Hey guys, I want to go Mulie hunting out West this year in either Oct. or Nov.
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming or ?? I live in Michigan and need to know where I could go and get tags over the counter and possibly what areas to look at, which are public. I know this is alot to ask, but I figured this is good as place as any to start. Thanks in advance for any help.

Eddie Fosnaugh

You might want to look at Eastern Montana. There are a lot of mule deer in that part of the state. There is also a lot of public land or block management where you can get acces to hunt. 20-23" inch mulies are fairly common. If you want anything bigger you should probably look for an outfitter with a hunting lease.

You should first check with all of the western states that you are considering to learn whether or not you can even buy tags over the counter.

I'm not so sure that is even a possibility. I've always had to put in for a draw. Otherwise, you can check with some outfitters that buy guaranteed tags or landowner tags.

Personally I don't think you can drive out there and buy tags OTC. Not for mulies. I could be wrong.

I'm going to do some checking around, I believe your right about getting tags over the counter; pretty much nil, but I thought I'd try. My Uncle lives in Idaho so I'm going to check there first. Thanks !!

Eddie Fosnaugh

I'm pretty sure ID is still OTC for deer and elk in most general areas. You used to be able to get OTC deer tags in NM too, but I'm not sure if they still do that.

The left over tags go on sale in CO next month I believe or the end of this month. You can still get a deer tag there, its first come first serve I believe for the left overs... I don't exacly know how that works though. I've always drawn...

You best bet would probably be ID since you have a contact there. Finding info on where to hunt should be easy enough. Call the local biologist and get the run down and then start asking questions here or better yet go ask the snobs at Monstermuleys.com for help. Some times they can be of help, but most of the time the put people down for not being in the know... Good luck.

Montana doesn't have any OTC buck tags available for NR hunters. In addition there is a fairly limited number of deer only tags available to draw. You have slightly better odds with a deer/elk combo draw. You can always go an Outfitter and get a guaranteed Outfitter Setaside tag.

Idaho still has OTC deer tags for general units.

Tnomen

Yea, In Mt it is a little easier to draw the combo tag, about 11500 drawn. Due date for this year was June 1st though. You can buy a whitetail doe tag otc for $75, but I doubt that's why you'd want to travel out here. Tnomen is correct about the outfitters, if they have any spots open then you don't need a draw.

Here's the webpage for all the nonres regulations.

http://fwp.state.mt.us/hunting/seasonslicenses/nonresidents.html

Thanks for all the help, I'm waiting for my Uncle to get ahold of me.

Eddie Fosnaugh

Mulies are on the wane in much of the West. Better to go after a whitetail, unless you know someone who will let you onto private land. But, if you knew someone, you wouldn't need to ask.

I'm going to give him a call tomorrow and see what he has to say. He has lived there most of his life, so maybe I'll get lucky and he'll know somebody with land. I forget the name of the town where my Dad said he lived, but it was right by the Oregon line.

Eddie Fosnaugh

When I think of Mule deer I think of Cedar City Utah area. It has been several years since I have been there but it used to be great. Utah regs are available on line.

Ivan. Last year you could get some OTC tags in New Mexico. A friend and I got them on area 22. What a joke that was. No deer seen at all, lot's of old deer kills, could have shot a dozen coyotes in our wanderings and even had a mountain lion stroll right through camp during daylight hours.
We planned to try a different area this tear, if we didn't draw here in Arizona, but when my daughter in New Mexico sent me a copy of the regs for this year, there was a big blurb on the back that basically said, NO OTC TAGS! Not for deer anyway. You can buy a big bucks tag for Oryx though. I've written New mexico off my list permanently, not that NM gives a damn. Piss on them.
Paul B.

Again...please no laughter, but....you may consider Washington.

There is a "high country" wilderness hunt in September that is OTC for res and non-res alike. Acess is real remote--horse or foot only, there is about a 30% chance some major area in or around the unit will be on fire and it can be rather hot in September up there on the east slopes of the North Cascades, but there are some monsters running around up there....

IV

I guess I just didn't realize the sad state of affairs for our mulie populations...

I'm "put off" by the whole draw process and see myself hunting less and less in areas where OTC simply isn't available.

I guess I'd rather hunt mulies than any other deer but it looks like those days are about over for me...

I just added up all possible hunts here in Florida for whitetail for this year for me and it looks like I can hunt whitetail within a 2 hour drive from my house with bow, muzzleloader, and rifle for very nearly 5 months straight this year and can go when I feel like it without the strict confines of short hunts and long trips.

I can also hunt wild hogs and coyotes the year 'round on private land.

I know that hunting mulies in the Rockies is to die for and I lived in Colorado and did just that for 5 years but it seems like it's becoming more and more of a hassle every year to even get a few days in. I wonder if it'll ever get better?

My trips "out west" are likely going to be limited to varmints and coyotes in the future for as long as that lasts and it looks like the bunny huggers have that about cancelled too.

$bob$

New Mexico sure has fallen by the wayside. The Muleys have all but disappeared and New Mexico Game and Fish don't give a damn if you come hunt of not, I think they would rather you didn't. I was tired of buying a deer tag over the counter and not seeing a buck the whole hunt, I'm sure as hell not going to try and draw a tag, they can keep them.

Can't find the article again, but I believe that here in Montana it's reported that our mulie pop is the highest it's been in over a decade. I can believe it with the 3 or 4 very mild winters we've had.

If you can draw a tag, southeastern Montana is the best I have seen. There are plenty of nice bucks, both whitetail and mule deer on the same ranches in many cases. An outfitter I hunted with is Cedar Breaks Outfitting, near Broadus, Montana. Hunting is from pickup trucks, and then stalking by foot when a buck is sighted. Expect to do some considerable walking. Here is their website:
Cedar Breaks website

Now, if on the other hand, what you want is a traditional western hunt from horseback in the high country, I would recommend Star Valley Outfitters. The hunt is a bit on the hard side if you aren't used to riding horseback, but you see some beautiful country and some great mulie bucks.
Star Valley website

British Columbia tags are over the counter. There are a number of outfitters in BC who have decent mule deer. Some do horseback hunts. One to consider would be Steven Leuenberger who trades as Ram Creek Outfitters. I hunted with Steven several times, which is about as good a testimonial as you can get. I don't go back where I didn't have a great time.
Ram Creek website

Let me add one more outfitter I have hunted with. This one is in Idaho, and you can't find better people than Darwin and Sandy. I would suggest that you contact them and discuss what you want. They have pack-in high country hunts and also hunts where you will stay in their bunkhouse and hunt the local hills. Heaven's Gate website

I took the mulie pictured below on a November hunt. The weather was tough, but this was one of the best hunts I have been on.