Deer—Whitetail, Mule, Blacktail

Whitetail Deer

The whitetail deer is the most popular and widely distributed big-game animal in Continental United States. With the exception of a long, finger-like strip of land stretching from California to Ohio, the whitetail populates almost every area of the country. Whitetails are also distributed over one third of Mexico and are found well up into the Canadian provinces border­ing the entire length of the United States. Only five states have no whitetail deer, or so few as to be negligible—California, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, and Utah. Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Minnesota have the most.

Whitetails are the smallest of the three major deer species and are divided into many subspecies, largely according to location. There is an extreme variation in size among adult whitetail deer. Exceptional bucks in some northeastern states will often reach 300 pounds. On the other hand, a Coues-deer buck, commonly known as the Sonora whitetail—found in Mexico and Arizona—will average no more than 40 pounds.

DESCRIPTION AND HABITS

The whitetail deer is distinguished from the two other deer species— the mule and blacktail—by several characteristic features. Its hoofs are thinner and daintier. Antlers, in the bucks, are arranged upon a single

Hunters stalk the whitetail deer in most of America's forests, pit­ting their wits against a furtive, wily quarry. Our most popular big-game animal carries a graceful set of antlers—a single main beam on each side with several projecting tines. Informa­tion on how to measure a white-tail trophy can be found on page 432 of the appendix.

main beam. The musk glands occurring along the metatarsal bones are smaller. And the most distinguishing feature is its big flaglike tail, whose coloration on the underside gives the deer its name.

The innate characteristics of the whitetail resemble those of the Chinese pheasant, imported into this country to replace native upland birds which couldn't survive the increasing agrarian expansion of man. Both this deer

The vital areas to aim for on a deer are shown here. The heart-lungs area is best, neck or spine shots next best if the game is at close range.

and the pheasant have demonstrated an ability to live in man's backyard, survive, and in many cases multiply. Both are wily, smart, and full of tricks. Both feed at the open edge-country of farmlands, love to lie low in con­cealment in the presence of danger, skulk through cover, and pit their wits against man's. Both "explode" from cover at close range.

The whitetail is largely a brush-country deer and spends most of its life span in or near heavily timbered, brushy or swampy country. Unlike its cousin, the mule deer, the whitetail does not migrate from summer to winter ranges but will usually stay within an area of a few miles radius.

Like other game species, the whitetail is largely nocturnal, and this fact gives the cue to the best hunting hours—early morning and late evening when it comes out to feed or is still there.

Before getting into the three best methods for hunting this deer, ;t would be best to understand those abilities in which the animal surpasses the hunter, and any possible departments in which it is weak.

First, the whitetail's hearing is far keener than man's. Its sense of smell, too, is far more acute. Also, its running speed in any initial getaway is faster than any man's. In short, the whitetail can outsmell, outhear, and outrun the hunter; and any hunting procedure based upon the matching of deer against hunter in any of these abilities would result in failure.

Oppositely, the deer's vision is relatively poor. The whitetail is not a long-distance runner like the antelope; it makes its runs in short bursts of speed and does not run out of an area, but prefers to circle about within it. Moreover, the whitetail, like the antelope, is mildly curious. And like all game animals, the males during mating season tend to lose a great amount of their caution.

METHODS OF HUNTING—DRIVING

The three standard methods of whitetail hunting are driving, still-hunting, and stalking. Driving is most often employed in areas of known deer populations and numerous hunters. The party is managed by one person; hunters are divided into "standers" and "drivers," who alternate positions, usually after one or more kills his deer.

Standers are posted along runways, deer trails, old forest roads, on high vantage points overlooking canyon bottoms, and similar places where deer are known to move. Their basic attribute should be the patience of Job, since once they are posted it is a cardinal sin for a stander to move until the drive is over. Any motion is apt to frighten the coming animal away so that it won't cross the anticipated spot—usually in front of the stander.

The drivers circle to an opposite side of the general area to be driven. There they spread out in a mild V formation with the hunters placed closely enough together so that driven deer will not cut back between. The number of the drivers depends upon the party, the type of country, and the legality. Some states limit the number of drivers.

Once in position, the drivers move toward the standers. Normally the game ahead will move forward so that the standers get their chance. Often deer will slip between the drivers, due to the fact that they may have been previously driven and have escaped, or due to their trait of staying within a certain region. Deer tend to slip back past the outside of the driving line, and the end drivers will connect as often as the standers.
Deer drives are the least thrilling forms of deer hunting. They are also the most hazardous, due to the number of hunters and the possibilities of bullets flying every which way. But drives are often necessary; they are one of the results of increased population.

STILL-HUNTING

Still-hunting is based upon a combination of known deer traits—the deer's relatively poor vision, its habit of staying within a localized area, its preference for using certain trails, ridges, and crossings, and its known feeding hours.

In still-hunting, the lone hunter simply posts himself at a certain spot where the quarry is most apt to pass; then he patiently waits. In this form of whitetail hunting, the hunter pits his ability to remain entirely still and undetected against the deer's vision.

