Where to go, where to look, what to do? For a big muley.

M

Mossyhorn70

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41
Backstory... I grew up hunting since I was 12, have hunted quite a bit across the west but always DIY. I've killed a couple 145" type bucks but that's it. Time is my biggest enemy and I simply don't have the luxury to spend time where mule deer live. I really want to have a good chance at a 180 type buck before I get too old. I apply in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon. I started applying in Colorado (got 2 points) and contemplating starting to apply in AZ. But those two states are a long ways from home (Western Washington) and a little daunting for a solo hunter. I'm spending more and more money every year on applications, buying a few raffle tickets here and there. But I have the absolute worst luck in drawing tags. I just don't draw tags unless I have the points for them.

My wife and I were talking last night about how we're getting older and we should really try to start doing the things we want in life. She knows I don't get to hunt much anymore like I use to and said I need to plan some big hunts.

I research alot and I think I got a decent handle on some of the better draw tags. But the problem is they're all a hope and a prayer away. I think I need to start considering paying some chunks of change to hunt either private or buying LO tags. That is where I know nothing.

I've been looking at LO tags but either I'm not looking in the right places, or they aren't out there like I thought?

So with that, does anyone have ideas for what I've mentioned?

Thanks for any ideas!
 
Generally takes a lifetime of pref/bonus pts, ungodly luck drawing a tag with insane draw odds, or an ungodly amount of cash to purchase a top tier tag.

Those that have funds to purchase tags or own private land in trophy buck country have the ability to hunt trophy caliber bucks on a regular basis. The B&C county listings are a start figuring out where top bucks are shot.

Places like Saskatchewan, Jicarilla, Alberta, snd Sonora are a few premier locations a guy can hunt every year. If you want to shoot one with a camera I know a spot in Colo you can shoot one just about any day for free!
 
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How old are you, just wondering how much time you have left? 😂 I think You could have a shot at a 180 type buck with the points you have. You might be able to get some cheap land owner tags but it's going to be a big chunk of money if you're after the top tier tags. I think if you have decent tags and you hold out until the end and you're okay with not shooting a buck you will have a shot at 180 deer be the next 10 years. If you can pay your way on to private you will have more chances and sooner as well.

I'm not sure how many points you have in Wyoming but if you could draw G in about 4 or 5 years you could have a real shot at a 180 buck, barring any weather catastrophes.

Also, in Colorado if you get most any unit that's two to five points and you get some cold snowy weather I think you could have a shot. Landowner tags will up your chances by simply giving you more chances to hunt in Colorado.

Not sure how many points you have in Utah but there are a few LE units where 180 is very doable. It is doable on general tags but you have to put in the work and/or get lucky.
 
Mossyhorn70 said:
Backstory... I grew up hunting since I was 12, have hunted quite a bit across the west but always DIY. I've killed a couple 145" type bucks but that's it. Time is my biggest enemy and I simply don't have the luxury to spend time where mule deer live. I really want to have a good chance at a 180 type buck before I get too old. I apply in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon. I started applying in Colorado (got 2 points) and contemplating starting to apply in AZ. But those two states are a long ways from home (Western Washington) and a little daunting for a solo hunter. I'm spending more and more money every year on applications, buying a few raffle tickets here and there. But I have the absolute worst luck in drawing tags. I just don't draw tags unless I have the points for them.

My wife and I were talking last night about how we're getting older and we should really try to start doing the things we want in life. She knows I don't get to hunt much anymore like I use to and said I need to plan some big hunts.

I research alot and I think I got a decent handle on some of the better draw tags. But the problem is they're all a hope and a prayer away. I think I need to start considering paying some chunks of change to hunt either private or buying LO tags. That is where I know nothing.

I've been looking at LO tags but either I'm not looking in the right places, or they aren't out there like I thought?

So with that, does anyone have ideas for what I've mentioned?

