feeding on saddles and points. They also like to bed down mid day at the edge of canyons and draws with a cedar behind them for shade and the wind at their back. That's where I glass between morning and evening hunts. I found mature bucks can be judged pretty quickly by their "fronts". That being their front tines, which are usually their 4th point coming up from the main beams just past their traditional forked tines. If they are noticeable from a distance height and mass wise, chances are good it's a 8+ year old buck. This is the age most bucks fully mature, unlike white tails that usually peak at 6-7. They like wheat but rarely come to feeders on a consistent basis unless they are young satelite bucks that grown up around it. They are perfect game for spot and stalk hunting, which is what I like best. If you hunt them you should practice shooting distances up to 350 yards and always have a good pair of shooting sticks, range finder and good glass binos. Start with the water source and work out in a circle until you find them.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7196200
06/13/18 01:11 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,901
Jgraider
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,901 |
Wind at their back......this guy wouldn't budge until we got right on top of him. Nothing charges me up more than a big ol' mature muley buck.
Last edited by Jgraider; 06/13/18 01:12 AM.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Pitchfork Predator]
#7197239
06/14/18 03:52 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
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Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
I have hunted the southern panhandle around Spur in southern Dickens county for the past ten years. We hunt the salt fork of the Brazos. Undulating terrain with some deep draws and cedar breaks. I have learned that our herd travels in a big circle that probably encompasses 25-30 miles IMO. You find the areas they like and keep checking in to see if their "in town". I've found where I hunt the mature bucks are solitary for the most part until the rut gets in full swing in early to mid December. They like feeding on saddles and points. They also like to bed down mid day at the edge of canyons and draws with a cedar behind them for shade and the wind at their back. That's where I glass between morning and evening hunts. I found mature bucks can be judged pretty quickly by their "fronts". That being their front tines, which are usually their 4th point coming up from the main beams just past their traditional forked tines. If they are noticeable from a distance height and mass wise, chances are good it's a 8+ year old buck. This is the age most bucks fully mature, unlike white tails that usually peak at 6-7. They like wheat but rarely come to feeders on a consistent basis unless they are young satelite bucks that grown up around it. They are perfect game for spot and stalk hunting, which is what I like best. If you hunt them you should practice shooting distances up to 350 yards and always have a good pair of shooting sticks, range finder and good glass binos. Start with the water source and work out in a circle until you find them. Marc has killed quite a few quality Mule Deer and I’ve hunted with him a lot. Good glass, ability to cover a lot of terrain, good stalking skills, and good equipment is very important.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7197521
06/14/18 03:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759
snake oil
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759 |
You might PM Mulie Mike also.........
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas".
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: SapperTitan]
#7197604
06/14/18 04:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,641
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,641 |
I have hunted the southern panhandle around Spur in southern Dickens county for the past ten years. We hunt the salt fork of the Brazos. Undulating terrain with some deep draws and cedar breaks. I have learned that our herd travels in a big circle that probably encompasses 25-30 miles IMO. You find the areas they like and keep checking in to see if their "in town". I've found where I hunt the mature bucks are solitary for the most part until the rut gets in full swing in early to mid December. They like feeding on saddles and points. They also like to bed down mid day at the edge of canyons and draws with a cedar behind them for shade and the wind at their back. That's where I glass between morning and evening hunts. I found mature bucks can be judged pretty quickly by their "fronts". That being their front tines, which are usually their 4th point coming up from the main beams just past their traditional forked tines. If they are noticeable from a distance height and mass wise, chances are good it's a 8+ year old buck. This is the age most bucks fully mature, unlike white tails that usually peak at 6-7. They like wheat but rarely come to feeders on a consistent basis unless they are young satellite bucks that grown up around it. They are perfect game for spot and stalk hunting, which is what I like best. If you hunt them you should practice shooting distances up to 350 yards and always have a good pair of shooting sticks, range finder and good glass binos. Start with the water source and work out in a circle until you find them. Marc has killed quite a few quality Mule Deer and I’ve hunted with him a lot. Good glass, ability to cover a lot of terrain, good stalking skills, and good equipment is very important. I had heard Photo Bucket was working again. Looks like it is. Thought I'd have some fun and add these photos. Took this buck in the 2013-14 season.
