SHED HUNTING OREGON IN DECEMBER - 2018 Mule Deer Trip. 4. Blinds are also used depending on the ability and preference of the hunter. We believe that in next five to ten years (2013), the hunting community is going to make a huge swing in our direction. White-tailed deer and mule deer are the most highly sought after big game species in South Dakota and throughout North America. “When they are bunched like they are in the early season, you are trying to stalk them with a whole bunch of eyes,” said Hall. The majority of the public access property available to DIY South Dakota mule deer hunters is in the western portion of the state near the Black Hills. Antelope is a draw also with a season of October 1st -15th. In previous decades, tags were easy to get over the counter while populations thrived. If you are looking for a true western hunting experience look no further than Western Ranch Outfitters in South Dakota. We believe that this is the place where modern hunting meets traditional hunting. They see me, whether I am walking or driving a truck in some cases. Available seasons 4. The hunting area is in Harding County, located in the northwest part of the state. We have a very strict culling program to insure the quality or our animals. The hunting area covers over 37,000 acres, some of which borders Montana. Get up above the ATV trails and leave the mule deer call in the pack. It is the hunter’s responsibility to get their meat to Pierre or Oneida. I hunt whitetail deer and mule deer on 70,000 acres of private land spread out over 300 miles in 5 distinctly different locations of South Dakota. Here is a guide that will point you in the right direction when it comes to the best OTC states for mule deer, the best OTC mule deer units and the best mule deer decoy tactics. South Dakota isn’t a true blue OTC mule deer tag state, but it’s easy to get a tag. “Maybe I am out there 300 yards. The bucks turn solitary. Meat Processing is up to the hunter. The season runs Sept. 24 through December for antlered deer. I tallied 28 mule deer through my binoculars by the end of the morning hunt. This is isn’t a review of gear we used on our hunt but rather a summary of how we planned our DIY hunt and some pointers that may help someone looking to do some mule deer hunting in Montana. South Dakota Guided Antelope Hunts (firearm & Archery) Crooked Creek Outfitters offers antelope hunting in South Dakota for firearm and archery. Loving the Monster. The hunting area is located in Harding County, South Dakota. They have rent-a-cars there also. Photos of these deer can be viewed in our hunting photo gallery of recent deer hunts and archived whitetail/mulies.. We spent a lot of time researching success rates, previous hunting reports and maps identifying the best Arizona OTC deer tag units. Results: Each year, our hunts are a huge success with several whitetail and mule deer are taken. The majority of hunting that is done for muleys is spot-and-stalk. Here's why: 1. The herd bulls often will weigh 1800-2000 pounds. If you’re time is limited, try to hunt around the rut, which peaks during early or mid-November. Persistence and luck is needed to successfully harvest an Arizona mule deer in OTC units. Mule Deer (Any Deer) Deer Rifle tags historically can’t be drawn without a preference point in this area. They are visual animals that roam the wide open country and are social in the early season and during the rut. They are often found in groups feeding in open areas. The deer in Unit 76 are extremely call shy – due to hunting pressure and predation – but this has made them more visual creatures. Hall recommends glassing to find a group of does that has a mature buck with it, figure out what way they are heading, and getting close to set up a decoy. It contains the best decoys to pack plus how and where to use them. “During the rut, dominate bucks will run off smaller bucks and single out does,” said Hall. There are meat processors in Pierre and Oneida that will process the game. Season Dates are for  Archery Deer - Sept. 24 - Dec. 31, and Antlerless Deer - Sept. 24, 2011 - Jan. 15. They harvested 731 mule deer and 40 percent of the bucks killed sported four points or better. Be sure to research all of South Dakota’s deer hunting regulations, public land areas and past harvest statistics. These large western Mule deer bucks are managed to provide the hunter with options of coming season after season to beat last year’s trophy. You provide the persistence, and the rut may provide the luck. “There are some general things about them. Nonresidents may apply for an East River Deer license if there are leftovers available after the drawing. While mule deer numbers have been taking it on the chin, antler size is trending up, perhaps due to fewer hunters and recently mild winters. Buy a tag in a unit that is open for both the early and late season, or, at least the late season. Some are several acres (very large) while others are small. Bring your own stands or hunting blinds. elk hunting opportunities for the DIY hunter. Mule deer hunting on over 1,300,000 acres of South Dakota tribal land in four counties is an absolute blast. The season is Oct.