Thanks for any ideas!
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Its tough to get the right tag right time !!! Its driven me nuts for years- theres a problem with Az right off--$ 160 year just to enter the draw- with terrible draw odds. Got to enter as a NR.
But it’s possible- not probable ! Ugh.
Some good units to try are: 12 A West Late, 13-A , Az Strip, 13- B Az Strip.

Same with Colorado, just keep plugging here, most of the NW deer units are very good, but still recovering from bad winters 2-3 years ago.
Wyoming is still a bust from the bad winters 2-3 years ago that clobbered the antelope & deer both very badly !! Be aware of that !
Wish it were better, but its so tough all over the West now.
Best Wishes,
Jerry Gold in Windsor, Colorado 😁👏
 
Big deer are few far between these days and 3 things are what gets them killed these days. 1. Putting a serious amount of time and effort into it. 2. Money- LO tags, auction tags, guided hunts, private land access etc.. 3. Getting down right lucky. From the sounds of your situation with not being able to spend copious amounts of time in hills and with your current points situation you might want to consider leaning on the money part. A guided/private land hunt in eastern Colorado or perhaps Alberta/Saskatchewan is truthfully your best bet at a 180 plus inch deer if you can pay to play outside of buying a Governors/Commisoners tag or going with some premium LO tags. Honestly your probably wasting your time and money applying in states like Oregon if your seeking a trophy mule deer. Colorado is a must apply state, if I was going to add one to your list I would recommend applying for New Mexico because of its lottery system in which you could luck into a premium tag at anytime and not get caught up in point creep like Colorado, Wyoming or Utah.
 
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schoolhousegrizz said:
How old are you, just wondering how much time you have left? 😂 I think You could have a shot at a 180 type buck with the points you have. You might be able to get some cheap land owner tags but it's going to be a big chunk of money if you're after the top tier tags. I think if you have decent tags and you hold out until the end and you're okay with not shooting a buck you will have a shot at 180 deer be the next 10 years. If you can pay your way on to private you will have more chances and sooner as well.

I'm not sure how many points you have in Wyoming but if you could draw G in about 4 or 5 years you could have a real shot at a 180 buck, barring any weather catastrophes.

Also, in Colorado if you get most any unit that's two to five points and you get some cold snowy weather I think you could have a shot. Landowner tags will up your chances by simply giving you more chances to hunt in Colorado.

Not sure how many points you have in Utah but there are a few LE units where 180 is very doable. It is doable on general tags but you have to put in the work and/or get lucky.
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Well, maybe I shouldn't have sounded all doom and gloom. I'm still only 42, but college athletics have caught up to me. I'm already in need of bilateral hip replacements and my back has slowed me down a lot. Getting around the mountains isn't as easy as it use to.

I'm up to 3 points in Wyoming after burning 6 on 81 a few years ago. I've hunted in G for elk and not sure I want to go that way. That's a hard hunt and highly competitive with low success rates and like you said, the winters keep knocking things down in WY.

I do not have deep pockets but do well enough that I could spend $8-10K on a good hunt every few years. I've hesitated getting into the long game with points. I just burned 19 points last year in Oregon on a hunt that should have been better. Spent 11 days hunting and never saw a mature deer by any stretch.
 
Pick a unit in a state you can hunt multiple times and learn it. I would rather hunt a lesser unit I know, than wait to hunt a "premier" unit I don't know. There are no silver bullet units anymore for big muleys, but there are a few in most units in any western state.
 
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The_Coloradoboy said:
Big deer are few far between these days and 3 things are what gets them killed these days. 1. Putting a serious amount of time and effort into it. 2. Money- LO tags, auction tags, guided hunts, private land access etc.. 3. Getting down right lucky. From the sounds of your situation with not being able to spend copious amounts of time in hills and with your current points situation you might want to consider leaning on the money part. A guided/private land hunt in eastern Colorado or perhaps Alberta/Saskatchewan is truthfully your best bet at a 180 plus inch deer if you can pay to play outside of buying a Governors/Commisoners tag or going with some premium LO tags. Honestly your probably wasting your time and money applying in states like Oregon if your seeking a trophy mule deer. Colorado is a must apply state, if I was going to add one to your list I would recommend applying for New Mexico because of its lottery system in which you could luck into a premium tag at anytime and not get caught up in point creep like Colorado, Wyoming or Utah.
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Yes, Oregon was a waste of time. I was born and raised there, moved to AK and then to WA. Burned all my points last year and struck out.