Generally speaking, the spot chosen must be such that any deer will come downwind. The hunter posts himself against a tree bole, in a brush heap, or in other natural surroundings. As in any other form of big-game hunting, the hunter sees best while he is immobile; the game sees worst while it is on the move. The deer's acuteness of hearing and smell also have a bearing on the outcome. The still-hunter therefore must not make noise or smoke, lest he give away his presence. If other hunters "play dog" for him, they will cause game to move more than normally, and this ups the posted hunter's chances.

Successful still-hunting depends upon a thorough knowledge of the country, the regions game uses, an understanding of the quarry's habits and weaknesses, and the sheer physical ability to stay in one spot without moving for hours at a time.

STALKING

Perhaps the most thrilling form of hunting is for the hunter to invade the deer's own bailiwick and try to outwit it by stealth and superior strategy.

The best possible way of approaching the matter is for the hunter to think as a deer might and even say to himself: "If I were being hunted in this area, with my life at stake, and no other place to go, just how would I go about outsmarting somebody who was after me?"

It is surprising how much a hunted man reacts in the same way as hunted game. Military men during wartime have discovered that the strategy soldiers use to evade an enemy has a striking resemblance to the tricks big game uses to accomplish the same purpose. Both utilize camou­flage, lie low, and remain motionless to avoid detection. Both evade follow­ers by suddenly angling off their main course, circling, and often coming upon the opponent from an unsuspected direction. When the chips are down, both will resort to fighting (according to their capabilities), or flight.

An understanding of all this vastly helps the stalker. He moves more

Dressed in camouflage clothing, the author conceals himself in a natural blind for still-hunting whitetails.

slowly than a beginner might think necessary, knowing that fast movement is easy to detect. And, as a deer would, he moves inside fringing timber and behind the blind side of trees rather than in the open. The quarry's keen sense of smell is nullified by the expedient of hunting into any breeze, even if it means wide circling to hunt any particular spot where deer is thought to be. The stalker learns, too, through an understanding of how deer think, not only to refrain from making unharmonious woods noises himself but to interpret any noises not in keeping with the surroundings as sounds made by game. In short, he doesn't let his pants legs swish together as he walks; and likewise he interprets the sudden snapping of a twig or tinkle of shale in windless woods as the sound of walking deer. The stalker's strategy in this way becomes a thrilling game of hide-and-seek. The satisfaction he receives after coming into range of his deer on his own is usually far greater than that derived from shooting driven game. One trick of veteran whitetail stalkers is based on the mild curiosity of this species. As one old-timer said, "I've actually killed more whitetails that I've caught circling behind me than any other way. The smart little devils always seem to hear me comin', then sneak in behind me to see what it's all about. I always hunt awful slow, and keep watchin' where I've been."

HUNTING IN PAIRS

Hunting with a partner is another productive method of hunting white-tails. The basic technique is to so hunt any area that while the game moves to protect itself from the sight or sound of one hunter, it inadvertently places itself where the partner might see it.

In hunting out a brush patch, for example, one hunter circles so as to be in a position to see the far end of the patch; then the partner pushes through the patch of foliage, flushing the game from the opposite end. When game is thought to be in a gully or canyon, one hunter works the ridge where he can look downward, the other hunts the canyon bottom hoping either to spot the deer at close range himself, or have it move into a position where the hunter at a higher elevation will see it.

Partner hunting is a cheery way of hunting. It lacks the hectic bustle and innate danger of the drive, yet offers fine companionship and a measure of safety against getting lost.

RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES

Because of the brushy, heavy-foliage nature of most whitetail habitat, this species of deer is shot at relatively close range. The majority of white-tails are killed under 100 yards. Further, the first shot at a whitetail is invariably the best shot though there is often the opportunity for quick succeeding shots. Like the ruffed grouse, once startled and under way a whitetail will quickly put any available tree or bush between himself and the hunter. This prevents deliberate follow-up shots.

These conditions dictate both the type of rifle best suited for hunting this deer, and the overall requirements of the bullet. In order to get off a quick shot in brush, any rifle must be handy, relatively short, light in weight, and come up fast with the shooter looking right down the barrel.

The bullet which does the work must be a fairly good brush-bucker and be able to plow through a reasonable degree of foliage and reach the target. It must have sufficient weight to penetrate well, even on such relatively light game. Often the shot at whitetails will be a running shot; and while it is always necessary to aim for a vital area, the truth is that whitetail deer are often hit anywhere "from hame-strap to breechin'." The good whitetail bullet should do the job well on any solid body hit. The bullet should open up fast.

With these conditions in mind, the hunter might well first select a suitable bullet or cartridge, then choose a rifle which will properly handle it. Again, he may choose a rifle filling the requirements, then pick it in a caliber which has the most ideal bullet or cartridge.

Two rifle-cartridge combinations which have proven themselves as nearly ideal whitetail weapons are the old Winchester Model 94 lever-action rifle shooting the .30/30 cartridge, and the old Remington automatic "cornsheller" handling the .35 Remington bullets and cartridge.

