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Texas mule deer #7988989 09/26/20 05:00 PM
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Stetsonoverton Offline OP
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First season on a lease in the panhandle that has bunch of mule deer, while it has an antler restriction, legal bucks are definitely on the property my question is what will a mature class buck score/be first time hunting muleys and don’t want to shoot just because he’s legal rather than nice mature Texas muley . We have seen several nice muleys but nothing like the giants wide bucks you think of when you think mule deer. Thanks in advance

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7989277 09/26/20 10:50 PM
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different areas will have different quality of mature bucks. Just remember they aren't like a WT they don't reach their peak until about 6-8 yrs of age in my experience.

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7989413 09/27/20 12:35 AM
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The best way to judge a mature trophy is brow tines and deep forks, along with tall FRONTS........meaning the front tine on the main beams.....usually if they are mature they will have a big body and tall noticeable fronts that you can see from 100 yards without binoculars.....8 years is usually the peak age for the mulie bucks so there aren't too many running around.....

Last edited by Pitchfork Predator; 09/27/20 12:36 AM.

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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7989512 09/27/20 01:46 AM
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Thanks good info to know based on that looks like I have bunch of nice up and comers then

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7989719 09/27/20 01:22 PM
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Focus on their body structure, not what their racks look like IMO. After you've seen a few, it's easier and easier to tell how a mature buck looks (whether WT or MD) by the "fullness" of their neck, shoulders, swayed back, etc. A word of warning though......mule deer hunting is very addictive.

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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7990058 09/27/20 09:05 PM
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I've never hunted texas mule deer. Maybe when I retire I will give it a shot, Texas or Oklahoma panhandle would be fun.


Thanks, Billy
Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Gringocazador] #7990126 09/27/20 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Gringocazador
I've never hunted texas mule deer. Maybe when I retire I will give it a shot, Texas or Oklahoma panhandle would be fun.



Stick to Texas, Oklahoma mule deer aren’t all that for what ever reason.


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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7990317 09/28/20 01:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Stetsonoverton
First season on a lease in the panhandle that has bunch of mule deer, while it has an antler restriction, legal bucks are definitely on the property my question is what will a mature class buck score/be first time hunting muleys and don’t want to shoot just because he’s legal rather than nice mature Texas muley . We have seen several nice muleys but nothing like the giants wide bucks you think of when you think mule deer. Thanks in advance



What county/city are you hunting? I’m in Briscoe. Seeing tons of pigs and auodad but Mule deer activity seems down this year. I guess you never know with them since they are always moving.

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7990394 09/28/20 02:39 AM
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We are north East motley county, loaded with pigs and good amount of mulies low number of whitetail and zero aoudad on our place

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7990858 09/28/20 04:07 PM
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[Linked Image]

So would this guy age around 5-6? Just trying to get a idea on body to age class since I’m new to these guys

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7990919 09/28/20 05:04 PM
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He's a brute

I would guess around 5 he has the belly for it lol.

Just my youneedtoshoothimandshowuspictures .02,
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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7990935 09/28/20 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Stetsonoverton
[Linked Image]

So would this guy age around 5-6? Just trying to get a idea on body to age class since I’m new to these guys

He's mature IMO and could be post mature.......shoot him if you like him......they are just like whitetails in that they aren't all going to be great antlerwise when they mature.....if he is post mature he could of seen his better days.....

Last edited by Pitchfork Predator; 09/28/20 05:23 PM.

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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7990964 09/28/20 05:45 PM
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Mature is what I’m after, get the age antler size will come hopefully , being first time hunting them just I’m trying to learn to age them and what good representation Of mature buck for the area and whats not, they definitely are different than whitetail Least to me. Thanks for the help

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7991013 09/28/20 06:27 PM
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I think poor body condition may have you guys fooled a bit here. I assume it's been a down year for rain in your area? I'd age him at 4.5. He'll be a bruiser if you let him get a couple more years on him. Just my .02 cents.


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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7991065 09/28/20 07:08 PM
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Nice Texas Mule deer.


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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7991364 09/28/20 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Stetsonoverton
We are north East motley county, loaded with pigs and good amount of mulies low number of whitetail and zero aoudad on our place



If you ever wanna trade a Mulie Hunt for an Auodad Hunt let me know. I’m in Briscoe just north of you. Lots of Auodad.

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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7991590 09/29/20 02:10 AM
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mule deer in above pic don't look mature, if true mature later than wt, would give 2 more yrs at least

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7991637 09/29/20 02:45 AM
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JG, is that a sandhill deer?

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: dkershen] #7991683 09/29/20 03:23 AM
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Originally Posted by dkershen
I think poor body condition may have you guys fooled a bit here. I assume it's been a down year for rain in your area? I'd age him at 4.5. He'll be a bruiser if you let him get a couple more years on him. Just my .02 cents.

Agreed....hunted that area for 6yrs. Mules can fool you. They did me.

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Sneaky] #7992041 09/29/20 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Sneaky
JG, is that a sandhill deer?



Yes sir. Those bucks have huge bodies, at least the old, mature one's do. Always acorns on the shinnery, "stout" browse, etc. They're just different. Biologist has told us more than once that a mule deer should be in the prime of his life at 7.5 yrs. We try not to shoot any much younger than that.

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7992144 09/29/20 03:39 PM
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Those deer sure do hide well. I’ve spent a fair bit of time out there, and I’ve only seen a couple.

Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Jgraider] #7992219 09/29/20 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Jgraider
Focus on their body structure, not what their racks look like IMO. After you've seen a few, it's easier and easier to tell how a mature buck looks (whether WT or MD) by the "fullness" of their neck, shoulders, swayed back, etc. A word of warning though......mule deer hunting is very addictive.

[Linked Image]


I grew up hunting sandhill deer on the other side of the state line (Unit 31 New Mexico) and that buck reminds me of what we would see. Generally shorter tines but wider antlers than their mountain brethren.


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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7993222 09/30/20 11:58 AM
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[Linked Image]
Mule Deer have a different body shape and size at younger ages than a whitetail has. They always look older than they are to someone used to looking at WT. You have to really study the whole body size/shape and the facial hair colorations to age the buck IME. This buck was very old and I had seen him for 3 yrs in a row. He was also an odd ball for body size in Trans Pecos area in that he only field dressed about 135 lbs. Most mature bucks on this lease will field dress out from 185 to 220.


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Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7997813 10/04/20 03:45 PM
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Watched him for hour plus opening morning, decided he gonna get at least another year was tough to let him walk since I’ve never killed a Texas muley but I know there’s better bucks around just gonna have to be patient

Last edited by Stetsonoverton; 10/04/20 03:47 PM.
Re: Texas mule deer [Re: Stetsonoverton] #7999239 10/05/20 08:36 PM
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If he's a small/young one, you must have some nice muleys on your place! Maybe a 200" will show. Patience...best of luck.

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