Drawing anything on the easier side, as a non-resident, has become so difficult that its hard to hunt the same place on any kind of regular basis. Trying to learn an area has become really hard because tags are so hard to draw. And if it's easier to draw, there's usually lots of pressure. Honestly I'm kind of burned out on putting a lot of time and effort into hunts that are mediocre and turn up mostly other hunters.
 
I would not get into the mule deer pref/bonus pts game unless you have $ to burn. Things are way different than the 80s and 90s when Carters were advertising to all hunters to buy pts to draw great public land tags. I would save that $ and years of applying to hunt on private land or in Canada/Mexico. You can bet that the best options for top trophy muley bucks is reaching a premium price as fewer of those options are available.

The Western US muledeer quality and quantity of 180+ bucks is in the toilet! It may never be like it once was with current management strategies. There are a few exceptions but not many.

Like I mentioned above, do a bunch of research and think outside the box to figure out the best scenario for your budget. You are asking for the same thing millions of other monster muley fanatics across the US are asking for! It isn’t going to be cheap and the $ price is only going to get higher with winterkill, drought, predators, and poor habitat across the West.

Mule deer numbers across the West are at historic lows and demand is extremely high. I used to live and die watching, filming, scouting, and hunting big muledeer….I’ve pretty much converted over to other species and trips. If I had a different budget I would likely still be doing pretty well.

Reality has pretty much set in about the doom and gloom of Western US muledeer. Take a look at how many of these type of posts exist compared to in the good ole days!
 
Keep your fingers crossed that states like Colo where the CPW totally screwed up the quality and quantity of muledeer will change management strategies! It was only a few years ago Colo was the mecca of trophy mule deer. Colo used to be a state that nonres had a great chance to draw tags and it was reasonably easy to harvest a respectable buck!

I really hope the CPW listen to resident and nonresident hunters like yourself and change strategies!
 
If you think you have aches now, wait 20 years. 🤣🤣

Even if you are willing to dump that kind of money every few years I would still build points and apply for as many hunts as possible. Are mule deer the only species you want to chase?

New Mexico is another option in their guided hunt draw. Some outfitters offer 2 day guided hunts cheaper to get you in the better odds for drawing. Learn from them for 2 days than keep hunting on your own the rest of the season. Might be able to get in multiple hunts in a 5 to 10 year span. This is something I have not done yet but plan to.

You did not mention time. Can you spend a week scouting before season? Finding a buck before season and keeping tabs on him until season will up your odds before they get pushed around by others.

Realistically I think the percentage of hunters shooting 180” plus is less than most think. Unless they are paying BIG $$$.

Wish you luck on your quest.
 
LIK2HNT said:
If you think you have aches now, wait 20 years. 🤣🤣

Even if you are willing to dump that kind of money every few years I would still build points and apply for as many hunts as possible. Are mule deer the only species you want to chase?

New Mexico is another option in their guided hunt draw. Some outfitters offer 2 day guided hunts cheaper to get you in the better odds for drawing. Learn from them for 2 days than keep hunting on your own the rest of the season. Might be able to get in multiple hunts in a 5 to 10 year span. This is something I have not done yet but plan to.

You did not mention time. Can you spend a week scouting before season? Finding a buck before season and keeping tabs on him until season will up your odds before they get pushed around by others.

Realistically I think the percentage of hunters shooting 180” plus is less than most think. Unless they are paying BIG $$$.

Wish you luck on your quest.
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And that's why I want to start getting more serious about doing hunts now. Cause it's all downhill from here.

