Where is a good Mule deer hunt?

[blackops]

I'm in California and unfortunately all the best mule deer hunts are late season and even if you have max points you could sit on them for years and years and never be drawn. I know most all exceptional hunts are late season for obvious reasons, but there is no in-between here. It's either late season or a very, very challenging hunt for a 3 point (or 8 point for you fellas back east) during the normal season.

I'm wondering if you guys know any hunts out of state (for me) that have exceptional mule deer and aren't 5k to go on? My buddies dad went on one a while back and spent like 8k. I was like

 

[stuball]

You could look into a public land hunt and go up into Oregon, Wyoming, or some other states close. A lot of DIY stuff out there just have to look around a bit.

 

[oneounceload]

Northern NV, IF you can draw, typically has some nice 4-6 pointers going upwards of 34"+. You're too late for this year, IIRC, but area 34 and points north of Reno are excellent. Try for spots near the OR/NV/CA border - you can do it yourself

 

[MichaelK]

Frankly, you can't be looking very hard if you can't find a hunting spot in a state as big as California. I'm located in southern California and I still have deer hunting opportunities within a two hour drive. There is plenty of national forest land nearby where you don't need permission to go hunting.

More recently I've myself bought some land in central California, near the Kern River. Nearest neighbor is about half a mile away. Although I hunt now on my own private property, I am immediately adjacent to the nationl forest where anyone can hunt also. I've gotten my deer tag each and every year I've asked for one, in zones D16 and D8.

As you go further and further north, your hunting oppertunities just keep going up. Just pick up a map of California and start following up along the west side of the Sierra. Look at California HW 49, the "Gold Country Highway". Everything to the east of that highway is a good place to start looking.

 

[ArmedBear]

Where in CA are you?

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Take a trip to western Nebraska, out of state tags are cheap and there is plenty of public ground to hunt. My buddy from Jersey does it every year for 1.5 weeks for under 2K.

 

[blackops]

michael, i know where the good hunts are in california. I've been hunting D8 this year (bow) and will be going this weekend for the closing weekend. I've been putting in for g3 becuase i dont want to lose points for an x hunt as g3 and g6 are the best opportunity to kill a nice buck. I've seen 11 bucks this year, but have also walked to extents most people wouldn't and the biggest buck was a decent 3 point. If I would have had a rifle it would of been done, but then again I'm seeing them because it's early. By mid September they will be full nocturnal and the mature bucks will have to make a major mistake to be had. You have to take into accountnot just California, but across the board. The bucks here aren't anything special. Sure, ther are a few food 4 and 5 points out there, but they are few and far between. The bodies of our deer are small compared to the other states. Habitat is key and California's has been on a decline. We need more controlled burns to birth new follage and clean up all the old brush. My father used to go out of state every year, believe me the deer here are no comparison to Utah, Arizona Nevada etc.

 

[jbkebert]

Western Kansas around the Quinter area sports some great mule deer and hunts. Since Kansas is 92% private land and only 8% public do some homework. There are some controlled shooting areas in that neck of the woods. Most of them are a short term lease for 5-6 days at a time.

 

[slabuda]

Idaho has loads of public land and non res tags are easy to get for a DIY hunt if you want guided I know a guide (Scottie Henry) in Montana, although it might be too late for that now.

http://www.milkriveroutfitters.com/Default.aspx

 

[ms6852]

West Texas has good mulies and public land as well.