Wife mule deer buck tag

[7mmMag]

My wife got drawn for a 4C mule deer buck tag this year. This is her first big game tag so it's pretty special for us. I wanted to reach out to the NDA crew for any help you guys got. I was out there for a couple days this weekend to do a scouting trip as this is the first time hunting this area. I was all over the whole unit. The amount of public land in the area is actually a little overwhelming, it makes a guy second guess on where to start. My wife understands that she might not shoot anything but beings this is her first tag, I want to do everything in my power to give a her a chance at filling it and that includes asking you guys for help. With both of us having full-time jobs, 2 young kids at home and 4.5hrs away from the unit, we probably only have time for one long weekend trip. This is going to be a memorable trip for both of us but I'm really hoping she can fill her tag to make it even more memorable. I would greatly appreciate any help you guys have.

 

[ND58201]

Sit within a 1/2 mile of whitetail road at dawn and dusk. She will shoot a Buck depending on how picky you are. It should be at least 130’s 4x4. Edit: There will be a lot of hunters driving around, but sitting at dawn and dusk you will see deer within range.

 

[Retired Educator]

sitting at dawn and dusk is good advice and I'll add in that hunting with your binoculars is many times more successful than your feet. Sit and glass for awhile, then move to another location, doesn't have to be far and repeat. once you get used to glassing you'll be surprised at how many deer will become visible. Patience is the key.

 

[Fester]

sitting at dawn and dusk is good advice and I'll add in that hunting with your binoculars is many times more successful than your feet. Sit and glass for awhile, then move to another location, doesn't have to be far and repeat. once you get used to glassing you'll be surprised at how many deer will become visible. Patience is the key.

100% agree....sniper style..

 

[Ruttin]

4C is the easiest in ND to fill a mule deer buck tag if youre not concerned on "score". Go hunt and you'll have a blast. Nothing is wasted spending time in the badlands

 

[Zogman]

If your wife is somewhat small I can deliver the BB 270 with the composite stock has 12 5/8 LOP. Got factory 130's grouping 1 inch. Send me a PM .

You don't need to buy it. She can just use it.

 

[Tinesdown]

My wife got drawn for a 4C mule deer buck tag this year. This is her first big game tag so it's pretty special for us. I wanted to reach out to the NDA crew for any help you guys got. I was out there for a couple days this weekend to do a scouting trip as this is the first time hunting this area. I was all over the whole unit. The amount of public land in the area is actually a little overwhelming, it makes a guy second guess on where to start. My wife understands that she might not shoot anything but beings this is her first tag, I want to do everything in my power to give a her a chance at filling it and that includes asking you guys for help. With both of us having full-time jobs, 2 young kids at home and 4.5hrs away from the unit, we probably only have time for one long weekend trip. This is going to be a memorable trip for both of us but I'm really hoping she can fill her tag to make it even more memorable. I would greatly appreciate any help you guys have.

Have not read the other posts yet but am familiar with the unit um public is spotty for good bucks unless you are a mountain goat the appitamy of human physical endurance. That said iv hunted private in the unit for turkeys when younger. Deer seem to be on the private for the most part so getting permission is a key to better outcome imo. I'll shout out a few areas or land owners kinda flaky but no shit a cecil muuay talk with him he has more Boone bucks than any rancher I have met he also hunts so not gonna let you on but can shadow him if spillover is a game iv learned from public hunting. A gus tarnavsky another great guy younger an also buts against decent public acess. Its rough country around his so hit the gym often now if you serious. Ed storm I think his daughter controls it now but always found horns on his ground an help him out with something its a sure bet for land acess. He's down on scairt women road or creek. All the people I mentioned are prolly like nearly dead but worth a shot those mofos from the bad ground are a different bread of people hope this helps. Where are you coming from? If I may ask?

 

[Tinesdown]

Murray on the first

 

[Tinesdown]

Sit within a 1/2 mile of whitetail road at dawn and dusk. She will shoot a Buck depending on how picky you are. It should be at least 130’s 4x4. Edit: There will be a lot of hunters driving around, but sitting at dawn and dusk you will see deer within range.