I do have other ambitions of hunting, I really enjoy hunting archery elk and that has been my primary focus on building points. Pronghorn is something I'd like to do more regularly, but outside of Wyoming, that's pretty tough.

Time is tough, work is demanding and three kids under the age of 10 who are discovering sports is definitely eating up most of our time.

And I'm not looking to stack up monster bucks every year. It would just be nice to hunt and at least have a chance at a nice buck. Too many hunts have been in places that they are a unicorn. If i'm going to take the time away from home and family, I really want it to be worth the effort.
 
I know exactly how it is with kids in competitive sports! My son was in sports through college. He hardly had any time through college for hunting. The same thing with his kids in competitive sports, work, etc. once he was out of college. As you well know, kids take a heck of a lot of time!

One of the things I did as a dad and grandpa to help out was scouting so things were ready to go when seasons opened. I'm not sure if you have a buddy or dad that has more time to scout?

Another alternative is swap hunts. I've actually swapped hunts with other devout hunters across the country. This is another way to open up opportunities that otherwise would not be available. I shared hunts in my neck of the woods and they share hunts in theirs. This is one of the things I mentioned in my post above about "thinking outside of the box".

Obviously, a guided hunt or getting to know others that have first-hand knowledge about an area or species offers a lot of the same scouting perks that save time and $. Unfortunately, guided hunts aren't cheap.

If you live in the state where you enjoy hunting it makes things simpler and easier. I understand how it is difficult to pick up and move a family, especially with job and other considerations.
 
Here is a question. Would you rather get a 165 public land DIY buck or 180 plus buck on private ground or guided? 180 is no easy task. I think you could get a 165 buck by just hunting these mediocre units and being willing to pass on most bucks. A 165 would be bound to show up after a handful of years, if not much sooner. It's just time and tags. Being short on time hurts. How much time can you spend hunting each year?
 
Open up a high yield savings account with $250 (or whatever you can swing) auto draft each month. Forget about it. In a few years go on a guided hunt, or if you have the time, buy a LO tag and take a bunch of time off work. With kids under 10 you’ve got plenty of time for the long game. The money is already there and much less painful to spend when you set it up like that.

I came up with this plan when I was buzzed a few years ago and it was the best alcohol fueled decision I ever made. Got enough in there for a guided hunt or LO tag now. Was supposed to be for a sheep hunt but that ship has sailed, mule deer are better anyways 👍🏻
 
My opinion is the more you hunt the better your chance for a 180 class buck. I don't think as far as getting tags by draw, any state should be left out. They often change by the decade, at least.

I have killed a couple over and a couple that sniff that mark. I've never gone guided, I've never drawn a truly once in a lifetime tag. In fact I don't think I've burned over 6 points on a tag. I have a bunch of Nevada points but can't decide where to burn them. Other than that I apply in CO, CA and OR. I hunt the general season in ID.

A couple of the better bucks I've killed were on ID general tags.

EVERY time I've mule deer hunted I felt like I had a chance at a 180 or better buck. They are NOT everywhere but I believe they live on every unit in the west.

The people I know who never kill a big one are one of a couple kind of people.

(1) They are never seeing enough deer or bucks to satisfy them so they get REALLY down. I hate hunting with people like this. They quit. Usually by shooting a dink. Then wanna go home. Some hunts get better as the season goes along. These guys think the opener is the only shot at a good one. Nothing is further from the truth IMO. As the season goes along people thin out and weather or moon conditions change. Odds go up in my experience.

(2) They have TOO MANY hunts. They rush to fill a tag or leave to get to the next hunt. Especially if the next hunt is supposed to be a better one. But I know guys who rush through their OOS hunts to get back home to the general B zone blacktail tags in CA???


I have even seen it on here, there was a guy awhile back who put an archery season buck on here for a guess the score. It was a good buck, especially for archery, but he was leaving the buck to go home and prepare for a "better" tag. Toe I'm not leaving a good buck to move to an unknown hunt until I have to or punch the tag on that buck.

