I'm heading to Wyoming with a buddy this fall to chase after mule deer with our bows.
I've lost 13# since we decided to go, lost 6% body fat percentage and have been mindful of my eating habits along with hitting the gym 5 days per week. I'm excited to continue on my fitness journey, with the goal of being under 15% body fat percentage by the time we leave.
I went back to my old standard Easton Axis arrows, put the Iron Will HIT and collar on there. Have some IW Wide heads that i'll use for my Iowa whitetails, going to order a half dozen or so 125 grain solid blades for my trip out West. Also ordered a Carter Evolution 20 resistance activated release, excited to start practicing with it more now that it's getting decent outside.
My wife will be joining me at TAC in South Dakota, i'm lined up for the Sitka course which will hopefully give me the opportunity to practice shot angles/distances that I don't get to simulate much at all here in Iowa.
Reading a bunch of mule deer centric books and listening to as many muley podcasts as I can trying to soak up info.
Just mainly wanted to put this out there to help keep myself accountable on my fitness journey.
If you have any tips for a first time mule deer hunter, i'd love to hear them- or any stories would be good too.
Thanks!
JohnMC's Link
I'm not entirely sure just yet, it will be above treeline/real close to it!
Nothing has been more useful than the military booney hats with the loops around the brim. What I do is cut 3-4 pieces of the local flora (sage) and put them in the loops so they stick up 2-4" over my head. I think it breaks up the round predator dome look of our heads.
Then if I get caught peeking up for a look I never duck down when I think they may have caught me. I don't care how long it takes I stay still until they relax or flee.
238 down to 225 and added good lean muscle mass.
Running 5-6 miles per week, @ or under 2k calories per day of good clean food. Since it’s warming up I’ll add hikes with my pack.
Approach angle is also critical. Mule deer will almost always bed facing downwind. That way they can see any danger approaching from downwind, and smell anything approaching from upwind. So, if possible, I try to select an approach route that is perpendicular to the wind.
Just a few of my thoughts.
Matt
I’ve got my pack and boots sorted out, clothing will be next as most of my stuff that I had when I lived in Montana is tattered and not at all waterproof anymore
Your from Montana at one time, so you know altitude. I dont care how much in shape you are, if you do not live in that atmosphere, your lungs are going to suck and your going to slow down...... That is what I have found. So make sure you plan on having enough time to hunt, and rest....................................... Started this at 25, and was inspired by Chuck Adams, Larry Jones, and Dwight Schuh. Best book to read but I am old school, is Open Country Mule Deer, by Dwight Schuh.
Being young I was a hard charger, and my job with the Div of Forestry for California was my work out,,,,, Hunted the High Sierras, it was really special back then. Moved on to Nevada, and to Colorado............................ Could have stayed out west, but love the UP........................ At 48 I got altitude sickness, and not for the good. I was lucky to have 2 partners that got me down to 8000 to rest for a long time. After that I went to a doctor, and got medicine for it,,,,, Nothing to fool around with,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Best backpacking book, I got to read was Back Country Bowhunting, by Cameron Hanes, wish I had that book when I was young,,,, ha ha...........
Today with Mike Eastman and You Tube, their is so much info its ridiculous. Again its all about oxygen. I remember all the work out guys, that came out in the summer, to fight wildfires, they all looked in great condition, fat wise etc,,,, but they came from the east, and went down like flies in the high country, till they got use to it,,,,,,,
Good luck..... now when I go, its South Dakota, which is easy on me..... If I stayed out west, I would still be at it,,,,, but it is too crowded for my tastes,,,,,,,,,,, stay well
They find a morning bed but that is only good until 10-11 o’clock and they will adjust most times. Sometime a few feet sometime a different ridge altogether . Good luck . Hunt