The Model 94, in .30/30 cartridge, has killed more whitetail deer than any other single cartridge. The Remington, which was developed later, is equally popular for whitetails. It is significant here that the bullets which made this reputation, in both cartridges, were relatively blunt-nosed, and had well-exposed, soft-point tips.

Even today, after decades of bullet and rifle development, these two combinations are still fine outfits for whitetail deer. Both handle and shoot "fast," with quick repeat shots. The bullets of both plow through brush well. Both are adequate to kill whitetails with any reasonable hit.

Other more modern rifles which are fine for whitetail deer are the Savage Model 99, Marlin Model 336, Winchester Model 88, the older Winchester Model 71, and the Remington Models 760 and 740. Many hunters use modern bolt-action rifles such as the Winchester Model 70, Remington Model 725, and Weatherby rifles on whitetails, especially if the rifle must double on other species.

Some of the best cartridges for use on whitetails are:
.30/30 Winchester
.308 Winchester
.300 Savage
.30/06 Springfield
.348 Winchester
.35 Remington
.358 Winchester

In areas where heavy brush isn't too much of a problem, or where the rifle and cartridge must be used also on game shot at extended ranges, the following cartridges are entirely suitable:
.250 Savage
.257 Roberts
.270 Winchester
.280 Remington
7 mm Mauser

Open sights, peep sights, and low-powered scope sights are all used for whitetails.

SHOTGUNS

Because of safety measures, some states won't allow the use of rifles on deer, and a shotgun must be used. With the shotgun a choice of either buckshot or rifled slugs must be made. Generally speaking, buckshot should not be used at over 40 yards, and even then buckshot fringes on being nothing but a game-crippler. The modern rifled slug is far better, more accurate, and may be used up to 100 yards. The best shotgun for use on deer is a 12 gauge, of magazine type, with a single sighting plane.

SHOT PLACEMENT

Generally speaking, the best spot to aim for on whitetails is the lung area, or just behind the point of the shoulder. Standing shots often dictate where the animal must be shot, since brush may conceal part of the target. The spine, anywhere from hips to head, is a vital area. So are the heart and brain. Gut shots should be avoided if at all possible.

Often a shot animal is only wounded and must be followed and finished off. In such instances the real art of tracking comes into use, and the sign left by the animal must be unraveled step-by-step if the beast is to be found.

Generally speaking, the hunter should allow ten to thirty minutes before following an animal known to be wounded. An unpursued animal will travel slower, stop more often, and lie down quicker than one that is pursued.

Before taking up the trail, the hunter should always mark the spot where the game was last seen with a marker such as a white handkerchief tied to a tree or bush. Often wounded game cannot be located by a strict following of spoor, but may be located by starting at the spot and moving in concentric circles. Often the starting point must be used several times, hence the necessity of marking it plainly.

Wounded game bleeds. Bright red blood on a trail means a lung shot and the game won't travel far. Heavy dark blood comes from muscle. Green fluid or bits of undigested forage means a gut shot. A dragging track indicates a hit in that particular leg. Spots along the trail where the animal has lain down or stopped usually mean a hard-hit beast. If the animal heads steeply downhill, this means a hard hit. If a whitetail's flag dropped as it ran off, it is hard hit.

In following a wounded whitetail, the hunter should go slowly, looking ahead as carefully as he watches the spoor. His rifle should be at ready for a finishing shot if the game jumps up again and tries to escape.

HANDGUNS

Hunting the whitetail with the handgun is logical due to the nearness it can be approached in heavy cover.

Once handgun hunting for any game was considered a stunt, practiced only for publicity by showoffs. This was true because the handguns of the past were inadequate for killing any species.

When still-hunting whitetails with a handgun, the weapon should be held in both hands, with elbows braced against knees.

The recent development of handguns having the potential of many medium-powered rifles, plus a growing interest in the six-gun and a cor­responding increase in practice with it, have combined to change the pic­ture. Also, the advocates of the handgun have sold the idea of its legitimate use on game to the various game commissions to the extent that in many regions handgun hunting is now legal.

With some individual restrictions, the following states now permit the handgun hunting of big game:
Alabama                             Montana
Alaska                                New Hampshire
Arizona                              New Mexico
Arkansas                            New York
Connecticut                        Pennsylvania
Idaho                                 Rhode Island
Maine                                 South Carolina
Michigan                            Texas
Mississippi                          Vermont
West Virginia

In general, the handgun hunter should use only the highest-powered weapons. He should set a self-imposed limit of 60 to 70 yards of range at the outside. Before attempting to hunt whitetails, he should graduate from a .22 pistol up through the stages of at least three successively more powerful cartridges. And for any shot at game he should use a position permitting the use of both hands on the gun—such as sitting with elbows inside knees or offhand.

