Decent Western Mulie States?

[MTpubliclander]

So what do you guys think about states to look at for a good out of state mule deer hunt? Im looking at Utah and Idaho right now and i know that i cant really expect a booner but a decent buck would be nice. Also i don't want to know your honey hole just your thoughts on states to apply for either archery or rifle. Thanks!

 

[2rocky]

I think you forgot the PREMIERE state for deer...

That's right CALIFORNIA...

If you don't draw an X zone, you can hunt OTC Mule Deer or the elusive Blacktail. You will never be prouder of a forky, i guarantee. Besides. No one in CA hunts, you will be practically alone...

I write that with tongue-in-cheek just to prove that sometimes we overlook things (states) that are right in front of us ...

Some stats....From the state record book.

Mule Deer - Typical
Minimum Score 160

Length of Main Beam

Circ. at smallest place
between burr & 1st point

Number of Points

Rank Score Date Right Left
Inside Spread
Right Left Right Left Locality Hunter
1 195 7/8 1943 27 6/8 25 7/8 26 4/8 4 6/8 4 6/8 5 7 Lassen County Sulo E. Lakso
2 194 2/8 1946 24 2/8 24 25 5 5/8 5 5/8 5 5 Siskiyou County Hap Hottenstein
3 187 1939 26 2/8 25 21 6/8 4 6/8 4 7/8 5 7 Modoc County Don Stemler
4 177 3/8 1993 26 2/8 25 5/8 23 7/8 5 6/8 5 6/8 5 5 Modoc County Randy W. Tonkin
5 164 1950 25 4/8 24 24 4/8 4 6/8 4 5/8 5 5 Calaveras County Babe Stone
6 162 7/8 21 3/8 20 4/8 18 1/8 4 3/8 4 3/8 5 4 D-7 Dave Schiavon
7 162 7/8 1982 21 6/8 22 6/8 21 3/8 4 2/8 4 2/8 5 5 D-7 James Flamson
8 160 6/8 1998 21 21 3/8 19 6/8 4 4/8 4 4/8 5 5 Ventura County Richard Chagolla
9 160 4/8 1950 22 22 2/8 22 2/8 5 1/8 5 2/8 6 5 Calaveras County Babe Stone

Mule Deer - Non Typical
Minimum Score 190

Length of Main Beam

Circ. at smallest place
between burr & 1st point

Number of Points

Rank Score Date Right Left Inside Spread Right Left Right Left Locality Hunter
1 319 4/8 1972 24 2/8 24 23 5/8 7 7/8 7 1/8 27 23 Mariposa County Harold R. Laird
2 305 6/8 1987 23 7/8 24 1/8 21 3/8 6 1/8 6 4/8 17 17 Shasta County Artie McGram
3 298 5/8 1940 26 1/8 26 24 6/8 5 5/8 6 14 13 California Unknown
4 267 4/8 1948 24 25 3/8 18 2/8 6 2/8 7 2/8 16 15 Mariposa County Ray Douglas
5 266 1958 29 7/8 30 5/8 26 7/8 4 6/8 4 6/8 10 11 Modoc County Neil Miller
6 246 6/8 1930 23 4/8 21 26 3/8 6 2/8 6 4/8 13 14 Modoc County Bill Foster
7 240 4/8 1968 26 4/8 27 21 4/8 6 2/8 5 6/8 10 9 Modoc County Niilo Niemi
8 209 2/8 1978 21 1/8 20 6/8 20 4 7/8 4 6/8 13 11 Lassen County Virgil Byers

 

[belly-deep]

Utah sucks. Go Colo....

 

[HighDesertSage]

Southern Utah

 

[ida homer]

If your looking for somewhere to try and make it an annual or at least a once every couple years type of thing, I think you gotta look at WY, ID or CO. Basically places where you can get an OTC tag or a decent tag with 1-3 points.

IMO the most important thing is being able to hunt an area frequently so you can really figure it out and pattern deer. I am extremely partial to ID, for good and obvious reasons.

 

[Carrion Carrier]

I've been chasing a monster in an OTC unit in Western Montana. They draw unit next-door kicks out tons of giants. Nice elk hunting OTC as well.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I've been chasing a monster in an OTC unit in Western Montana. They draw unit next-door kicks out tons of giants. Nice elk hunting OTC as well.

Lord help me if I ever get bored with MT.

 

[MKotur325]

Lord help me if I ever get bored with MT.

+1 well said

 

[Oak]

Utah sucks. Go Colo....

Utah is far better than CO.

If your looking for somewhere to try and make it an annual or at least a once every couple years type of thing, I think you gotta look at WY, ID or CO. Basically places where you can get an OTC tag or a decent tag with 1-3 points.

IMO the most important thing is being able to hunt an area frequently so you can really figure it out and pattern deer. I am extremely partial to ID, for good and obvious reasons.

Why not MT? Leftover tags every year, yes? And a 5 week rifle season lets you adjust your schedule if necessary, hunt the rut, etc.

 

[Ben Lamb]

We need 5 weeks so we can find something other than a forky.

 

[ida homer]

Utah is far better than CO.



Why not MT? Leftover tags every year, yes? And a 5 week rifle season lets you adjust your schedule if necessary, hunt the rut, etc.

Nothing against Montana, just no experience there personally but some day I would like to go. The long season and rut would be nice, I guess you guys just don't get much publicity as far as mule deer goes, not to say that the hunting isn't good.

It looks like the OP is from Montana as well, so I assume he was looking to venture out.

 

[1_pointer]

If you're looking to try some other states, I'd recommend ID as most all units can produce a good buck and the tags are OTC. While doing that every year, start building points in farther away states for a more 'premium' tag.

 

[Oak]

I guess you guys just don't get much publicity as far as mule deer goes, not to say that the hunting isn't good.

Us guys are from CO, and we get way too much publicity.

Didn't realize the OP was from MT....

 

[MTpubliclander]

Utah is far better than CO.



Why not MT? Leftover tags every year, yes? And a 5 week rifle season lets you adjust your schedule if necessary, hunt the rut, etc.

Im not tryin to say that MT is bad or we don't have decent deer, but I would like to expand and hunt some of our surrounding states. This being said I really want to make sure and hunt an area where I have choices as to which buck to take rather than shooting he only buck seen in a week.

 

[Pagosa]

I've been chasing a monster in an OTC unit in Western Montana. They draw unit next-door kicks out tons of giants. Nice elk hunting OTC as well.

I'm all ears with a nr buck tag and week of Thanksgiving off

 

[Pagosa]

To the op. Colorado 3rd or 4th season are hard to beat. With a few points unit 40, 72, 751, 77, 65, 64/63, and many others are good places to look. With lots of points the gunnison basin is great. Anywhere close to the southern Ute reservation can be good too.