Mule deer hunting in United States

The range of mule deer covers more or less the eastern slopes of the Rockies and all the way East to the Great Plains. The deer is instantly recognizable by its big ears, that reminded early settlers of the mule (thus the name), and antlers that don’t “comb” like those of the white-tail, but branch like those of elk or red stag. Mule deer is perceived to be the creature of the wide open plains, that should be spotted from afar, stalked, and shot at a long range with a rifle. This is not always true; in some corners of the West mule deer stick to densely wooded ravines, and opportunities for bowhunting always exist. Nevertheless, the experience of a white-tailed deer hunter from the East is not always directly transferable to mule deer hunting in the West, the fact which stemmed the development of outfitting and professional guiding industries in typical mule deer hunting states such as Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico. Different states have different rules for non-resident hunting. Some mule deer tags may be available OTC, or through outfitters or landowners’ preference programs. In others, the tags may be subject to limited draw.