BOW HUNTING

The whitetail is usually a short-range proposition, and it is a general rule-of-thumb that a bowman has to get within 40 to 50 yards of game if he is to be successful. Even a close approach does not always mean a chance to release an arrow. The bane of any bowman's existence is the seemingly inevitable presence of limbs or foliage between him and his game. And a twig the size of a finger will deflect an arrow. The archer's dream is for an open shot within 40 yards.

A partially open route to his target isn't enough. An arrow kills by hemorrhage, not by shock and tissue destruction as does a bullet. For this reason, the arrow must reach a vital spot or the deer is apt to escape only

White coveralls camouflage the hunter in snow.  Heavy  handgun should be carried in a shoulder holster.

wounded. And since the arrow at best is only a slow killer, all chancy shots should be avoided. The high ethics of the bowman are one of his most necessary tools. Many an archer will turn down shot after shot at his deer, simply because the outcome isn't certain.

Mule Deer

The mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) is, on the average, the largest of the three main species of North American deer. As with the whitetail, the size of the mule deer will vary with the region, the overall supply and type of food, such factors as runting, and the general severity of its cycle of living.

States boasting the most mule deer are Colorado, California, Utah, New Mexico, Oregon, Wyoming, and Idaho.

The high mountainous regions of the West produce some of the biggest deer, and mature bucks will weigh up to 300 pounds and over. The antler development of a mule deer depends to a considerable extent upon the presence of limestone in its diet. In such limestone areas as southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming, bucks with an antler spread of over 40 inches are annually taken.

This species of deer has several distinguishing characteristics. Its name comes from its mulelike ears, which are larger in proportion to the rest of its body than those of either the whitetail or the blacktail deer.

The points of the buck's antlers do not originate from a single main beam. Instead, the beam separates, forking out in several directions depend­ing upon the number of tines. The number of points is no criterion of age in mature bucks. A four-pointer (four points plus a brow point on each side) is standard for an adult buck; and a buck's prime runs from age four to eight. Antler development and number of points are directly related to sexual vigor.

The metatarsal, or musk glands, on the mule deer are from three to four times as large as on the whitetail and have no white fringe hairs.

On the face of the mule deer is an identifying black patch, in the form of a solid U, which comes down the head from between the ears to a point midway on the face.

The hoofs are generally larger and more blunt than those of its whitetail cousin to aid the mule deer in its broken-country travel. Because of these larger hoofs, the mule deer can handle deep snow better than the whitetail, which prevents the excessive "yarding up" in midwinter common to some whitetail regions.

Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of the mule deer is its

The big-eared, bounding mule deer, largest of our deer spe­cies, roams the hills and plains of the West. The main beams of the muley's antlers fork into two branches, and each branch displays two tines. Measure a mule-deer trophy according to the information on page 436 of the appendix.

tail. The muley's tail is an insignificant little rope, covered with slick short hairs, ending in a tassel of black hairs.

The mule deer's generally larger size, coupled with its stockier build, gives it a blockier, less dainty appearance than the whitetail, though it is by no means ungraceful.

HABITS

The mule deer's overall range includes the western half of the United States. This range also extends south into about a third of Old Mexico, runs throughout Lower California and reaches northward as far as mid­way into the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The mule deer is not a brush deer like the whitetail. Its habitat is the more broken country, mountainous regions. And while the whitetail tends to live out its life cycle within an area of but a few miles, the mule deer will migrate.

The migration of the muley is not comparable with the general mass migrations of the caribou but is generally a gradual drifting between sum­mer and winter ranges. In winter, concentrations of mule deer will be seen far down on desert sagebrush and bitterbrush areas and in areas such as the famed Salmon River Gorge which is only 3,000 feet in elevation.

In summer, however, the mule deer move upward into mountain and timber country to escape heat, flies, and enemies. As an indication of how great this change in elevation may be, mule deer have often been seen in summer in Wyoming's Bridger Wilderness Area, far up in the glacier lakes formations above timberline at 10,000 feet elevation.

HUNTING THE MULE DEER

The methods of hunting the muley differ from the hunting of whitetails. First, mule deer aren't driven. In much of the western country ill deer-hunting seasons are set ahead of the deer's winter concentrations. Neither the deer nor the hunter population in any area is sufficient to make driving successful. For the same reason—the low ratio of deer in any area—still-hunting isn't popular. In most western mule-deer country, about all a still-hunter would see would be pretty scenery.

The two most popular and successful methods of hunting mule deer are stalking and hunting on horseback. Much of the same caution, knowledge of game, and skill necessary to whitetail hunting can be applied, of course, to hunting the mule deer. This includes hunting into the breeze, moving slowly and noiselessly, and correctly interpreting wilderness signs and sounds. Both types of hunting require a knowledge of the quarry.

There are major differences, however. First, mule deer are generally shot at greater distances than are whitetails. They are hunted in more open country. They are come upon in a far more diverse habitat of elevations and intervening cover, which alters their general strategy of escape.

It is a cardinal hunting rule that the farther the hunted game is from the hunter, the more slowly it will react to danger, and retreat. A stalked whitetail may burst from heavy cover at 60 yards on a dead run; a mule deer which spots the hunter at 200 yards is more apt to take a good look, then leave in a slow trot. This alters the necessary speed of getting into action and the type of weapon.

