Where do mule deer like to hang out in the panhandle? I got some permission to hunt a couple thousand acres up there and don’t have any idea what I’m doing. It’s going to be spot and stalk in early archery season. What times and areas should I focus my glassing and should I glass each area real quick if spend a lot of time picking it apart. Thanks!

They use topography to move from bedding to feeding.

My advice get high and use your glass

Also, they will bed for long periods of time before moving, so don’t be super quick to leave a spot that looks promising.

Many a hunter has moved off bedded deer they couldn’t see.

As mentioned, get up high and glass, glass, glass. Deer will stand up from time to time during the day and stretch, nibble around some, and get back in the shade.......

agree, get high and closely glass everything and don't get in a hurry. If hot, shade is their friend, juniper (cedar) provides good shade and cover. It might only be a flick of an ear that might catch your attention.

What is the terrain like where you are hunting?

Where I hunt is cedar breaks and canyons…..it’s best to get the sun behind you and glass the edges of the canyons under the shade of a cedar where the wind is at their back….

It’s up near Amarillo, it has a 3 or 4 canyons on it.

The real high plains panhandle. I’m just north of you a few miles probably. I’d get permission for elk too, if I was you. Atleast Cow


Dont discount tall CRP grass. You would be surprised how many will just stand up.

Map out your water sources and that will give you a better mile or two area to focus on.

If there is farmland with some smaller CRP plots mixed in, glass the heck out of the CRP. If it's super flat, I've been known to park a ways off and stand on top of my truck and glass. Getting into bow range may be a bit challenging.

agree with Bobo ... one of the places I hunted / guided had a couple of huge CRP fields, kicked many out that were bedded out in pretty wide open fields while driving around the perimeter heading to another pasture. Also while mapping out your area, look to see if there are any wheat fields nearby. One of our hunters killed a 180+ in a wheat field that was on game cam over 10+ miles away a week earlier.

If you have thermal go out early while dark and start scanning.

Archery hunting a muley in the panhandle can be a tall task. Any agriculture on the place? Winter wheat perhaps? Do your glassing at daybreak and sunset to watch their movement, and find corridors between the bedding areas and food plots and set up a couple tripods within bow range. Tucked back into a big mesquite or cedar will work. Good luck!

Pop up blinds would be my go-to

Ultimate predator Decoy works good in the rut. As long as you tie it to the bow good and don’t shoot through it