Spot and Stalk vs. Stand Hunting: Which is Best for Mule Deer?

How they duck in and out of heavy brush, leaving little, if any, time for an ethical shot, just like how a whitetail might, is a source of amazement and frustration for any hunter. 

The challenge and allure of a western mule hunt is hard to beat, especially chasing trophies and wiser older muleys. Keep reading, tho, because we're going to dive deeper into two main hunting strategies when targeting muleys: the spot and stalk method and stand hunting. By the end of this blog, you'll be able to determine which will be best suited to your hunting needs and intended environment. 

What Is Spot and Stalk Hunting?

I'm a massive fan of spot and stalk hunting, as it combines a range of different hunting skills, including bushcraft, glassing, and even physical fitness and preparation. Let's cover the basics and how they apply to a potential mule deer hunt. 

Spot and stalk hunting involves locating game from a distance (this is the spotting component) and approaching (this is the stalking component) to prepare an ethical shot that is within range.

Due to the distance and active hunting, this approach is best suited to open country hunts, such as prairies, mountains, and deserts, where visibility is high and you (hopefully) can spot several muleys. As you're glassing wider areas, you'll need quality optics, including an elite set of binoculars and spotting scopes, to break down the landscape into hunting zones or quadrants. 

You Must Be Patient

This strategy requires patience, a high level of concentration, and experience behind the scope. If you're like me, you may pass over the same patch of land several times. On the approach, a decent foundation in animal behavior, wind direction, and the use of natural cover, such as trees, rocks, and ridges, will allow you to make an undetected approach. 

To spot and stalk mule deer, you'll need some endurance in your legs to spot from higher elevated positions, packing up and down different vantage points to make your approach. 

Spot and stalk hunting can also be successful for pronghorn, elk, and other species in open landscapes and is a favored approach for bowhunters looking to close in the distance. 

What Is a Stand Hunt?

Stand hunting mule deer is far more passive as it requires hunters to remain stationary in a blind or elevated stand waiting for game to pass. Due to this, location choice is crucial. However, stand hunting is a common strategy in wooded or transitional areas with predictable animal movement. 

This strategy requires heavy planning for scouting travel corridors, feeding corridors, or bedding spots. Water sources and deer tracks leading to these zones are typically in high-frequency use, especially in drier hunting zones. 

Scouting is critical, as is confirming deer presence with on-the-ground scouting, looking for deer signs such as droppings, rubs, and fresh tracks. 

Is Spot and Stalk Hunting Effective?

Spot-and-stalk hunting is a highly effective strategy, especially in open terrain when visibility is high.

This strategy is particularly effective during the early season, when deer are primarily focused on feeding and are especially drawn to high-nutrition and high-carb food sources, such as acorns and crops. Due to this, it may be easier to spot deer as they transition from bedding to feeding. 

Once you've established a potential route, take an elevated position where you can cover a vast amount of ground from this point and spot a muley or two. 

As a strategy for mule deer hunts, it can be more challenging and may take some getting used to, especially when distinguishing mule deer from their surroundings. However, it's a highly regarded strategy. Success depends on terrain, wind, and your experience level. 

How Do You Spot and Stalk Mule Deer?

To get started, find a quality vantage point on top of a ridge or knob that offers a wide and relatively unobstructed view of a potential hunting zone. Having several potential hunting zones with pre-marked vantage points will help to narrow your hunt and will still offer versatility if one location proves unproductive.

From there, start glassing with your binoculars or, even better, a spotting scope to look for deer. It's rare to spot a whole deer when glassing a wider piece of land, so look for distinguishing signs, such as white rumps or antlers, amongst the backdrop. If you think you're onto some muleys, check to see what they're doing. Are they bedded up? Deep in a feed or on the move? The calmer and more settled they appear, the stronger your chances. 

Once you've spotted a mule deer or feel confident in approaching, double-check the wind direction, confirming it with the HuntWise app for real-time direction and speed to inform your strategy. Always approach with the wind in your face.