STALKING

One of the best rules for mule-deer hunting is to "go climb a mountain." Mule deer, like other species, see danger better from above. They retreat from danger by going higher. Thus the best technique is to hunt down upon them. Hunting a muley from above has many advantages. The hunter can see relatively better. He can approach closer, since the game looks for danger from below. In watching for danger from below, the quarry normally stops on the upper side of foliage, trees, and brush, which permits easier location of the game from above. Also, the largest animals of this species will be found at the upper peripheries of their range. The does, fawns, and small bucks will be lower down. Hunting down gives the ad­vantage of being at the general elevation of the big bucks, which are un­molested by the hunter moving lesser animals upward. Lastly, hunting down on game makes it easier to get it back to camp—the way will be all downhill.

As with other deer species, the hours when mule deer are out in the open, feeding or moving about, are the daylight-to-sunup and the dusk-to-dark periods. In order to hunt mule deer from above, the hunter must do his climbing early in the morning. Daybreak is an ideal time.

Ridges are fine places to hunt for mule deer. So are points of timbered country overlooking canyons, and jutting promontories. At daybreak, the game is most apt to be on the sunny sides and slopes leading off such ridges; with mid-morning, the animals go up and over the ridges into the northern slopes for shade. Ridges give the game an opportunity to watch for danger from several directions at once, and provide an escape route in at least three directions.

Canyon apexes are also good places to hunt mule deer. So are the undulating little humps of land and complementing slash canyons leading off a main ridge. Any edge country, where foliage joins open land, is good mule-deer country, if it is in a deer area.

Another fine way of hunting this species is according to elevation and season, utilizing an understanding of the deer's migratory habits. If the hunting season is during a mild, late autumn, most deer in an area will be relatively higher within their range. Heavy rain and snow will move the entire population lower. In any such movement, the does and fawns will be first, with the old mossback bucks bringing up the rear, often several days later.

A good general rule for normal fall hunting is that mule deer are apt to be found at the lower edge of snow line. This is especially true if such foliage as mountain mahogany, bitterbrush, and aspens coincide with such an elevation.

Often in hunting mule deer in their mountainous habitat, the hunting camp will of necessity be considerably removed from the best deer coun­try. This makes it difficult to utilize the best hunting periods, and it be­comes necessary to hunt during midday.

During the day, mule deer will gravitate to canyon bottoms, the northern slopes of mountains, and patches of heavy foliage for rest and shade. They particularly like aspen patches. A good way to hunt aspen patches during midday is with a partner. One hunter moves up through a patch in a gully; the partner starts out a few minutes before and works the ridge overlook­ing the bottom. Any game in the aspen patch will be moved forward ahead of the first hunter. His partner on the ridge will then be in a position to spot it as it emerges from the patch.

When hunting heavily timbered canyon bottoms from a high ridge, the lone hunter often can spook game into view by rolling a heavy rock down­ward into the brush or trees. Another good way of making game move and disclose its presence is to throw a rock into such brush patches and groves of trees. It's best, if the hunter has a stout arm, to throw a rock across the gully and to the opposite side. The noise will often scare the game towards him.
Another place the old trophy bucks like during midday is the rimrock overlooking big canyons. They will bed down just under such shelving rocks, after having scouted for danger in four directions from the ridge. In such a position, they can see danger approaching from the canyon or the ridge top. The smart hunter will continuously glass such areas.

Hunting mule deer from horseback involves the same technique of learning the presence of game from its spoor, then riding to the choice areas. Mule deer often will not spook from a horse and rider as quickly as they would from a hunter on foot.

In the lower country of the Southwest, jeeps are used instead of horses for getting around in deer country. When deer are located with binoculars, a stalk is made, utilizing any cover, to get the hunter close enough for a shot.

RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES

The choice of a mule-deer rifle depends on a number of factors: the age and sex of the hunter, his accuracy with a rifle, the foliage in the region. It also depends on whether he hunts for trophies or for the skillet, on horse­back or on foot, and for larger species of game besides the mule deer.

Young beginning hunters, women, and older men, should not choose as heavy a weapon as men in their prime; nor one with as severe a recoil. The rule-of-thumb is, the gun's weight should not exceed 1/20th of the hunter's weight.

The hunter's age, eyesight, and shooting skill have a bearing on the matter. If the hunter's physical capacities limit his ability with the rifle to 200 yards, then there is little need for a rifle-cartridge combination with 400-yard potential. He is better off with a lighter weapon having less recoil.

Probable foliage is another consideration. If the deer cover is expected to be intense, then a cartridge with a large bullet diameter and knock-down power is desirable. In open country, a cartridge with a smaller and flatter-shooting bullet is better.

The kind of deer generally hunted also has a mild bearing on the sensible choice of a rifle. Hunters who prefer meat animals will not need the long-range rifles necessary for trophy hunting, since does and young deer usually are shot at closer ranges than the wise old bucks.