Some people are highly pessimistic. To the point I believe they effect their own luck. Every hunt you go on could produce the buck you want. I try to instill this in my kids (wh ALL did sports through high school and I attended most of) that hard work pays off and that it only takes one buck to make your hunt. Try to stay UP.

I live in CA (gasp) one of my better typicals (176 ish gross) came from an X zone here. Another of my better bucks (a 32 inch wide 7x4 that scores 177ish gross) came from a 3 point Oregon unit.

You want a 180 buck? Decide if you wanna buy it or earn it. If you wanna buy it then you will have to spend pretty big money to get one "guaranteed". If you wanna earn one, then you gotta hunt as often as you can and as many places as you can. The earn it method? Trust me a score won't matter as much. 160 to 175 will make you pretty happy.

Good luck and get after it. You don't have much time...haha.

I remember when I was 42 and thought I was old, barely but I do remember it...
 
Take a look at how many truly gigantic B&C typical and nontypical muley bucks have come out of Saskatchewan in recent years. In fact, the top Sasketch nontypical scores an astounding 291 and was harvested in 2018. A 270 B&C nontypical was harvested in 2020 and a 269 nontypical in 2018. The list goes on and on! You would be amazed at how many exception bucks have been harvested in the past 5 to 10 years. I'm talking about 200+ class bucks on a fairly regular basis! Most monster muley fanatics don't even know that Saskatchewan exists and is the current mecca for monster muley bucks.

There is good reason! Unless I'm mistaken, nonres of Canada can't hunt Saskatchewan mule deer even with a guide? Maybe someone that knows more than me can chime in?

Move to Saskatchewan if you truly want to live in a monster muley paradise! From what I understand, the waterfowl, whitetail hunting, and fishing isn't bad? My guess is that it is like the Western US was decades ago. If I was young and a super muley fanatic, I know where I would live! That's definitely thinking outside the box!
 
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Sorry to bust your bubble jims, but it is my understanding that Saskatchewan is in the process of implanting some heavy handed management to combat CWD. Saskatchewan will not be a monster muley paradise for long.
 
I’m aware of CWD in Saskatchewan. If they don’t do like Colo and cull the heck out of their deer, they will still produce B&C whoppers.
 
schoolhousegrizz said:
Here is a question. Would you rather get a 165 public land DIY buck or 180 plus buck on private ground or guided? 180 is no easy task. I think you could get a 165 buck by just hunting these mediocre units and being willing to pass on most bucks. A 165 would be bound to show up after a handful of years, if not much sooner. It's just time and tags. Being short on time hurts. How much time can you spend hunting each year?
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I can usually get 10-12 days to hunt a year. This year I didn’t draw any tags and haven’t been able to line any kind of a hunt out. I think you’re right about getting out often.
 
Mossyhorn70 said:
And that's why I want to start getting more serious about doing hunts now. Cause it's all downhill from here.

I do have other ambitions of hunting, I really enjoy hunting archery elk and that has been my primary focus on building points. Pronghorn is something I'd like to do more regularly, but outside of Wyoming, that's pretty tough.

Time is tough, work is demanding and three kids under the age of 10 who are discovering sports is definitely eating up most of our time.

And I'm not looking to stack up monster bucks every year. It would just be nice to hunt and at least have a chance at a nice buck. Too many hunts have been in places that they are a unicorn. If i'm going to take the time away from home and family, I really want it to be worth the effort.
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Beware of Wyoming !! Antelope all over that state got clobbered by the terrible winter kills 2-3 years ago, will take years to recover back to previous levels, barring droughts & more terrible winters. Just facts. I hunted there from 1978 on.
Not any more !! Plus the prices for licenses went thru the roof too. Not playing their games anytime any more.
Love that state, but they really PO’d me off- the good ole boys in Cheyenne. They did us NR’s very bad !! I lived in Cheyenne too for 15 years. Unless you are originally from there, you’re not really welcome, in my experience anyway .
Jerry Gold- now In Windsor, Colorado 😵‍💫😆
 
huntindad4 said:
My opinion is the more you hunt the better your chance for a 180 class buck. I don't think as far as getting tags by draw, any state should be left out. They often change by the decade, at least.