As you approach, move slowly, using the natural terrain — such as brush and rocks — for cover as you go. Keep low and be wary of any obstacles that may make unintentional noise, such as loose rock or a stack of dried foliage. 

Once you've closed the distance, set up for a shot with a tripod, if available, or a natural form of stability, such as a tree base or solid ground, ensuring that you are within a comfortable and ethical shooting range. 

Finally, think about post-shot movement and plan escape routes since mule deer often flee uphill or into cover. After a successful shot, dress and pack out the deer. 

How Does Huntwise Help Hunters Hunt Mule Deer?

Taking on a mule deer hunt can be a challenge. But you can get started developing your mule deer hunting strategies early with the HuntWise app.

To begin, leverage the mapping and GPS tools to uncover detailed satellite and topographic maps to navigate terrain. The LiDAR capabilities can help uncover less-pressured zones such as saddles and benches, as well as old roads that may be hidden by vegetation in other mapping capabilities.

With a customizable waypoints function, you'll be able to mark glassing spots, trails, water sources, and bedding areas. When you're out in the field, you'll still have access via the offline map capabilities, which offer access in remote areas with no service. 

Property and Access Information

Top mule deer zones may be in blended environments that encroach on private land. With property and access information, you'll be able to distinguish between private and public hunting zones to ensure legal hunting and even access landowner information for permission-based hunting. 

Weather and Wind Forecasts

To minimize the risk of being winded and stay on top of weather patterns and shifts in pressure, use the HuntCast feature for hourly weather updates to determine the ultimate times to set up your stand or plan your approach.

The wind direction tool (WindCast) will help with your stalk planning, and the sunrise/sunset times will help with optimal hunting windows. 

Game Movement Predictions

For greater insight into deer movement and behavior, the app's game movement predictions use advanced algorithms to showcase peak movement times, helping you hunt the most effective times. This allows you to make the most of your hunt. 

Community and Sharing

With fellow HuntWise app users, you can share insights, locations, sightings, and strategies with trusted friends and connect with a broader community of dedicated and ethical hunters. 

Finally, the markers and notes in the app streamline the recording process, allowing you to stay on top of harvests, sightings, and any activity to pattern mule deer. These insights are invaluable in building a personal database that you can use season on season. 

No Matter Your Mule Deer Hunting Strategies, HuntWise Is There Every Step

Both spot and stalk and stand hunting can prove effective when targeting the elusive yet highly regarded mule deer. Whether you prefer a more passive approach that requires planning and poring over maps or a more active hunt and spending time up high glassing, having HuntWise by your side will make either approach far simpler.

If you're planning a mule deer hunt this season (but you don't have HuntWise yet), now is the time to download it for insights on elite mapping, winding, weather, and more! 
We'll give you your first week free in the app to start planning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have answers to your questions about spot and stalk hunting for mule deer!

Q: What is the spot and stalk hunting strategy?

A: Spot and stalk hunting involves locating game animals from a distance (i.e., spotting) using optics, then quietly approaching within shooting range (i.e., stalking) without alerting them.

Q: Do you spot and stalk mule deer?

A: Yes! Spot-and-stalk is one of the most popular and effective methods for hunting mule deer, especially in open terrain such as mountains and prairies.

Q: What are the pros and cons of stand hunting?

A: Pros: Minimal movement, good for ambush setups, effective in dense cover. Cons: Limited mobility, relies on animal movement, can be less exciting or active than stalking.

Q: How do you spot and stalk mule deer?

A: Use binoculars or a spotting scope to locate deer from a distance. Then, plan a quiet approach using wind and terrain for cover, move slowly, and stay low to avoid detection before taking a shot.

Q: What is the best hunting method for mule deer?

A: It depends on terrain and conditions. However, spot-and-stalk is generally considered the most effective and rewarding method for mule deer hunting.