- Jan.1. The southeast corner of Idaho is often overlooked for its mule deer hunting, but there are some archery OTC units wore looking at. Deer hunting seasons have occurred regularly since the 1950s, with deer hunters harvesting approximately 95,000 deer during the recent record year of 2010. In fact, very few states offer over-the-counter licenses for the archery seasons while elk hunting opportunities for the DIY hunter are increasing. I am new here and from MO. They offer trophy mule deer, whitetail, antelope and turkey hunts. Now Booking 2020-2021 South Dakota Mule & Whitetail Deer Hunts. The nearest airport is Pierre, about 35 miles away. Observers are welcome at no extra cost this is a family operation. You will be hunting in Stanley County unit 58A. We require a $1375 (50%) deposit to hold a date. “Unless you have a hayfield or some kind of agricultural area that are bringing the animals in and you know where they are coming through and coming into it and maybe you can set up a decoy on the edge to get them to come to it and ambush them, you will have to be mobile.”. A multi season quest for an archery mule deer has come down to this for Big Bear Outdoors member CJ. The prairie is virtually as it was two hundred years ago when Lewis and Clark traveled this way on their trip west. One is by calling them in. Some particular counties to focus your research on are Butte, Lawrence and Harding Counties. One thing’s for sure, when you head to Idaho for a mule deer hunt, be sure to pack a camera with plenty of memory. Here again the hunter is welcome to take his meat with him. If you can put their eyes on a decoy while you approach and not have them get alarmed, that is awesome.”. We will quarter the carcass and bag it for him. Nonresident deer permits are $215. These are some of the best eating buffalo and nicest hides around. In addition to our large antelope inhabitant, this land produces trophy mule deer, some whitetail, and coyote. "3 Days" an Archery Deer Hunting story. This is not a typical South Dakota Mule Deer Hunt. There are two ways to hunt. Predator and prairie dog require a predator/varmint license or non-resident license. The late season, when mule deer will be rutting in Arizona, allows for more aggressive tactics, such as calling and ratting and, of course, decoying. We recommend Broc's Butcher Block in Oneida, or Steamboat Inc in Pierre. None were the buck I was looking to shoot — but one of them had at least required a second look. Buying an OTC mule deer tag in Arizona gives a bowhunter the opportunity to hunt earlier and more often than those who draw tags. Spot and stalk is what it's all about for rifle and archery mule deer hunting in South Dakota, especially on private land. Using a muley decoy can help. We always skin and cape the buffalo, so taking one home with your deer is always an option, in comparison to deer it is more meat and less antler. “Sometimes you have to belly crawl to get close, and you will need to be moving with the decoy,” said Hall. South Dakota non-resident archery mule deer hunters must apply for a license and once the application is processed, it will be mailed to them. Archery and Muzzleloader season are unlimited and can be purchased by ordering on line and having it mailed to you. The 58A43 is for two does. The situation in Unit 76 is representative of several OTC mule deer units in Idaho. Our location along the Belle Fourche River, ample acreage to hunt, wildlife management efforts, and limited harvest ensure that you will have a great opportunity to harvest a mature buck. Nonresident Hunting in South Dakota. Patterning mule deer can be pretty easy in the early season once you find a group. Despite the challenges of brutal winters from 2008 to 2010 and 2 million acres recently expiring from the CRP program, the Peace Garden State continues to offer DIY hunters solid deer-hunting opportunities. I was hunting somewhere in South Dakota on a Game Production Area open to the public, and so I … But, I see no reason it wouldn’t work for hunters getting close to muleys with a muzzleloader or bow.”. The predator hunts we offer are for coyotes and other such animals. Sometimes our high quality guarantee management on the buffalo has us culling while you are up hunting. However, it is still considered an “outside the box” tactic. Whether it is because coyotes, wolves, harsh winters or the oil and gas companies’ development, mule deer hunting isn’t what it used to be. The mature bucks will be on the prowl for does ready to be bred. Deer Hunting South Dakota: I love hunting archery deer in SD, i try to get out there as often as possible. We are only 8 miles from historic Deadwood! Bowhunters should hunt the early season Walk-in Areas (WIA) or state-owned land before gun season for the best chance of harvesting a big South Dakota mule deer. South Dakota Muleys South Dakota is where the West and the natural geographic boundary for mule deer habitat begin, and patchwork parcels here offer ample opportunities. “I would send a hunter in there crawling, and I may show myself to them within their comfort zone,” said Hall. This is a good place to make it a standard hunt each year for your friends and family to hunt as a annual trip. Whitetail and mule deer are the most highly sought after big game species in South Dakota and throughout North America. “They will come a long way to chase off