Western Muley Hunt

I know this isn’t MN deer related, but me and some buddies are in the beginning stages of planning a Western Mule deer hunt and we are all pretty clueless as to how the tag systems in these state work. Looking mostly at ID, MT, CO, and WY.

Not looking to do anything guided and probably just gunna go camp on some public land. We are not antler hunters we would obviously prefer bucks but at the end of the day we are going to want freezer meat since we probably wont hunt around here this fall unless we get skunked and absolutely have to.

Our main goal is to just do this kind of hunt to experience something completely different to southern MN hunting that were used to.

Since we would like to have some concrete plans I’m wondering what peoples opinions are on places with OTC tags or really high probability draws. Where we could count on at least a couple tags for four guys.

We’ve looked into some tag services and might end up using one if we have to.

Any and all opinions or tips are appreciated

Thanks,

Re: “a couple of tags for 4 guys”….Depending on the state you choose, cross tagging may be illegal.

The few western states that I am familiar with do NOT allow any party hunting (for both big game and small) whatsoever and it is strictly enforced.

Are there any western states that Do allow it?

Applying for non resident tags can be tricky. I would suggest picking a state, doing a lot of research and then applying for a group hunt. As Timmy stated, most states are not like MN and do not allow group hunting. But you can apply as a group and all get draw or no one is drawn. I hunt Wyoming. What I have learned is that you need to buy their preference points if you want to get drawn consistently. Depending on the area you pick, you may have almost no chance if you do not have the preference points. They about $30 per hunter. The time for preference points has already past for next year. I believe the last date to apply for preference points is Oct 31. You can still apply for licenses, that starts Jan. 2nd. The Wyoming F&G has a lot of info online about odds, preference points, etc.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info. If we had two tags for four guys there would only be two guys with guns others would run a pair of binoculars and hopefully a knife. We would just split the meat once were home.

Doesn’t Idaho have OTC tags?

Planning on doing a similar trip this coming fall to WY. We have been applying for points for the past couple years, and should draw one of the limited draw units that doesn’t take too many points (per the last few years draw odds). I’m not TOO terribly up on the draw odds/OTC tag units for other states, but I know that if you look at the draw odds for WY Deer for the last few years, you will find some “general” unit hunts that you should be able to acquire tags with no points. These may not be as “desirable” as some of the limited draw units, but there WILL be deer, and if your group doesn’t have much experience hunting out west then it would be a great way to get your feet wet.

I HIGHLY recommend taking a look through both the harvest and draw data, and you will be able to narrow down areas to target fairly quickly.

Thanks, Ive been looking though that stuff and trying to make some sense of all of it, but as im sure you know its kind of confusing if you’ve never had to look at this stuff before. I’ll look into WY as well.

I made an account on the ID GFP page last night and on new years day the four of us are going to get together and get something figured out. I’ll try to figure out some of those WY units with high draw probability today.

Alex, your welcome to call me 262 617 5161. I’m mostly on a job site 7 days a week, so if you don’t mind a few interruptions, I’ll help you out a lot.

Depending on which state, season, and terrain, you need to pay close attention to elevations. I go to Colorado multiple times a year, then head up From there

I,, have to do that a little later today thanks!

I hunt montana and Wyoming for the last30 years and the draw thing isn’t that hard. I would stick to these states and learn them. Montana for the group draw and a reasonable chance at drawing every other year as a group. I would use Wyoming as more of a trophy hunt and research the areas of H and G that is a true western mountain hunt. Idaho and Colorado are a little more crowded but still very quality hunts. You can pmme on specific areas and equipment recommendations.
Mike

Besides looking into tag availability, I’d also recommend you review available public land in the area – it can be complicated (like it is everywhere else). Unless you’re hunting a large public area, like a national forest, the checkerboard pattern of private-state-federal land can be confusing. I know Wyoming and Montana have good interactive online maps. Additionally. onX Maps seems to have a good phone app that I believe some of the CO’s out there use. You can also check out Backcountry Hunters & Anglers association.

Randy W was very helpful to me when I planned my first western hunt as well.

Here’s a question, not important, but I’m curious. When I’m looking at OnX on the big swaths of BLM land theres these little squares of state land evenly dispersed in a grid like pattern. Does any one know what they are or why they’re there?

Each square is a Section (square mile); generally white designates private land; blue is state land; and yellow is BLM or federal land. I don’t know the logic or history of it (I’m sure it’s interesting), but my take on the checkerboard pattern was that landowners could sell sections to the state and the feds, retain grazing rights, (not sure about mineral rights), and since none of the public land was contiguous (you couldn’t get to it without crossing private land) they still controlled public access in the area. And if you think about “corner jumping”, that’s a whole ‘nother can of corn: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2005/Minutes/House/Exhibits/juh30a070.PDF
I hunted a Hunter Management Area, HMA, but I had to apply for access just like a tag. After I was successfully drawn for access I had to print out and display the form on the dash of my truck and comply with landowner rules, i.e. stay on 2-track, close gates, stay away from the bull (cattle). We did get checked by a CO, and I heard stories that the ranchers do a pretty good job of patrolling as well. After harvesting an antelope, I had to fill out a form and leave it in a special box at the rancher’s home. Apparently they get compensated for harvested animals as well as opening their land up to the public. I also walked up to the house and gave them several pounds of brats and cheese for making their land available to hunters like me. There are also Wildlife Habitat Management Areas which you can access large chunks of land, which can include private/state/fed lands.
I only did this hunt one time and it took a fair amount of research and work, but I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. The DIY aspect made it very gratifying. There are many other people on this site with way more western experience than me who may have add’l information for you.

Alex Roers wrote:

Here’s a question, not important, but I’m curious. When I’m looking at OnX on the big swaths of BLM land theres these little squares of state land evenly dispersed in a grid like pattern. Does any one know what they are or why they’re there?

When Wyoming became a state sections 16 and 36 in most of the townships were designated “state trust lands”. The purpose of these two sections of land were to provide money for schools. That is why there is a “pattern” of those blue squares when viewed on a map.

Over time, for various reasons, additional lands became “state trust lands”, so that is why in some areas there are fairly large parcels that are blue colored. These lands are grazed, timbered, mined, etc. with the proceeds going to finance schools.

In Wyoming hunters are allowed to hunt those blue colored parcels IF you can legally access them via a public road, or through another parcel of public land or if you are granted permission across private land to access them.

Buffalo Fishhead

Thanks, I figured it was something like that. The particular stuff that I was looking at looks accessible, because there is a public road going into some BLM land that these state owned parcels are located in.

I’m about to buy my tags for Idaho OTC. Just one last question I’m hoping to get answered. In Idaho, are the OTC tags good for any OTC unit? Or do you have to pick a Unit?

Thanks