6 key bowhunting tips for spotting and stalking mule deer

It was the second week of September, prime time for an early-season mule deer hunt. My wife, Heather, and I had found a great buck working his way through a standing canola field, and it was her turn up to bat. Glassing from a hill across a quarter section, we watched the buck bed down, then Heather went into action. Cognizant of the wind, she skirted the south edge of the field, routinely glassing to confirm his antler tips were still visible. Forty-five minutes in, she was 50 yards from the bedded buck. Then the wait began.

Four hours later, the buck stood and stretched. Heather had guessed right, and he was now walking toward her. With the unmistakable rustling of desiccated canola growing louder, Heather drew and waited. At 30 yards, the velvet-antlered buck stepped into her field of view, offering a tight window of opportunity, and she sent her arrow on its way. Strategy, patience and timing had culminated in another successful spot-and-stalk hunt. Here’s how you can make it happen, too.

#1  SET UP EARLY

Mature mulie bucks are seldom caught flat-footed during daylight hours. You can sometimes find them lingering in feeding areas during the first and last hour of daylight, but the biggest bucks quickly seek cover in between.

Your best option is to slip into a good vantage point—often higher ground—an hour before legal light, then sit still and watch as the world comes alive. You can also take the same approach at the end of the day as the sun goes down.

#2  SCAN AVAILABLE COVER

From your set-up, the aim is to spot a buck bedding down so you can plan a stalk, or determine a good ambush location. Half of the game is already won if you put a buck to bed. Glassing with quality binoculars or a spotting scope from an elevated position can be beneficial as you spend time looking over available cover. Watch for protruding antler tips, as that’s often all you’ll be able to see.

#3  RESPECT THEIR SENSES

Mule deer have exceptional eyesight and unbelievably acute hearing, so once you’ve spotted a buck, attention to detail matters. Regardless of where you glass or sneak in from, be sure not to skyline yourself, and be as quiet as possible. Wear camouflage and do your best to blend in with your surroundings. When stalking, evaluate and use every dip, roll or other topographic feature, such as boulders and brush, to stay out of sight. If you have to belly-crawl to avoid getting busted, do it. A big old buck is astute, and more often than not, he can sense when something isn’t right.

#4  MIND THE WIND

Ideally, approach a bedded buck from downwind, although that’s not always possible. A crosswind can also work, but it’s less forgiving. When there is little wind, pay close attention to thermals, especially during the early morning and late evening. Whatever the situation, the key is to not let the buck catch your scent.

#5  DON’T RUSH THINGS

Patience—or a lack thereof—can make or break a hunt. In my experience, most spot-and-stalk hunts fail when bowhunters move too quickly. Or, after a short wait, they try whistling, throwing a stone beyond the bedded buck or doing something else to try to get him to stand up. Most often, that doesn’t work. In almost all archery situations, you’re better off just waiting for the deer to stand on its own time. Typically, a buck will bed down for two to four hours, then stand and stretch or move around a bit.

#6  TIME YOUR SHOT

Once you’re in position and waiting patiently for a shot opportunity, take the time to capture yardage with your rangefinder, and nock an arrow. When a buck gets up from his bed, he’ll stretch and usually turn. If he faces away from you, that’s a good time to draw your bow and wait until he exposes his vitals for a broadside or quartering away shot. If you’re ambushing, meanwhile, the buck will ideally walk past your position, unaware of your presence. In either case, choose your shot opportunity wisely, and you’re sure to end your spot-and-stalk hunt with success.