Deer

Calling in a deer is one of the most exciting things you can do as a hunter, especially during the rut. It means you are perfectly positioned and communicating directly with the nearby whitetail.

Many hunters make a common error when high country mule deer hunting, often costing them a fridge full of venison: not spending enough time behind the scope. 

It is now that magical time of year that every deer hunter waits for: November! The weather is changing, animals are preparing for winter, and deer are active in a late-in-the-year rut season.

Each of us comes into deer hunting at a different time in our lives and with different expectations for how our hunting will go. When I was a little kid, sitting in the deer blind with my dad, my expectation was that we would wait until we saw a buck with at least eight points before we would harvest a deer.

Some hunters say the .243 Winchester is ideal for mid-range shooting on whitetails (it shoots nice and flat), but ask others and you might get a different opinion. Determining the best caliber for one of the most sought-after deer species in North America is sure to lead to some lively discussions.

Shot placement is a matter of knowing an animal's anatomy, but also ethics, judgment, and respect for the animals we pursue. So, what's the best shot?

Spend enough time in the field and sooner or later, you'll come across something that you haven't seen before. The deer kingdom is no exception.

The whitetail pre-rut happens once the bucks have shed their velvet and begin to break away from the bachelor groups.  This period is prior to their peak breeding season and is commonly referred to as the "rut." So, how do you call bucks during this time of year?

Muleys would have to be up there in terms of hunting difficulty, so how do you hunt them successfully? Their use of harsh terrain, elevation, and highly attuned and acute senses, including large ears, means they're built for evasion.

The best time to hunt whitetail deer is during the rut in late October through mid-November, with dawn and dusk being the most productive windows every day of the season. Whitetail are crepuscular animals, meaning they are most active at twilight hours regardless of season.

Missed out on the draw? Sometimes, securing a tag can be one of the biggest hurdles to a hunt, especially during peak application times, when preparing for a hunt on a popular target species or in high-demand zones with intense competition for tags in draw hunts. 

Muleys are a mainstay of the North American hunting list and a symbol of a classic Western hunt. As you plan your hunts this season, you need to know the best states to hit up for a mule deer hunt.