5 Best States for Mule Deer Hunting | MeatEater Hunting - Readers ask: What State Has The Best Mule Deer Hunting?

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7 Tips for Over-the-Counter Mule Deer Hunting | Big Game Hunting | Realtree Camo.



 

Here are a few to consider. Whitetail Deer Some of the most popular whitetail states in the country, like Kansas and Iowa, employ a draw-only system for non-resident hunters. Some states with good public land opportunities to check out include Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.

Many states also allow hunters to buy multiple inexpensive doe tags. This is a prime freezer-filling opportunity. Blacktail Deer Hunters interested in pursuing blacktail deer on over-the-counter tags can find plenty of public land hunting opportunities in the coastal rainforests of Oregon and Washington. In fact, Idaho is one of very few states in the country where rifle hunters can buy a mule deer tag over-the-counter. In some cases, you buy two buck tags.

Arizona sells over-the-counter archery mule deer tags that are valid in many units. But in over-the-counter archery units, bowhunters can target mule deer before and after rifle hunters in the early and late archery seasons.

Colorado is home to ,00 elk, by far the highest population in the country. Idaho is a hunter-friendly state and one of the few that offers archery and rifle over-the-counter elk tags. Like Colorado, Idaho has lots of public land access. Black Bear Montana has a lot of black bears and plenty of public land hunting grounds.

Montana has a spring and fall season for bears; tags for both seasons are available over-the-counter. Idaho also has a spring and fall season for black bears.

Baiting and hound hunting is completely legal in this state. Unlike most states which limit hunters to a single bear, Idaho hunters can kill two bears a year. The northwest portion of the state has pockets of country with decent numbers of antelope.

Public land hunting is possible but will require some map research. Colorado also allows archery hunters to purchase an over-the-counter option that can be used in many units.

Caribou and Moose In Alaska, tags for caribou and moose can be purchased over the counter and both species can often be targeted on the same hunt. Hunters who are frustrated by the low probability of ever drawing a moose tag in the Lower 48 should consider Alaska. But, remember, a DIY Alaska hunt requires a lot of pre-trip planning. Do your homework. During this time, mule deer in the Rockies are found at high elevations, often above treeline. Rifle seasons in the mountains take place in late October and the first half of November.

Depending on weather and timing, mule deer are widely distributed anywhere from high country summer range down to low elevation wintering grounds. On the eastern plains, some rifle seasons run into December.

I may be biased, but if I could only hunt one state for the rest of my life for mule deer, it would be Colorado. Idaho Idaho runs a close second to Colorado when it comes to mule deer hunting. In recent years, a lot of very big bucks have been taken in Idaho. Generally speaking, herds here are doing well and deer numbers are good. Hunters can buy a mule deer buck tag over the counter in Idaho.

In fact, Idaho is one of the few states in the country where this is possible. The best mule deer numbers are found southeast of the Panhandle region of Idaho. Archery season runs in September and most rifle seasons occur during October, with some exceptions.

Montana Montana has a lot of country and lot of mule deer. The general tag allows hunters to chase mule deer in units all over the state. The drawback of hunting here is the cost of a non-resident license. The advantage is that Montana deer seasons run long. With an archery stamp, hunters can pursue mule deer during a six-week archery season that runs until early October and again during a five-week rifle season that ends in late November.

Not many other states allow hunters to go after mule deer bucks when they are most vulnerable during the peak of the rut in late November. Wyoming Wyoming was once considered the cream of the crop for mule deer hunters. While deer numbers and the quality of bucks have declined recently due to drought and tough winters, Wyoming is still a very good destination with ample opportunities for good hunting.

General region-wide deer tags that are good for multiple units are easy to draw as a first choice, with the exception of the famous Region G. There are also unit-specific tags that have different season dates from the general region tags. Some of these are much harder to draw due to increased demand.

In Wyoming, federally designated wilderness areas are off-limits to non-resident big game hunters unless they have hired a licensed outfitter. So, research which tag you apply for carefully or you may find yourself surrounded by public lands you are unable to legally hunt.

Some deer units in Wyoming are comprised almost entirely of designated wilderness. However, even with these limitations, Wyoming is a great place to go on your first public lands mule deer hunt.

Nebraska With an abundance of flat terrain, agriculture and private land along river corridors, Nebraska is known to most hunters as a state with great whitetail hunting. That is true, but for hunting mule deer on the eastern edge of their range, Nebraska has a lot to offer hunters. Mule deer are common in the western half of Nebraska, and the terrain there is far from flat.

From ponderosa pine covered ridges to the broken Sandhills country, mule deer have a lot of places to hide. It is true that hunters might not find as much public access in western Nebraska as states in the Rockies, but there are plenty of places to explore. Mule deer can be hunted on large tracts of national forest and national refuge lands as well as state wildlife management areas. So, you have this eastern guy who wants to start having some western adventures hunting Mulies. Looking for a state that has easily obtainable archery tags.

