When it comes to planning your next mule deer hunting adventure, you must first decide which of six favorite mule deer habitats (desert, juniper woods, low scrub, tall scrub, aspen, or evergreen) to target, then combine the correct techniques to there. Here are some tips for bagging your muley in tall brush.
Tall undergrowth commonly includes oak, mountain mahogany, and service berry. Deer forage in tall brush and often remain in it without traveling for food or water, if both are available.
The toughest hunting I’ve ever done has been in dense oak thickets that are nearly impenetrable. Deer are hard to see; it is difficult to move calmly; and some bushes practically defy human encroachment. However, the big bucks live in the tall weeds and are worth the pittance.
Where weeds grow high on the slopes, I employ an early morning strategy. I climb over the brush on the opposite slope, carefully glazing the undergrowth for moving deer. The high vantage point gives me just enough elevation to see the oak trees, not unlike sitting in a tree.
I try to find an vantage point within reasonable firing range of the brush because once I leave the elevated position, I lose the height advantage. If I do take down a deer, I carefully plan a route to it, otherwise it’s easy to get confused in the undergrowth, making it hard to locate the deer.
The tall brush lends itself well to driving, provided you have companions who are not averse to traveling on foot through the tangle. When driving, it is better to use more standers than drivers because it is difficult to completely cover the undergrowth.
If a unit is not producing but you are sure there are still dollars, rework the unit in a different direction. If the brush is near a steep canyon, make sure a stander covers the area. Male muleys are well known for seeking to escape down a steep canyon.
Look for more mule deer hunting tips, as well as hunting tips and tales for other animals, at my website identified in the resource box below.