Sitting for mulies in open country not on a known funnel idk bud sounds like good luck!

 

[shorthairsrus]

Mule deer hunt ---- get off the road and start hunting. Dont think to hard about it the land beauty will suck you in.

 

[SDMF]

If you find any concentration of does, you figuratively can "sit on them" and bucks WILL show up.

If you try to literally sit on them I don't know what saddle/bridle you'd use, and more likely you'd get the shizzle kicked outta ya trying to get aboard.

Like every other critter that lives in the wild, "In the Sun, out of the Wind" always applies once the AM movement has slowed and before the evening movement has started. So, that's where you glass, spots they can lay in the sun and be out of the wind. Try to be looking/glassing "into the wind" as many critter will have the wind @ their back. They can smell what's coming behind them and see downwind that which they can't smell.

When you're glassing, you won't necessarily see whole animals. Mule Deer rumps stand out and so do the very light color of the inside of their ears. Nearly white spots where they're "not supposed to be" are something to study more to see if you can make out a partial animal. Once you pick out one, you'll often find more in the same bit of cover if you study it for a while.

Sorry, I have 0 actual info for the unit, just a bit of glassing and tactical advise.

Best of luck!

 

[Kurtr]

Binos on a tripod are a game changer you can pick apart cover with far less eye strain

 

[LBrandt]

Watch MEAT EATER and find out how to hunt Muley's. LB

 

[Fester]

Have seen lots of deer moving during the day also..this is across whe whole state.

 

[7mmMag]

If your wife is somewhat small I can deliver the BB 270 with the composite stock has 12 5/8 LOP. Got factory 130's grouping 1 inch. Send me a PM .

You don't need to buy it. She can just use it.

Thanks for the offer. I have a 7mm-08 Weatherby Camilla loaded with light recoil 120's

 

[Coyote_guy]

I'll echo what Kurtr said..Glass from a tripod and also pack a spotter since you wont be carrying a rifle. A spotter can really help when picking apart cover, looking for antlers or the white of an ear or rump. I wont leave the truck without mine when I'm hunting out there.

If I only had one long weekend to hunt, I'd be trying to cover as much ground as possible along with putting in quality time behind your glass(on a tripod). Lots of awesome looking country out there but only a fraction of it holds a nice buck.

 

[NodakBob]

Agree with everything said so far. The bucks tend to bed up high…walking along the top of ridges can be productive while avoiding the physical demands of going deep down in the draws.

 

[YCbtx]

If its your wife's first hunt out that way, put some thought into clothing (especially if you have just one shot at a trip and have to hunt through weather out there)...getting out of the truck well before first light and getting far enough in is the ticket to do a nice long morning sit but awful tough to do that with a cold wife once you sit. One of those puffy coats that stuffs in a backpack easy so you dont wear it in and sweat but blocks wind and is warm when you sit still can make things way more enjoyable plus a pack full of handwarmers helps. Once you get out of the truck and hike in and say to yourself, thats far enough...thats what 90% of the other hunters say too...thats when its time to hike over the next ridge or 2. Good luck!.....had my wife out west for her first tag last year and my daughter the year before and they have been my most memorable hunts by far!

 

[JMF]

I agree with YCbtx on keeping them warm while glassing. You can buy some really light weight down blankets, AKA poncho liner or woobie, for pretty cheap on amazon, they pack down super small to stuff in your pack as well.

Amazon product

 

[NDSportsman]

One weekend probably isn't going to get it done unless you aren't picky. Lot of ground to look over and find a good one. Whenever I draw a tag out there I usually plan at least a week off to hunt plus a couple weekends. Time flies when you're wandering around out there on foot.

Anyway as others said get up high and glass as far as you can then move to another location and repeat. Early morning you should find deer still up and moving around. Depending on the weather and rut activity there could be good mid-day movement or hardly any. Get as far off roads as possible for a good one.