another male or check out a doe. It wouldn’t hurt to try to call to the rut-crazed bucks either. While the units do not present as much trophy mule deer potential, there are trophy bucks harvested in these units regularly. But plenty of hunting is available. With huge trophy bucks roaming the land from 150"to 180"+ class, the locations that we hunt are outstanding you’re sure to see plenty of quality bucks during your rifle or archery South Dakota mule deer … We use a lot of the latest and greatest equipment. The Hunt Planner combines current season/unit information, previous 3 years of draw statistics and the previous year’s harvest statistics into a map. Included In Hunt: All hunts include meals, lodging and transportation to and from airport. Other units with good success rates and trophy potential include Unit 21A and Unit 28. They typically depend on their sight a lot.”. Availability is unlimited, but be advised: You can't just buy one when you arrive. Mule deer will too, especially if they see does. In early season situations, the mobility of portable decoys is a huge advantage when hunting mule deer. Guaranteed tags and extended bow season provide exciting trophy whitetail deer hunting. “I think the perception of hunting styles for mule deer have made some hesitant to try it,” said Rusty Hall, head guide of Western Lands and publisher of Trophy Hunter Magazine. They like the open spaces so you are always trying to close the distance. $1,500 four day four night white tail hunt. Preparation and determination will create luck for any mule deer bowhunter looking to overcome struggles in the field. You will enjoy the scenic views of rolling hills, grassy draws, alfalfa bottoms, grain fields, food plots, tree belts, and flowing creeks. Our area encompasses approximately 150,000 acres of privately owned land north and south of Wall, South Dakota, along the rugged Cheyenne River drainage area. theHunter: Call of the Wild - Parque Fernando - Diamond Red Deer - EP#15. The cost is $2750. “Other species – moose, antelope, and elk – are super aggressive during the rut,” said Hall. The cost is $250.00 per day for two guns/ people. The buffalo are a closed herd so they are the best of the best. Howdy all. This outfitter has about 50,000 acres with about 2000 buffalo roaming on the prairie on the ranch located in central South Dakota near Lake Oahe, about 35 miles from Pierre, South Dakota. Mule Deer Hunting Tips and Tools The 2016-17 fall hunting season is here! Recreational Springs Resort: Great accommodations while hunting the beautiful Black Hills! The early season provides spot-and-stalk opportunities on bedded mule deer hiding in the shade, and there's the option for waterhole hunts. “Typically, if you try to approach while they are feeding, you have too many eyes watching you, and somebody is going to bust you. You will be hunting in Stanley County unit 58A. Many years this ranch is not hunted and has over aged bucks to show it. The landscape is truly picturesque. If Duck hunting is your passion, our Duck hunting is second to none! Now, you can embrace the hunt with a mule deer decoy. We provide the guide and the caller. “We hunt tons and tons of mule deer every year,” said Hall. The deer hunting season begins the second Saturday in November. South Dakota Deer Hunting | Pure Hunting S.2, Ep.8, “Revenge of the Badlands” “Join me as I head back to South Dakota to redeem myself from last year’s hunt. The South Dakota Hunt Planner is a one stop shop that allows hunters to make informed decisions about upcoming seasons and hunting areas for big game. As time progresses and the rut nears, they start bunching up and does and fawns will get in big groups. The difference in hunt quality from an Arizona OTC Mule Deer hunt and a controlled unit hunt that's easy to draw a tag for is usually vast. There is a piece of history here to uncover while you hunt the vast hunting area that is seldom hunted. South Dakota has a variety of hunting opportunities that non-residents can enjoy, including pheasant hunting, turkey, West River and Black Hills Deer, limited waterfowl and other small game and upland birds. You can bowhunt during firearm season while wearing one article of hunter orange. “So if you had a decoy, you can try to get close to a group tended by a buck. Montana Decoy created the Muley Doe in response to the outbreak of hunters realizing that decoying mule deer is becoming a great way to successfully attract mule deer into bow range. Free Range Mule Deer Hunts in SD. Fall is upon us and it is time to get serious about punching some tags and achieving your season’s dreams and goals. Thirty four percent of mule deer hunters in Unit 76 were successful last season. It is serviced by Great Lakes which is a United Airlines carrier from Denver and Rapid City, and also by a Delta carrier from Minneapolis. PREADITOR, PRARIE DOG PHEASANT AND GROUSE. It will be up to you to acquire your licenses through the ND Game and Fish Dept. Motel rooms starting at $39 and cabins starting at $69 night! Pheasant and grouse require a small game license. South Dakota big game hunting with Crooked Creek Outfitters offers prime mule deer hunts, antelope hunts, and predator hunts in “almost” Montana. 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