Need some help on my first lone deer hunt.

Shot my first doe last year on a friend of mine's place. (dad never did hunt, fishing is his thing) This year my uncle said I could go and hunt mule deer on his 1000 acre farm. He says he has seen some monster mulies around. It's in Gaines county. Problem is, I don't know how to go about it. He doesn't have a feeder set up or anything like that. Apparently, they just roll through every couple of days and feed on his crops. He has wheat, peanuts and cotton. Its mostly just farmland.

So my question is, how should I go about it? Buy a pop up blind and camp out a couple of days? Mule deer season is only one week long in Gaines county and I really want to bag my first buck.

Ask your uncle where he sees them. If it's his farm, he should know what areas/crops they are frequenting.

Go out a few days early and do some scouting from vantage points using binos. But I would stay out of their areas until time to hunt, if possible.

If you can determine their bedding areas and feeding areas during your scouting, or your uncle can give you this info, you may be able to ambush one travelling between the two. Just pay attention to the wind.

Good Luck,
and post some pics when you get back.

SFH

Get at the best vantage point watchin the most amount of feeding area, sicne your not sure were just spot and stalk if thats possible...what the country like up there

Take me with you. You shouldn't go by yourself, too dangerous.

Mulie is gonna be more spot and stalk so like Navasotbred said find a good vantage point where you can see a lot of the places your uncle points out and get out there two or three days early and scout. Just stay put and see where they are coming from and going to and if you don't see anything move to another good vantage point. During the mid morning glass the hill sides with sun and the opposite mid afternoon and be set up on the fields during prime times.

The country is flat for the most part. Lots of mesquites and brush. Thanks for all the info. Really needed the help

probably not as flat as you think. If there aren't hills they will be down in the dips of the terrain. If you walk it you will see what I mean. It should make it easier for you to spot them coming and going when you scout.

I would also have to say you should take ME with you to help out.

Whatever you do, don't spook off the fields. Stay down wind. Sit, watch and wait. Learn what they're doing, how they're moving and then figure out an ambush point. They'll hit the fields early and late. Sneak in before daylight but don't encroach on them until you've picked one that you want to go for. In the evening get there before they do.

Just FYI, when spooked, Mulies tend to run a short distance and stop to have a second look. If you spook 'em be ready to take a shot if they stop to look.

Good luck

yes^^^^^^^^ mulies will run but are curious and will stop and take a second look.... big mistake

Called my uncle today. He said that they seem to be staying on the outside of clearings where the crops start. Before the rain they were coming onto the circles and drinking water from the irrigation system/eating crops. Sounds to me that it will make it quite a bit tougher. Am I right?

It's still a month away and man I am getting pumped!!

If he has any round bales of hay, ask your uncle to set one up a hundred yards or so from where he is seeing them.
They work well as a make shift blind to hide yourself.

Old school!!!

That's a great idea. Don't know why I didn't think of it myself. Although he may actually have a field full of freshly cut peanut hay turned in bales by the time I go hunt it.

Take a big enough caliber and shooting sticks.I like what land pirate said about not pushing them and staying downwind.That land is not completely flat,there will probably be some dips.Good binoculars are a must,and a sharp knife w/sharpener.

Ryan,

Are you some what computer savey?

Could you get a screen shot of your Uncle's farm, and post up to the thread. You'd want to mark where your uncle sees the deer come in, and put a compas on the screen (north, south, east, west).

I went to google maps, typed in Gaines county Tx. Switched to satilite view. Once I zoomed in to where I wanted, I pressed and held the Alt key on the keyboard, while pressing the Print Screen key.

Open Paint
Select Edit
Select Paste
Select File
Select Save As
Name file
Change file type, by slecting the drop down arrow.
Select file type .jpg

Goto photobucket, and upload photo

Post pic to thread.

I have hunted Mule Deer in the Panhandle. It is s lot of fun, but scouting the area first is going to be key.

I've found mule deer will sometimes lay down (like a dog) or hide behind brush instead of running off....it's funny. When this happens I toot on a varmit call to stand them back up and show their horns.

also X2 on shooting sticks and good glass. I mounted a spotting scope and a sling to an old gun stock....pretty handy and easy to steady that way when on foot.

I have a Mac, but I am sure I can find it out somehow. I will post a pic once I know exactly where the land is. I will call him tomorrow sometime. I haven't been to his place in quite a while so I don't really know where it is.

I jogged my memory for a while and I think I know where it is. If I'm not mistaken its near a draw somewhere. Not totally sure though. I will update tomorrow sometime just to make sure.

Good luck. Gaines county has some HUGE mulies.