Generally speaking, hunters on foot should choose lighter rifles than

The  rifle  for  mule  deer,  usually  a   long-range  outfit,  should   be accurately sighted-¡n on a bench rest before the hunt.

those who hunt on horseback, especially when after other species beside mule deer. The right rifle for mule deer in such instances is the rifle that is adequate for the biggest species currently hunted. If it is a deer-elk hunt, then the right rifle is a proper elk rifle.

Lastly, the choice of a deer rifle is governed somewhat by a preference in the type of rifle action. Often the hunter is willing to compromise some­what on a cartridge to get the rifle action he likes. Conversely, some hunters pick the best all-round cartridge, then get a rifle that will handle it.

Broadly speaking, the right rifle-cartridge combination for average mule-deer hunting will be a high-intensity cartridge, with high velocity, keen accuracy, handling a bullet of good sectional density (for retained velocity at long ranges), and weighing from 100 to 180 grains. The minimum caliber should be .24, or 6 mm, and the maximum need not exceed .30 caliber unless used for a combination of species.

Some fine mule-deer cartridges, beginning with the minimum, follow:
.243 Winchester, using 100-grain bullets
.244 Remington, using  100-grain bullets  (hand-loads)
.250 Savage, using 100-grain bullets
.257 Roberts, using 100- or 117-grain bullets
.264 Winchester Magnum, using 140-grain bullets
.270 Winchester, using 130-grain bullets
.280 Remington, using 150-grain bullets
7 mm Mauser, using 130- or 139-grain bullets (hand-loads)
.300 Savage, using 150-grain bullets
.308 Winchester, using 150-grain bullets
.30/06 Springfield, using 150- and 180-grain bullets
7x61  Sharpe & Hart Magnum, using 160-grain bullets

Five of the best all-round cartridges for mule deer in reasonably open country, under all hunting conditions, are the .264 Magnum, the .270, the .280, the 7 mm, and the .30/06.

The opportunity for a deliberate shot is generally better with mule deer than with whitetails. Ordinarily, the muley is located farther off, and either is standing or moving slowly. For this reason, scope sights are best. Scopes for the mule-deer rifle should be of good quality, mounted low and rigidly, and of medium power. A 4-power scope perhaps has the best all-round magnification, and the cross-hair reticule is probably the best.

Several new variable scopes are fine, especially if the deer rifle must double on chucks or varmints where more than 4-power is needed. Also, there are some newly developed reticules which show much promise for mule-deer hunting. Some are double, for range finding. Others have either a combination of post and cross hairs (one is elective), or converging post and cross hairs. The heavier, more easily seen reticule is valuable at dusk and early morning.

Any rifle for mule-deer hunting should be sling-equipped and fit well. It should also have a relatively light, crisp trigger-pull. Many a buck has lived to shed his trophy antlers still another year simply because a sloppy trigger-pull caused the hunter to veer from his aim.

The mule-deer rifle should be perfectly sighted-in, in advance of the hunt. There are three basic ways to sight-in a rifle. One is to sight-in for 200 yards, but at 100 yards. This is done by taking the known trajectory height midway of 200 yards from a ballistic table; then sight the rifle so that the bullets hit that many inches above point of aim at 100 yards. In use, aim is taken "dead on" up to 200 yards, with an overhold for ranges beyond.

A second way is to sight-in at 300 yards, then hold just a few inches low at midway (say, 4 inches lower on the animal), and a trifle higher if the beast is out to 400 yards.

The third, a homespun but entirely practical method with most modern, high-intensity cartridges, is simply to sight-in to hit 3 inches high at 100 yards. Such a sighting, with modern cartridges like the .270, 7 mm, .280, and .30/06, will be entirely accurate at most deer ranges. The hunter holds on target at all ranges up to 200 yards; on the deer's spine at 300 yards; and at 400 yards or over wishes the deer luck and lets it go.

Three good targets for sighting-in a deer rifle. The square bull is fine for sighting-in with scope cross hairs.

Deer—Whitetail, Male, Blacktail                         155

BOW AND ARROW

Archery hunting for mule deer is growing steadily in the West. The choice area for the bowman is semi-open country with numerous rolling hills, intervening gullies, and canyons where he can conceal himself while making a close stalk. Archery hunts are usually held in advance of the open season for rifles.

In bow hunting for mule deer, the ratio of kills to the number of hunters is very small but is increasing as archery equipment and know-how im­prove. Archers seldom spook up the game sufficiently to be a hindrance to rifle hunters, and the bowmen have a fine safety record.

SHOTGUNS

In the past, the shotgun has not been considered seriously for mule deer except in isolated occasions and conditions. The mule deer is long-range game, and there has been no need of hunting it with this short-range weapon.

Hunters have used shotguns on deer in the West while on bird hunts. In some of the West's good deer country, there are grouse, pheasants, and other upland birds. While hunting these, many hunters carry a few rifled slugs for that incidental chance at buckskin still in season.

