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Hunting Illustrated
C/O Mr. Mule Deer
P.O. Box 307
Mt. Pleasant,  UT  84647

What is the best county in Utah to hunt for trophy bucks?

Justin Hyer - Logan, UT

A. Justin, Kane County has been the top producer for trophy bucks. More B&C bucks have been entered from Kane County in the last 10 years than any other county in Utah. Most have been harvested from the Paunsagunt, but a few have come from the southern region unit around the Paunsagunt. Utah has several good limited entry units. The Book Cliffs, Henry Mountains, and Vernon units are getting better every year.

Why are there stags or cactus bucks?

Demetrio Rubio - Fort Stockton, TX

A. Demetrio, this is a tough question. I have personally handled 11 cactus bucks, and have found one common thing about each buck. They are all old! Most have what is called degenerative testicles (small or no testicles). Cactus bucks also have what is called persistent velvet, a very matted looking velvet compared to normal fluffy velvet of a normal buck. Experts say that cactus bucks are thought to be associated with hormonal imbalance, faulty mineral metabolism, or damage to pr mordial tissue. Too much for my simple brain to take. I think bucks reach an age where their hormones are not producing what they need to shed their velvet or their antlers. As well as the fact that cactus bucks don’t appear to breed. So they eat, get fat and grow crazy antlers. Castration may cause some cactus bucks, but most are simply old. I don’t think cactus bucks live long from the point they start being cactus bucks. I, like most will say, don’t really know what causes all cactus bucks.

What is the U.S. Government doing to preserve the mule deer?

Seth Kelson - Provo, UT

A. Well, Seth, you picked a good question because we are addressing this issue in our cover story. Turn to page 60 and read up on what is being done.

Which county in Wyoming produces the most Boone and Crockett mule deer records?

Dennis Passalaqua - Covelo, CA

A. Dennis, Lincoln County has the most listing for B&C bucks. A close second is Teton County. Both have high, rugged, steep pack-in areas. Hunting either of these areas can be tough. Get on your hiking shoes! Remember that simply having the most B&C bucks doesn’t always make it the best place to hunt now. Both Lincoln and Teton counties can have bad winter kill. Winters have been mild for several years now, and there are a lot of nice bucks today.

Ed Woolstenhulme - Coalville, UT

A. Ed, this is a tough question. When is the rut generally on your ranch; and how many days earlier did you observe the rut activities? The rut can often start a week early or a week later. One week is not uncommon. Game & Fish studies have cases where a doe has cycled into estrus a month early. A doe being in estrus will cause a buck to rut anytime. In my areas I have found that wet years with great feed will often bring on early rutting. The better health of the herd may bring on an earlier rut. There is a lot of talk about cold weather causing earlier rut. I would say it is more of a combination of both good feed and cold weather.

How far apart do mule deer bucks usually lose their sheds? Where are good places to find sheds?

Wacey Kirkpatrick - Hayes, SD

A. Wacey, most of the time you will find both sheds within about 300 yards. I have found that the bigger the bucks shed, the more often you will find the other side close. Most bucks shed both horns the same day. I have watched bucks drop one side, and glassed him seven day’s later still packing the second shed. If the bucks don’t get chased or spooked, the second shed will not be far. I have about 50 big sheds that I have never found the other side. It also depends upon bucks feeding and water patterns. The farther that bucks travel to and from feed and water, the farther apart the sheds can be. The best place to find sheds is simple. You have to watch the deer at shedding time. Just as your preseason scouting. If you know where a buck is before opening morning, the better the chance you will get him. If you are watching a buck at shedding time, the sheds will be much simpler to find. Bucks start shedding in January in the northern states. The farther that you go south the later bucks will begin shedding. In old Mexico bucks don’t start shedding until March.

What is the best mule deer area on public land in Colorado?

Lance Calhoun - Pocola, OK

A. Lance, when talking about Colorado, most people remember the western slope of Colorado. More B&C mule deer have come from the west slope than anywhere. Due to heavy pressure in the 80’s, and continued pressure since, it has been slow to come back. Colorado has several places that may be better than what I know, but here goes my pick- unit 10. It’s best to hunt early archery or muzzleloader. The deer tend to move a lot before the rifle hunt. It’s no secret that it takes ten bonus points to draw unit 10. Tons of bucks and a lot of big ones. Colorado has a lot of sleeper units for big mulies if a person is willing to do his or her homework.

When is the best time of year to see trophy bucks?

Mac Levy - Pendleton, OR

A. Mac, the best time of year to see big bucks depends on the area you are looking in. Mountain regions such as Wyoming and Idaho are so tough to get to the high summer range that it is best to look in the winter range at the base of the mountains. In Utah, Arizona, and some of Colorado August and September is the best time. Easy access to the mountains and bucks being in bachelor herds makes this my favorite time to find big bucks. The major advantage of early scouting during this time is that it is before the hunt. It’s fun to watch bucks on the winter range, but it doesn’t help you as much in hunting these big bucks because they are not in the same area that you will be hunting them in.

Why has the Fish and Game changed the southern tip of the Central hunting area in Utah to a five-day season? Are they thinking of closing it and changing it to a limited area?

Steve Gossard - Gunnison, UT

A. Steve, the Utah Game & Fish implemented the five-day season to take off some of the pressure from that herd unit. Less hunter days afield means less deer harvested. Five-day hunts are a simple way to allow hunter’s the chance to hunt, but at the same time protect the age class of the bucks. I don’t know if there are any plans to make limited areas in these units.