Would be nice to keep the state within tolerable driving range. Sorry to highjack this tread Brendan Well Known Rokslider. It's not about the state, it's about the work you put in to prepare. Throw a dart at any place mentioned above, and get on it. Wojo14 said:. Click to expand Last edited: Oct 14, Another example of the kind of mule deer that do not exist in AZ. Brendan said:. You must log in or register to reply here. Similar threads T. Replies 7 Views Sep 24, CorbLand.

Arizona Unit 29 Mule Deer. Joden Aug 6, Mule Deer. Replies 0 Views Aug 6, Joden. Wyoming youth mule deer. Nwernig Sep 8, Mule Deer.

Replies 4 Views Sep 11, Nwernig. Idaho Mule. Jimmyf Aug 21, Mule Deer. Replies 12 Views 1K. Sep 22, Rich M. Washington state mule deer hunting.

 


Which states have over the counter mule deer license



 

Soon, most hunters will know whether they drew the limited-entry big game tags they were after. In fact, in many places over-the-counter tags provide outstanding opportunities. Sometimes over-the-counter big game licenses are issued because animal populations in some areas are high enough to sustain unlimited hunting.

Yes, you might have to compete with other hunters to find animals, but hunters who work hard to separate themselves from the crowd often kill mature bucks and bulls on over-the-counter tags. Additionally, hunters who are willing to hunt with archery or primitive muzzleloader equipment might have over-the-counter opportunities available that rifle hunters do not.

Many over-the-counter, weapons-restricted hunts take place in exactly the same units where rifle hunts are only offered on a limited entry basis. These seasons also tend to have much lower hunting pressure than rifle seasons. Here are a few to consider. Whitetail Deer Some of the most popular whitetail states in the country, like Kansas and Iowa, employ a draw-only system for non-resident hunters. Some states with good public land opportunities to check out include Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.

Many states also allow hunters to buy multiple inexpensive doe tags. This is a prime freezer-filling opportunity. Blacktail Deer Hunters interested in pursuing blacktail deer on over-the-counter tags can find plenty of public land hunting opportunities in the coastal rainforests of Oregon and Washington. In fact, Idaho is one of very few states in the country where rifle hunters can buy a mule deer tag over-the-counter.

In some cases, you buy two buck tags. Arizona sells over-the-counter archery mule deer tags that are valid in many units. But in over-the-counter archery units, bowhunters can target mule deer before and after rifle hunters in the early and late archery seasons.

Colorado is home to ,00 elk, by far the highest population in the country. Idaho is a hunter-friendly state and one of the few that offers archery and rifle over-the-counter elk tags.

Like Colorado, Idaho has lots of public land access. Black Bear Montana has a lot of black bears and plenty of public land hunting grounds. Montana has a spring and fall season for bears; tags for both seasons are available over-the-counter. Idaho also has a spring and fall season for black bears. Baiting and hound hunting is completely legal in this state.

Unlike most states which limit hunters to a single bear, Idaho hunters can kill two bears a year. The northwest portion of the state has pockets of country with decent numbers of antelope. Public land hunting is possible but will require some map research.

Colorado also allows archery hunters to purchase an over-the-counter option that can be used in many units. Caribou and Moose In Alaska, tags for caribou and moose can be purchased over the counter and both species can often be targeted on the same hunt.

Hunters who are frustrated by the low probability of ever drawing a moose tag in the Lower 48 should consider Alaska. But, remember, a DIY Alaska hunt requires a lot of pre-trip planning. Do your homework. Hunting is a highly regulated activity in the United States. Wildlife is managed at the state level, with state game agencies, supported by license sales, deciding who gets to hunt what, where and how. These rules and regulations can and do change annually and are published in a print booklet as well as online.

Shed hunting has become a wildly popular off-season activity for many hunters who hold a deep love of the animals they pursue. Finding a matched set of dropped antlers from a big buck or bull is like hitting the lottery. Hunters can also learn a lot about No matter where you live and hunt, big game licensing systems affect what tags end up in your pocket. It pays to understand them. In many states, the application period for big game licenses is open or will start soon.

Big game tags are allocated to hunters according to the rules of supply and demand. The number of animals that can be removed from a population without harming the resource establishes the number of licenses available for any Featured Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation.

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Which states have over the counter mule deer license. Finding Over The Counter Hunts In Every Western State



   

According vounter many hunters, a great mule deer buck is the couter difficult of all North American trophies to collect. Opportunities come dear, and anymore, a decent tag is a trophy in itself. All the best big-buck areas are in draw programs, and pulling a permit is cause for real celebration. Long gone are der days when a hunter could load up the pickup and head to Utah, Colorado, Arizona, or Wyoming, stop at a gas station or hardware store once inside state lines to purchase a tag, and hunt big bucks in prime habitat.