Here again the rifled slug is far superior to a load of buckshot. Due to its large caliber, such a slug has ample energy to down a mule deer up to 100 yards, especially in 12-gauge size.

Current indications are that the shotgun may be used more on mule deer in the West, as a safety measure, due to the increasing numbers of people and ranches in and near deer country. As one example, Idaho, in 1960, set aside one Management Area for deer hunting with shotguns only.

HANDGUNS

Handgun hunting of mule deer similarly is on the increase. Pistol enthusiasts are taking to the hills in greater number after mule deer, armed with nothing except a magnum handgun. As with archery hunting, success is far more likely in areas of great deer concentration, especially if the hunter hunts alone. A skilled stalker doesn't want other hunters, around spooking the game. Some handgun hunters wait until the late season when the muleys are migrating downward in groups.

Perhaps the handgun has been most used on mule deer while horse­back hunting a larger species such as elk. The hunter carries a heavy pistol, in addition to his rifle for elk, and uses the handgun when he en­counters a deer. Mule deer often are found in the same areas as elk, moose, and bear.

Only two handgun cartridges of today's crop should ever be considered for mule deer. These are the .357 Magnum and the more powerful .44 Magnum. With factory loadings, the .357 Magnum shoots a 158-grain bullet at 1,450 foot-seconds with a muzzle energy of nearly 700 foot­pounds. The newer .44 Magnum sends a 240-grain bullet at l,570 foot-seconds velocity, with an energy of over 1,300 foot-pounds. This places them in the class of low-powered rifles. However, since pistol ranges should always be short and both guns are large-calibered, they are ade­quate for deer.

Development in handgun cartridges is steadily going on, and already several wildcat handgun cartridges will exceed the power of the 357and the .44 Magnums. A recent improvement in pistol bullets is bound to cause handgun velocities to jump appreciably. That's the new semijacketed bul­lets formed by swaging a metal cup over the base of lead bullets. This allows speeding up velocity without stripping lead inside the bore. Such bullets are available in .357 and .44 calibers especially for the handgun enthusiast.

Handguns for hunting purposes should have reasonably long barrels, adjustable sights, hand-fitting grips, and sufficient weight to absorb power­ful loads with safety. A handgun having 6 to 7 inches of barrel, square-topped patridge-type sights, and a crisp, light trigger-pull is most popular. Many hunters prefer it in single action.

A gun of this type weighs approximately 3 pounds. The only satisfactory way of carrying it while hunting is inside a shoulder holster. This distributes the weight at the shoulders, where any burden belongs. It also protects the weapon from rain and snow, as it hangs under the armpit. This posi­tion is fast enough for hunting purposes, and leaves both hands free.

SHOT PLACEMENT

The best area to aim for on mule deer is the lungs-heart area, just behind the foreshoulder and just below midway of the animal. A bullet missing the exact spot by a few inches in any direction will kill the animal quickly.

A wounded deer should be approached slowly, with weapon ready for a finishing shot, and in a direction which will bring the hunter above and behind the animal. Mule deer are strong for their appreciable size, and a wounded buck, especially, can be dangerous. The hind hoofs of a deer can cut like knives; and a wounded deer can reach up and rake a hunter sitting on the animal's head. Bucks can gore a hunter to death with their antlers. It is best to finish off a wounded beast with a bullet, not cut its throat.

Hunting mule deer is a thrilling sport. Often the majesty of western mountains and the scenery is worth the price. And a good mule-deer trophy is one of the very finest.

Although more and more hunters annually take to the tall timber after mule deer, in the past ten years it is estimated that the animals have in­creased one-half million, bringing the current mule-deer population to 2,500,000 head.
Grandpa never had it so good!

Blacktail Deer

Here and there throughout the West, one still hears the statement, "I saw a blacktail." The person really means he saw a mule deer. The reason for the confusion is simple. Mule deer were once called blacktails. When the separate species of blacktail deer was determined, the name "mule" was given to the former. Today, the Columbia blacktail deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) is a recognized species.

DESCRIPTION AND HABITS

In some respects, the blacktail is like the mule deer; in others it re­sembles the whitetail. The blacktail's size is midway between the average whitetail and the average muley. The bucks weigh from 150 to 200 pounds. The average whitetail buck, if the Sonora whitetail subspecies is included, does not reach this size. Similarly, the biggest mule-deer bucks found in British Columbia weigh close to 400 pounds.

The antlers of the blacktail are similar to those of the mule deer—that is, they fork instead of all points coming from a single main beam. The blacktail's ears are larger than the whitetail's but smaller than those of the mule deer; its metatarsal glands are midway in size between those of the other two species. Both the mule and the blacktail have a black patch on the upper part of the face. And its tail is black on top and white on the underside.

The range of the blacktail consists of a thin, crescent-shaped strip of country generally coincident with the coastal slope along the Pacific Ocean, reaching from the middle of California northward to the islands off lower Alaska. The depth of this strip is greatest at the U.S.-Canadian border and reaches inland as far as the Washington-Idaho boundary.

