Are Mature Mule Deer a Different Species? – Remi Warren
When it comes to hunting mule deer, I’ve always said that mature bucks and young bucks behave almost like two completely different species.
The older a buck gets, the more his behavior changes. Understanding those differences can be one of the biggest advantages when it comes to consistently finding mature deer. If you want to take a mature buck this season, you have to hunt for that buck. There’s a reason they made it to that age. Let’s look at what separates mature bucks from younger deer and how you can use that knowledge to your advantage.
Why Mature Mule Deer Are Different
I consider a mature mule deer to be around 5–8 years old. These bucks are in their prime and often at their peak antler-growing years.
Growing a big set of antlers takes three things: genetics, nutrition, and age. In most general hunting units, age is the hardest of those factors to come by.
Big bucks don’t get old by making mistakes.
They’ve spent years avoiding predators, including mountain lions, wolves, bears, and hunters. They’ve learned where to live, when to move, and how to stay out of sight.
I’ve found that many mature bucks spend much of the year in rough, secluded country where deer densities are relatively low. These areas are often difficult to access, have limited hunting pressure, or offer enough security that bucks can survive year after year.
Mature bucks also tend to be more solitary.
They often separate from summer bachelor groups earlier, disappear into thick cover during October, and conserve energy before the rut. The rut is their one major weakness, when even the most reclusive bucks come out looking for does.
Afterward, they’re often among the last to join larger groups on winter range.
How Younger Bucks Behave
I consider immature bucks to be roughly 1½–4½ years old. These are the deer hunters encounter most often, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re small. A three-year-old buck might already sport an impressive set of antlers.
Younger bucks tend to be more social and less reclusive.
They often spend more time around doe groups, stay in bachelor groups longer into the fall, and begin pestering does well before the rut really gets going.
They also tend to occupy areas with higher deer densities, better food availability, and milder terrain.
That’s why you can spend a day glassing a basin full of does and younger bucks without ever turning up a mature deer.
You might be hunting where the deer are, but not necessarily where the mature bucks are.
Hunt the Age Class You’re Looking For
I’ve had plenty of hunts where I’ve told myself, “I probably won’t see many deer, but if I do, there’s a good chance it’ll be a big one.”
That’s because I’m intentionally hunting country where mature bucks are more likely to survive.
If I’m specifically targeting an old buck, I’ll concentrate on rougher, more secluded pockets, even if it means seeing fewer deer and spending several days in the backcountry.
Know What You’re Hunting
One of the biggest keys to mule deer hunting success is knowing what you want out of the hunt before it starts.
If you’re looking for opportunity, hunt deer concentrations. If you’re targeting a mature buck, be willing to hunt tougher country, see fewer deer, and put in more time.
Neither approach is wrong, but they require different strategies.
Mature mule deer might not actually be a different species, but learning to hunt them like they are can make all the difference.