I have killed a couple over and a couple that sniff that mark. I've never gone guided, I've never drawn a truly once in a lifetime tag. In fact I don't think I've burned over 6 points on a tag. I have a bunch of Nevada points but can't decide where to burn them. Other than that I apply in CO, CA and OR. I hunt the general season in ID.

A couple of the better bucks I've killed were on ID general tags.

EVERY time I've mule deer hunted I felt like I had a chance at a 180 or better buck. They are NOT everywhere but I believe they live on every unit in the west.

The people I know who never kill a big one are one of a couple kind of people.

(1) They are never seeing enough deer or bucks to satisfy them so they get REALLY down. I hate hunting with people like this. They quit. Usually by shooting a dink. Then wanna go home. Some hunts get better as the season goes along. These guys think the opener is the only shot at a good one. Nothing is further from the truth IMO. As the season goes along people thin out and weather or moon conditions change. Odds go up in my experience.

(2) They have TOO MANY hunts. They rush to fill a tag or leave to get to the next hunt. Especially if the next hunt is supposed to be a better one. But I know guys who rush through their OOS hunts to get back home to the general B zone blacktail tags in CA???


I have even seen it on here, there was a guy awhile back who put an archery season buck on here for a guess the score. It was a good buck, especially for archery, but he was leaving the buck to go home and prepare for a "better" tag. Toe I'm not leaving a good buck to move to an unknown hunt until I have to or punch the tag on that buck.

Some people are highly pessimistic. To the point I believe they effect their own luck. Every hunt you go on could produce the buck you want. I try to instill this in my kids (wh ALL did sports through high school and I attended most of) that hard work pays off and that it only takes one buck to make your hunt. Try to stay UP.

I live in CA (gasp) one of my better typicals (176 ish gross) came from an X zone here. Another of my better bucks (a 32 inch wide 7x4 that scores 177ish gross) came from a 3 point Oregon unit.

You want a 180 buck? Decide if you wanna buy it or earn it. If you wanna buy it then you will have to spend pretty big money to get one "guaranteed". If you wanna earn one, then you gotta hunt as often as you can and as many places as you can. The earn it method? Trust me a score won't matter as much. 160 to 175 will make you pretty happy.

Good luck and get after it. You don't have much time...haha.

I remember when I was 42 and thought I was old, barely but I do remember it...
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I agree with you and have been hunting long enough to see what you describe. I've been on hunts where I definitely regret pulling the trigger early and am at the point where I don't need to shoot something just to fill a tag. I ate a 19 point tag last year after hunting for 11 days straight. That was hard!

I typically don't hunt openers as I like the later dates for hopefully better weather (snow, colder temps)

I've done Idaho a couple times, hunting south east. But not in great units. Hunted there cause a buddy lives there. I applied there in the second draw this year and didn't draw. Been trying to get in on the tag returns but pretty hard to sit there in front of the computer at work!
 
Jerry said:
Beware of Wyoming !! Antelope all over that state got clobbered by the terrible winter kills 2-3 years ago, will take years to recover back to previous levels, barring droughts & more terrible winters. Just facts. I hunted there from 1978 on.
Not any more !! Plus the prices for licenses went thru the roof too. Not playing their games anytime any more.
Love that state, but they really PO’d me off- the good ole boys in Cheyenne. They did us NR’s very bad !! I lived in Cheyenne too for 15 years. Unless you are originally from there, you’re not really welcome, in my experience anyway .
Jerry Gold- now In Windsor, Colorado 😵‍💫😆
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I know, Wyoming has really dropped off hard. I have 9 points for pronghorn and everytime I go to apply, a bad winter hits and I just keep accumulating points. I drew a decent tag there in 2021 and it was a 6 point draw. Now it's 10. Hard to keep up with that.
 
