Non-resident mule deer options

[akhunter]

Where can a non-resident hunter go for mule deer in the lower 48 or Canada without having to draw for a permit or save up for a bunch of preference points?

And for Canada posters here, is there any deer in the Yukon or NW territories? And do you have to be guided for deer?

 

[Guy Miner]

I've drawn for non-resident mule deer in Wyoming every time I've put in. I don't put in for the premium areas - but still see great bucks.

Washington has over-the-counter mule deer tags, no draw necessary, but the odds of taking a good buck aren't all that great. They exist, and guys get them every year, but Washington isn't known for the best of mule deer hunting.

Guy

 

[Wincheringen]

I hear Montana has pretty good odds, but tags are pricey - $561. Some of the biggest mulies are on public land.
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/licenses/avai ... enses.html

 

[Elkman]

Where can a non-resident hunter go for mule deer in the lower 48 or Canada without having to draw for a permit or save up for a bunch of preference points?

[/quote

What kind of opportunity are you looking for?. Idaho and Washington both have over the counter tags. Washinton is expensive for the hunting quality and Idaho still has a wolf problem. Idaho however has some hunts where the wolves don't live. Woming has the best deer populations of any state I have recently been in. With some great bucks! Oregon may have some OTC tags but I would have to look, I know that there best units are draw. If you want a great buck, try for a Non Resident General Season deer tag in Wyoming. I have seen several 160 plus Bucks in the area where I hunt elk south of Jackson Hole. Also see some 300 class bulls every year

 

[tecumseh]

Check into Idaho. There are some units where you can get tags over the counter. I know the wilderness area I want to hunt there is over the counter. I haven't looked for a while but I think non res tags are under $400.00.

 

[SJB358]

I think the non-res deer tag is about 300.00 and covers bear, lion, and both species of deer..

I have an unfilled one for 2012, I'll sell it cheap! :lol:

 

[akhunter]

Wyoming is sounding good and I have never been there.

When is the drawing process? Mule deer buck season starts when? I guess I'll just get on the website and look and see.

I'm mainly just looking for an area where I can get off the road and hike and hunt all day, even go deep enough in to justify a spike camp. I don't care to stay in any hotels/motels or in town or anything like that. Like to camp out in the woods for about 5 days or until I punch my tag.

 

[Guy Miner]

Also depends on if you're looking for a true "trophy" class buck, or a decent buck. I settle for decent, though I've had a few opportunities that didn't quite work out - on really nice bucks here in Washington and in Wyoming as well. One caution on Wyoming - they require non-residents to use a guide when hunting in the official "Wilderness" areas.

You can hike and camp in them all you want, fish even, without a guide - but if you want to hunt - hire a Wyoming guide! :grin: Fortunately there is plenty of non-wilderness public land to hunt. Beautiful country, well worth the time. Bring a light fly rod or a spinning rod too, there is some excellent trout fishing in the fall.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Colorado seems to have high-success rates for out-of-staters. Especially if you're in a group.

 

[JD338]

I hunted CO a few years back. Getting a MD tag was not difficult.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

A few Wyoming photos from trips in the past 12 years or so:

Packing out a tall 3x3 on a DIY public land hunt. Grizzlies gave us pause for thought:

Wyoming has become a pretty special place for me. Good friends. Good hunting. Good country. Just plain good.

 

[Elkman]

Great pictures guy, the bottom buck is posed great, really great quality.

 

[Elkman]

akhunter

I would be looking at the area south of Hoback Junction along the ridge line to Cokeville. North end is really/really steep and some wilderness, that you have to stay out of. The farther south is a little easier country, (remember this means easier mountains) and little if any wilderness. This is "high" elevation country with the base being around 7,000 and going up fast from there.