However, while they are obscure, a few decent over-the-counter OTC opportunities still exist. Most are coutner states not commonly on the muley hunter's big-buck radar. If you missed the draw deadline and are weeping and wailing about lost opportunities, get over it and plan a hunt to one of lcense following states. Almost without argument, Idaho offers the best OTC mule tye opportunities. To make up for the cost and hassle, a nonresident tag may be used for black bear, mountain lion, or wolf in lieu of a deer, enabling the possessor to take an apex predator if encountered as long as the appropriate seasons are open.

The state has an estimateddeer, about 60 percent of which are mule deer. In areas that overlap, either whitetail or mule deer may be taken on a regular counher tag; however, the state also sells special whitetail-only tags. Some hunts — archery and rifle — occur during early tsates of Stayes mule deer rut. When researching a place to hunt, contact biologists about recent burns that provide young, nutritious overgrowth near migration routes.

To the surprise of many, hunters of this licejse harvest some th mule deer each season. Population numbers aren't on par with Colorado or Wyoming, and access is far more limited, but unlike those historic muley destinations, Nebraska still offers OTC tags and is currently producing outstanding numbers. In fact, 's mule deer harvest — almost 10, bucks — was the highest ever recorded.

Estimated state population was unavailable, but you don't get harvest numbers like that without a significant presence. Mule deer occupy the western two-thirds of the state and in fact are the dominant species more mule deer than whitetails in 20 counties.

Hunters who mul their research and which states have over the counter mule deer license pinpoint a public land area worth hunting or wear out some shoe leather earning an invite to counteg private land will have a decent hunt. Нажмите для деталей the early archery season to hunt patternable groups of fat liense bucks. For a rut hunt during the early search and chase phase, opt for wbich mid-November rifle hunt. Cuonter you can take which states have over the counter mule deer license cold and have the discipline to wait and work for a close shot, which states have over the counter mule deer license December muzzleloader hunt occurs during the late rut.

Although license and tag prices are high, Oregon offers an intriguing diversity of opportunity to hunters interested in mule deer and the blacktail subspecies. Over-the-counter tags for common mule deer are havd only — all rifle tags are lottery allocated "controlled" hunts.

Two-thirds of the state on the eastern side is available to bow hunters, offering diverse terrain and habitat, as well as a fair amount of public land. Hunters interested in wandering Oregon's lush northwest for the mule deer's secretive blacktail cousin have much greater opportunity.

Plus, rifle hunters may purchase an OTC tag good for a day October season in blacktail regions. Nonresident hunters purchasing a Washington state hunting license OTC receive посетить страницу deer permit with the license and must specify whether they intend tne hunt with modern firearm, archery tackle, or muzzleloader.

License in hand, hunters may pursue deer in all liccense management units GMUs during appropriate open season dates. Over-the-counter tags are good for all applicable GMUs in the state and may по этой ссылке used on any of the three species of deer mule deer, blacktail, whitetail in Washington. As an interesting note, the Cascade Range separates mule deer and blacktail.

Archery hunts open September 1st and run most of the month, then pick up again in late November, enabling stick-and- string hunters to pursue mule deer during the rut. Muzzleloader opportunities this year run September 30th to October 8th, then again during late November. Rifle hunters yearning for an athletic hunt may pursue alpine muleys during "High Buck Hunts," which are open September 15th to September 25th in Standard general-season rifle hunt dates are mid to late October, although a few GMUs offer short November seasons for blacktail during the rut.

Several GMUs have a 3-point minimum, so be prepared to examine a buck carefully before pulling the trigger. Also, hunter reporting which states have over the counter mule deer license mandatory in Washington. Most of the Lone Star State's which states have over the counter mule deer license deer — about 80 to 85 percent — are the Trans-Pecos subspecies, which are a bit smaller than their Rocky Mountain and Sonoran Desert cousins. However, every OTC Texas nonresident hunting license includes one buck and one doe mule deer tag with no extra or hidden tag fees.

Access is the primary issue; most of Texas is private land. Flying way under the radar, the Texas Panhandle produces a few absolute stomper muleys every year. Numbers are low, but the thickets among the pivot-irrigated ag fields offer superb cover, and feed is abundant.

Some locals scorn anything which states have over the counter mule deer license than a inch buck. Finagling access best cities with small town feel akin to negotiating a major treaty. However, it's worth a lifelong crusade. If you ever do gain access give me a call to let me know how you managed it and then do whatever it takes to make the most of the opportunity. Our editors have hand-picked these essential pieces of gear to make you a more successful hunter when you hit the game trails this season.

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