Bigwiffy said:
Pick a unit in a state you can hunt multiple times and learn it. I would rather hunt a lesser unit I know, than wait to hunt a "premier" unit I don't know. There are no silver bullet units anymore for big muleys, but there are a few in most units in any western state.
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This.

I came to the realization long ago that trying to hunt a "premier" unit year in and year out is unrealistic (for me anyway). A few years ago we decided to focus on our general season unit here in Utah and learn the heck out of it. I think it's starting to pay off. We're finding more and more mature deer every year. I have a hunch that I'll end up killing a mature buck on this general season unit before I draw my Limited entry permit (which I have 23 years invested into so far).

I hear of guys killing big deer consistently. The common denominator seems to be that they either are able to invest a ton of time or they have deep pockets. or both. I don't have either of those 2 things.
 
legacy said:
This.

I came to the realization long ago that trying to hunt a "premier" unit year in and year out is unrealistic (for me anyway). A few years ago we decided to focus on our general season unit here in Utah and learn the heck out of it. I think it's starting to pay off. We're finding more and more mature deer every year. I have a hunch that I'll end up killing a mature buck on this general season unit before I draw my Limited entry permit (which I have 23 years invested into so far).

I hear of guys killing big deer consistently. The common denominator seems to be that they either are able to invest a ton of time or they have deep pockets. or both. I don't have either of those 2 things.
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Me either ! No deep pockets & not enough time either- tough situation there. Plus Im 77 now & the clock is ticking faster every year- what happened to all that time ? Ugh. 😂
Jerry Gold- Windsor, Colorado 😁😳⭐️
 
Mossyhorn70 said:
I know, Wyoming has really dropped off hard. I have 9 points for pronghorn and everytime I go to apply, a bad winter hits and I just keep accumulating points. I drew a decent tag there in 2021 and it was a 6 point draw. Now it's 10. Hard to keep up with that.
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I made the mistake of hunting there in ‘23- what a huge dissatisfaction that was- never 👎 make that mistake again-never fired a shot there ! 😂😵‍💫 No points now- dont want anything to do with Wyoming again. 😵‍💫
 
Mossyhorn70 said:
Backstory... I grew up hunting since I was 12, have hunted quite a bit across the west but always DIY. I've killed a couple 145" type bucks but that's it. Time is my biggest enemy and I simply don't have the luxury to spend time where mule deer live. I really want to have a good chance at a 180 type buck before I get too old. I apply in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon. I started applying in Colorado (got 2 points) and contemplating starting to apply in AZ. But those two states are a long ways from home (Western Washington) and a little daunting for a solo hunter. I'm spending more and more money every year on applications, buying a few raffle tickets here and there. But I have the absolute worst luck in drawing tags. I just don't draw tags unless I have the points for them.

My wife and I were talking last night about how we're getting older and we should really try to start doing the things we want in life. She knows I don't get to hunt much anymore like I use to and said I need to plan some big hunts.

I research alot and I think I got a decent handle on some of the better draw tags. But the problem is they're all a hope and a prayer away. I think I need to start considering paying some chunks of change to hunt either private or buying LO tags. That is where I know nothing.

I've been looking at LO tags but either I'm not looking in the right places, or they aren't out there like I thought?

So with that, does anyone have ideas for what I've mentioned?

Thanks for any ideas!
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If you have enough money you can hunt in any state and hunt premier ground as well. At your age Private land hunts are you only option or luck beyond imagination in the draw
 
schoolhousegrizz said:
He is only 42. He has plenty of time to get a 180 type buck
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Come on guys, I’m not out for a pity party. But I’ve beat the **** out of my body and honestly don’t know how many more years I can truly hit the mountains hard. I’ve done some hard hunts and had some serious pack outs. I’ve had some back issues that have left me wondering how I’m going to continue to hunt like I have in the past. Ya I’m only 42 and I’m consulting right now to have both my hips replaced. I know my best years are gone and I’m trying to live right now like the good years I got left, are numbered.