Last edited by Pitchfork Predator; 06/14/18 05:11 PM.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7197631
06/14/18 05:14 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 779
Come And Get 'Em...
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 779 |
Goodness Mark!! That’s a really nice deer!
Republic Fence & Stain Residential fence construction & Repair Certified Applicator of Wood Defender Fence & Deck stain/seal
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7197655
06/14/18 05:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,586
ckat
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,586 |
Another thing, we hunt country similar to the Croton Breaks that Marc hunts, but we are north of him a ways. I typically hunt WTs with 10x binoculars paired with a compact spotting scope. But while hunting the breaks, I prefer to switch to 8x binoculars. I like the increased FOV to lessen the "grid" while glassing. 8x is plenty in that country - especially when the breaks are deep and narrow. You can quickly be over-glassed in those conditions...
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7199004
06/16/18 12:18 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,901
Jgraider
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,901 |
Beautiful bucks Pitchfork! Gotta love big mule deer bucks.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7200287
06/17/18 07:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,833
sparrish8
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,833 |
15x binos all the way to look up under the cedars, in NM we spot them at well over a mile that last one I killed.in Sonora MX we spotted at over 2 miles and stalked in to 50 yds, i definetly recommend spoting them from a high vantage point and move very slowly when glassing and look for things shining or out of place, ive looked over the same place 3 or 4 times before spotting them before, the brown spot on their butt usually gives them away but they camoflauge very well and dont move around a whole lot if their in a good spot, if you know where they are bedded down but cant see them and know its a good buck get in to shooting range and just camp out out and wait for them to stand up or move
Last year in Colorado in Nov when the big bucks arent moving much we saw a 170 the 1st day and the guide thought we should pass.on him( he had seen some 200" deer on the ranch) we went back to that area 2 days later and he hadnt moved 300 yards and we jumped him under another cedar, he didnt move until we were 50 yds away, ran a couple hundred yards and bedded down in a creek bottom we drove up on him at 20 yds and he just layed and looked at us we almost drove by him but hes on my buddys wall now.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7200327
06/17/18 07:57 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,901
Jgraider
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,901 |
Big bucks would just as soon lay there and let you walk right by them rather than jump and run. That is, if they think you haven't seen them. We never did kill this buck.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Pitchfork Predator]
#7203705
06/21/18 03:21 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
therancher
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179 |
I'm 6'3" and the guy to your right is 6'5" for reference. The deer weighed 318 pounds
Crotchety old bastidge
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: therancher]
#7204004
06/21/18 03:27 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091
Always ready 2 hunt
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091 |
I'm 6'3" and the guy to your right is 6'5" for reference. The deer weighed 318 pounds Great MD. What year?
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Always ready 2 hunt]
#7204036
06/21/18 04:05 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
therancher
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179 |
I'm 6'3" and the guy to your right is 6'5" for reference. The deer weighed 318 pounds Great MD. What year? ‘15
Crotchety old bastidge
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7204206
06/21/18 07:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 478
JB1316
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 478 |
Are you able to drive off road at Lake Meredith during hunting season? I've never been there to check it out, but in looking at pictures online there are a lot of folks who "off-road" out there it seems.
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Re: Need Panhandle Mule Deer Tips
[Re: Come And Get 'Em...]
#7204480
06/21/18 11:14 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 478
txhuntingguide
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 478 |
That looks like a NM state line Mulie. Several big boys have like that have been taken out here
Life is a Highway. Don't take the wrong road twice. Take your time and enjoy it. Teach, love and support your family. Hoyt Spyder Turbo Gold Tip Velocities HHA single pin, Ultra Rest 100 gr. Grim Reapers
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