Mule Deer Hunting Tips: Hard-Earned Lessons from the Field

"The thrill of hunting isn't the kill; It's in the pursuit, the failures and the lessons that come from them."

- Steven Rinella

For most hunters, there’s nothing quite like the anticipation of mule deer season. Opening day is circled on the calendar, and months of scouting, glassing, and preparation all lead to that moment when boots hit the mountain. It’s often when hunters make small mistakes that cost them the chance at a buck they’ve been watching all summer. I’ve learned a lot of these lessons the hard way. As you head into a new season, here are a few reminders that might save you from blowing an opportunity when it matters most.

These aren’t complicated strategies — they’re reminders that can make or break a stalk. Whether you’re hunting solo or with a buddy, these lessons will keep you disciplined and focused when it matters most.

Move with Intention Over Ridges

This is a mistake I’ve made more times than I’d like to admit. It usually happens when I’m tired, cold, or just not focused. Instead of being methodical, I rush. And mule deer don’t forgive sloppy hunters.

One hunt with my dad comes to mind. We were pushing up a bald, burned-out ridge in the pouring rain and hail. There was no cover, we were soaked and freezing, and all we wanted was to reach the glassing knob we had e-scouted. When the storm finally broke, we hurried up, not even thinking about the small pocket of country below us. Sure enough, while taking a break and being louder than we should’ve been, I spotted a gray-bodied buck 300 yards away. Even with my naked eye, I could tell he was a nice buck. I barely got my binos up before he vanished.

Had we crept over that ridge slowly, staying low and breaking up our outline, we would’ve likely caught that tall, boxy buck feeding in the meadow completely unaware. Instead, we rushed and paid the price.

Every ridge should be treated like there’s a buck bedded just over the edge. Take your time. Ease up to the skyline. Use rocks, trees, and terrain features to break your outline. Assume you’re stepping into a buck’s bedroom—because you probably are.

Look Everywhere on a Stalk

Tunnel vision is one of the fastest ways to blow a stalk. When you watch a buck bed down, it’s easy to lock your eyes on that one spot, convinced he’ll still be there hours later. But mule deer don’t always play by the rules. They stand, reposition, or slide into a new patch of shade. If your focus never leaves the spot you think he’s in, you’ll miss the fact that he’s actually just 20 yards away in a different bed.

I learned this firsthand. I had a buck pegged, marked his bed on OnX, and set up my stalk with everything dialed. As I eased over a rise and dropped into range, I was locked in on where I’d last seen him. At 40 yards, I thought for sure he’d appear in my sight picture any second. Then—movement out of the corner of my eye. He stood, looked at me, and bounded out of sight before I could react. He had shifted beds, and because I wasn’t scanning my surroundings, I never had a chance.

On a stalk, your eyes need to work as hard as your legs. Check the shadows, the brush edges, and especially the spots below your feet. Bucks love to bed in places that are tough to glass from a distance but obvious up close. Look everywhere, not just where you expect them to be.

Treat Every Stalk Like You’re Solo

Having a buddy guide you in on the radio is an advantage, but it’s easy to rely too heavily on them. Even with someone spotting for you, every step still comes down to you—the wind, your noise, your decisions. If you move carelessly, it doesn’t matter how perfect their directions are—you’ll spook the buck before you ever get close.

I’ve hunted both ways—alone and with a partner helping guide me in. The reality is, your routine should never change. Mark the bed, take pictures, plan your route, and move as if nobody is there to back you up. The guide is a bonus set of eyes, not a replacement for your own preparation. Trust their intel when it matters, but don’t lean on them as a crutch. At the end of the day, you’re the one on the stalk, and you’re the one who has to execute.

Don’t Quit After the Morning Rush

It’s tempting to throw in the towel after a slow morning. The sun gets high, the deer bed down, and camp starts calling. But bucks don’t just move at dawn and dusk. They stand up throughout the day to feed, stretch, or relocate to a new bed. Mid-morning and mid-day can be some of the best times to catch them moving.

I’ve been guilty of getting discouraged when I didn’t see much early. But over and over again, I’ve watched bucks get up mid-morning, shift into new shade, or move several hundred yards to an afternoon bed. If you’re glassing, patient, and disciplined, you’ll catch those little windows most hunters miss.

Some of the best stalks I’ve ever had happened in the middle of the day. By then, a buck’s world has shrunk to a few yards of shade. He’s more predictable and less likely to blow out of the country. The hunters who stay on the glass while everyone else is back at camp eating breakfast are the ones who tag deer.

Final Thoughts: Stack the Odds in Your Favor

Opening day of mule deer hunting season isn’t about luck — it’s about discipline. Move with purpose, stay alert, and treat every stalk like it’s your only chance. Mule deer are unforgiving, but if you apply these lessons, you’ll keep yourself in the game longer than the guy who rushes, assumes, or heads back to camp too soon.

This season, remember: every ridge, every stalk, and every hour on the glass could be the difference between watching a buck walk away or walking up on him with your tag in hand.