And 180 is just a number. It’s just a benchmark. I’d be ecstatic with a 165 buck.
 
Mossyhorn70 said:
Come on guys, I’m not out for a pity party. But I’ve beat the **** out of my body and honestly don’t know how many more years I can truly hit the mountains hard. I’ve done some hard hunts and had some serious pack outs. I’ve had some back issues that have left me wondering how I’m going to continue to hunt like I have in the past. Ya I’m only 42 and I’m consulting right now to have both my hips replaced. I know my best years are gone and I’m trying to live right now like the good years I got left, are numbered.

And 180 is just a number. It’s just a benchmark. I’d be ecstatic with a 165 buck.
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Just be patient keep holding out, you will get a shot at a 165 buck for sure.
 
Mossyhorn70 said:
And 180 is just a number. It’s just a benchmark. I’d be ecstatic with a 165 buck.
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I would say that Utah General Deer you can put in the time and kill a 165 buck on any unit. With 180 defiantly being in reach. Put in the work and you will reap the rewards!

If you dont want to go general then just buy a Land Owner or Limited entry tag and put in the work on that tag!
 
42 yo, double hip replacement and considering just now starting with AZ points for a big mule deer?

You’re young, but the points game passed you by years ago. LO mule deer tags are your friend.

Drop Utah from your strategy unless you have >10 points. Probably keep going with WY and CO points.
 
If you are serious about the 10k budget, shoot me a pm and I’ll give you a couple suggestions in Alberta. One I’ve hunted with twice and got one 180+, and then another that generally does a little better on average. Will be Moose hunting with the second one this Oct. and expect to see a few good bucks too. One is about 1.5k over budget for some MD hunts, and about the same under for others. The second one is under 10k for now, I expect him to raise the $ with the bucks he’s been killing.
 
Mossyhorn70 said:
Yes! For sure it would. I'd love to get out of where we are but easier said than done. I did that and went to AK for 5 years to get all my guide species. But that was before kids and careers.years
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Dont move to Wyoming, the hunting especially for huge antelope has gone to the dumpster since the monster winters hit ! Not coming back for years either. Deer almost as bad too.
Az you can grow old & die waiting to draw a premiere tag- Ive lived in both Az & Wy- I now live in Colorado. Better but still lacking ! I dont know the best answer as to what state to live in now. Maybe 🤔 Alaska ! But Im too old now at 77- my wife would leave me too. 🤢
 
The_Coloradoboy said:
Eastern Colorado would be a great option for you
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I second that- Eastern Colorado is a real attractive option for giant whitetails & mule deer too. It will take a lot of talking to the right outfitters & private land owners to locate that prize property that has that quality you are seeking to locate. Ive done quite a lot of checking over the years, but never found very much interest from outfitters, guides, landowners, seems all they care about are big $$$ paid in advance ! I guess they all think we are NR’s loaded with $$$- I live in Colorado already ! Just my experiences thus far.
 
antlerradar said:
This thread is just sad. A testimonial on just how far mule deer have slipped. I am less then 20 years older than the OP and I started hunting a 180 was a realistic goal just about everywhere every year.
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Art, what’s the real season for the decline in your neck of the woods? Pivot lines full of mule deer are now empty. What gives?
 
That answer, kind of depends on where you are asking about. On the Custer it is largely over hunting. Mostly doe hunting. FWP just give out too many tags and when the population drops dew to winter or drought they are too slow to react and reduce doe tags. When populations start to rebound the public never rebounds as fast as the private and FWP is back to issuing too many doe tag long before the Public has recovered.

On the pivots I think you are referring to, new ownership has gone from very aggressive predator management on both lions and coyotes to no predator hunting period. That can not help.

I think even a bigger issue is new ownership has ether let the irrigated fields revert back to grass or replanted to grass. Just not a lot of alfalfa left and grass just doesn't make very good deer food no matter how much you water it.
 

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