Something about Mule Deer

Living on the north edge of Mandan, North Dakota doesn’t qualify for living in the country; however, it’s the perfect place to nurture a love for the outdoors.

This is where my wife Judy grew up, and although the outdoors was part of their family, hunting big game was not.

Judy first experienced deer hunting when she would accompany me bowhunting mule deer in the badlands. We would spend days and days, weekends on weekends chasing the mighty badlands bucks. Soon after spending numerous trips with me; she harvested her first deer, however not a mule deer, but a whitetail doe with the bow. 


You shoot the Small one, I’ll look for the Big one!

Judy’s first chance at a trophy mule deer buck came when we were hunting west of the Little Missouri River many years ago. We had both drawn buck tags and were in the process of hiking into the badlands when we spotted two bucks chasing does about a mile away. We were already about 2 miles from where we had parked the vehicle and the thought of probing deeper into the rough badlands didn’t come with much approval from Judy, although being the gracious hunting partner, she consented. She would later attest to the fact that big mule deer don’t come easy, and the experience of the hunt was well worth the effort.

We continued to glass the bucks as we approached. One buck had a very nice wide and high rack, the other was a mid-sized 4x3. Upon reaching the top of the butte, I bellied to the edge and glassed the basin below. I was able to locate the mid-sized buck however; the big buck was nowhere to be found. The plan was made to crawl to the edge, and since I knew the 4x3 buck was in the basin, she would shoot that smaller buck, and I would look for the big guy. (This may sound selfish on my part, but in reality I want her to get a good buck with an easy shot.) Well all things don’t go as planned. When we got to the edge, I pointed out the mid-sized 4x3 standing near the timberline but Judy couldn’t find him. I repeatedly tried to show her where he was but for some reason she couldn’t spot the buck. Suddenly, directly below us several does jumped up and started running toward this buck and I knew if we didn’t take him now we may not get anything, so I quickly swung my rifle and dropped the 4x3 in his tracks. The other deer began scatter in all directions. We frantically glassed trying to find the big buck, suddenly he appeared following a doe as she exited the trees 250 yards down the draw. Judy had also spotted the deer but was unsure of which one to shoot. I told her that he was the second deer coming out of the trees. She quickly found the buck and squeezed off her first shot. The buck jumped as the hot lead hit below him, cranking in another round, she focused and her second shot hit home. The buck trotted 50 yards and went down on the open hillside. We were ecstatic! What a rush! Two bucks, on the same stalk and Judy’s first big trophy, she was definitely hooked on mule deer.
 

The Reality of Packing-Out

Hunting as partners became a fall ritual whether it was with the bow or the gun. On this fall gun hunt, she and I searched for bucks but struggled to find a good one. It seemed that this was a year where buck numbers were down.

As the daylight waned, we finally spotted a dandy buck. He was a big 5x5 with good forks but he was located in a deep, cliff-edged canyon. We knew that we did not have much time to ponder on how to get on this buck so we decided to get as far out on the finger of the ridge for the best shot. With the sunlight fading fast, Judy pumped her first shot into the buck and as he bolted further down the ravine she hit him again. She had just taken another great buck and we were both very excited, but now we had a three-fold problem, one - it was getting dark, two - we had to figure a way to get down to the buck and three - how do we get him out.

We were able to us a side of the canyon where we could slide down to him. In the darkness we took several pictures and field dressed the dandy 5x5, but choose to leave him until morning when we would return with backpacks to pack him out. It would be no easy task.

The next morning with both packs loaded we started up the steep trail. Judy made it about fifty yards with her pack but it was too heavy to continue. I had to make a couple of trips to get the deer out, but it was worth it.  Needless to say this became a special hunt that we never forgot. We again experience the hunt for mule deer and we experienced the rugged, beautiful home in which they live and the back breaking work to make the hunt complete.

Missed!

We traded years getting drawn for tags when Judy again drew a badlands buck tag. We would again hunt some of the more rugged country in search of a trophy. On opening day, we hiked into an area where I had seen good bucks while bow hunting. Low and behold, there was a great buck! A 170” buck bedded 230 yards across the draw and a shallow bed. Judy quickly set-up and tried to steady herself from the high cross wind.

As the shot rang out, I saw the dirt fly just above the bedded 5x5. My heart sank as he sprang away and disappeared over the ridge. Several hours later, after tedious searching and glassing, we again found the buck, and again he was bedded. This time the buck was bedded near the top of a ridge in a spot where we had only one approach. We cautiously worked to get within 220 yards and as the other deer with this buck began to disappear over the ridge, we knew it would not be long before this buck would get up and follow them. As the buck lay in a dark shaded hole, Judy tried to settle the crosshairs, but where he was lying, the setting sun caused a severe glare through the scope. I tried to help by taking my cap and shade the front of the scope as she squeezed off the shot. The impact of the bullet splashed dirt onto the buck making him exit over the ridge immediately.

            We quickly raced to the escape route and glass the next canyon only to find nothing. It would be hard pressed to find this buck again. Disappointment and second guessing would be the conversation on the long, dark walk back to the truck.

There is something about mule deer that keeps you coming back, so early the next morning we were again heading to where we had last seen the big 5x5. Along the way I spotted a good buck grazing on the far ridge side, this was not the big guy but Judy said she wanted to take him. Our stalk ended as Judy pounded this buck with her 243 at 180 yards. He rolled down the steep embankment that he was feeding on and landed twenty yards from the trail road. This time the pack out would be easy. Another good buck for Judy.  

Montana Buck

Central Montana was home for several years for Judy and me. One opportunity that arose was a deer hunt at a friend’s ranch near the town of Grass Range. After searching for a good buck, we found this buck in pine trees with several does. We closed the distance to about 100 yards and Judy patiently waited out this buck for a clear shot. This 5x4 was a heavy bodied, big framed buck.  Hunting the pines made challenging hunt that was considerably different that the badlands back home.

Family Hunt and the Snowstorm Buck

This focus on mule deer seemed to grow more special as we spent more and more time in the badlands, either helping my ranching friend or just spending time in the outdoors. This again would culminate when our family would hunt together in search for a trophy buck for Judy. Judy, our three boys Jared, Austin, Trevor and I would spend many hours and long days glassing for an animal to fill the crosshairs. This was another great family hunt and Judy was able to wrap her tag around a great wide 4x4           

She followed that up with a very nice 5x5 the following year. This was a buck she spotted during a snowstorm. She was able to get a great set-up and harvested this fine badlands specimen with her 300 win mag. The rack is now displayed in our home and the entire hide was used by a local taxidermist for a full mount. A true tribute to this magnificent animal and another trophy for Judy.
 

            There truly is something about mule deer that is special. We primarily spot and stalk, so hiking together, glassing together, just being together is a product of the species we pursue and we hope to have many more opportunities in the future.

Family is a focal part of our tradition of hunting and the opportunity to spend time together sharing memories makes ‘Something about Mule Deer’ hunting ‘Something Special’.