Three of the blacktail's greatest enemies are the wolf, the cougar, and man. Wolves in its overall habitat have greatly decreased in number. Adult cougars kill an average of one deer a week, and deer hunters are on the increase.

None of these enemies, however, has succeeded in moving the blacktail deer from its coastal habitat. This region has a humid climate and heavy, lush foliage—the kind of country this woods-loving deer likes. Since sun­shine is necessary to the growth of the best deer foods, the blacktail lives primarily in edge country. Thus stalking, still-hunting, and partner drives are the best ways of hunting this deer.

STALKING

A good experiment for the novice deer-stalker is to go with a hunting partner into typical deer country, have the partner post himself in one place, while you circle out of sight to a position a half-mile away. Then see how close you can come to your partner's position without being detected. Use any strategy you wish.

Of course, a deer's faculties—with the possible exception of vision— are much keener than those of your hunting partner. But such an exercise will give you some conception of hunting techniques and the strategy of your quarry. It will teach you that stalking deer in dense woods and heavy undercover demands the utmost caution.

Blacktails are like canny old mule-deer bucks in their escape strategy. Either they detect the hunter's presence at considerable distance and take off immediately, depending upon sheer distance to elude him; or they lie low in thick foliage until the danger has passed. Generally speaking, unless the rut is on, blacktail bucks will be found a bit removed from the does, in the more inaccessible places.

In the warmer areas of their range, blacktails will move from the brushy canyons during midday to the higher ridges where the breezes are cooler, or to areas near water, which similarly modifies the temperature.

STILL-HUNTING

Blacktails are still-hunted in the same general way as whitetails. When crusted snow is on the ground, still-hunting for both species becomes more productive than stalking, simply because of the unavoidable noise made in walking.

Good areas to still-hunt are known game trails, ridges where there is abundant spoor, canyon heads, and especially the low saddles and passes in hills, where game normally crosses from one canyon or basin into the next, unless pushed out of its normal behavior pattern by hunters.

A form of still-hunting which is gaining in popularity is hunting from a "blind" near a spot where game is known to pass. Such a blind is usually not a permanent, elaborate affair, just a simple place of concealment.

Clumps of brush, piles of downed timber, log jams, and natural foliage are the best temporary blinds. Often such brush heaps and timber need some arranging for convenience and utility.

When rearranging natural blinds near any deer runway, do it at least two or three weeks in advance of the season. This gets rid of any man smell, and allows the game to get used to the new arrangement.

In conjunction with these natural blinds, more and more hunters are wearing camouflage clothing. Its value was learned during World War II, when spotted-green camouflage suits saved the lives of many soldiers.

This camouflage clothing can still be bought at army surplus stores. Manufacturers of sport clothes also supply it. In the autumn, use the spotted brown and green pattern. When snow covers foliage and terrain, white coveralls such as painters wear, plus a homemade white cap, provide good concealment.

PARTNER DRIVES

In hunting blacktails with a partner, one man takes the bottom of a canyon, arroyo, or small basin, while the other hunts along the rim or ridge above. Sometimes both skirt the side of a large canyon.

In brushy country especially, this doubles the advantage, as two men separated can view more country than one. But most important, any game suspecting the presence of one hunter will, in trying to avoid detection, expose itself to the view or hearing of the partner.

"CALLING"

A final technique of deer hunting is "calling" deer within range of a hunter concealed in a blind or in foliage. One application of this is the banging together of two sets of deer antlers, simulating the fighting of bucks. The best time is during the rutting season when the craze of re­production is on, and the bucks lose some of their innate wariness. The thought of does being present, plus the curiosity of deer, will occasionally bring a buck into range.

Another form is with artificial calls, a recent development, which de­pends for its success upon the ability of the caller to simulate actual deer noises. Needless to say, this involves a thorough knowledge of deer habits.

RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES

The most important qualification for the rifle used on blacktails is that it is handy, and that the hunter is entirely familiar with it.

The same cartridges mentioned for whitetails will be satisfactory on black­tails, as indeed will most of the cartridges for mule deer. It doesn't take excessive power in a cartridge to kill a blacktail deer. It is the bullet-and-energy that reaches it that counts, especially in brushy country.

SHOT PLACEMENT

Whenever possible, the best shot at a blacktail is through the lungs, broadside. Often when in their brushy habitat, blacktails will be come upon, seen, and shot from every conceivable angle and position. The range is usually fairly short. Bullets should be placed so that they will angle into the chest cavity, regardless of where the beast is hit; or should be placed somewhere along the spinal column from hips to neck. Brain shots are difficult on any species of deer.

HANDGUN AND BOW

Blacktails usually are found in country of thick foliage, where ranges are apt to be short, and hunting them with a handgun is feasible. Besides, restrictions against pistol ownership are not as stringent in the West as in the East, and handgun hunting generally is more prevalent. Likewise, the blacktail is a suitable quarry for the bow hunter, if he is a good stalker, as this woods deer can be approached close enough for a killing shot.

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