ESP, sent you a PM

Hunting with a stick for Mule deer is about as tough as it gets. I think if a guy wants a decent chance at a Mule deer buck he should look around mid and south eastern New Mexico. Lots of public lands, easy draw and it's in January during the rut so a sneak is much more possible. Units 34 and 36 are good places to start and the winters aren't so tough as to wipe out whole populations. Monsters are few and far between but lots of deer and an occasional hog (as in pig)in 34....  IMO

I just returned in January fm hunting unit 27 in NM.  While you may be right as far as bad winters go, that's not what kills off the deer in NM.  

It's drought and they just got clobbered.  In 14 days I never saw a fawn of the year.  My buddy who has been there for 5 years said deer were one tenth of what they had been.  It was the 4th day before I saw a buck.

Shedrock is spot-on about predator control for managing mule deer herds.  Man cannot control the weather, but he can manage the prey/predator ratio....

Keep the wind in your face!

Shoot straight, Shinken

 

Thanks for all the responses.   Those that have PM me I have responded.  I can tell from some responses that my idea of acceptable is much smaller than others and that is fine with me.  Thank you all again.
Eric