2023 WY Mule Deer Plan
Area 80 Rifle Hunt
For Phil McKenna
HUNT GOAL: QUALITY MULE DEER HUNT
A quality solo hunt while taking home a respectable buck is certainly an attainable goal for the 2023 mule deer hunting season with a lot of effort and a little patience. Some areas closer to the main roads will see high pressure on the hunting opener and the weekends, but likely will still hold deer since it is not an over-the-counter license.
As much as physical preparation is important, persistence behind the glass is key.
IMPORTANT GEAR CHECK
Optics: Binoculars, Tripod, Binocular Mount, & Spotting Scope
Snow-Prepared Gear: Warm Sleeping Bag & Pad With Good R-Value, Quality Layers, Gore-Tex Mountain Boots
Kill Kit: Game Bags, Quality Knife, & Plenty of Cordage For Hanging Meat
HUNT HIGH
Hunt Summary: Black & Purple Pins
Mule deer won’t likely leave the high country of unit 80 until the first big snow storm making the high country a great place to start on your hunt. These areas can be quite thick and demand a lot of your glass, as well as your ability to recognize tracks and determine next actions from there.
Start by being on your glassing knob, seated and picking apart the hillside well-before shooting light. Then, as the sun rises, move around your knob or to ridges where the shade and shadows remain longer.
If there are other hunters in the area, be patient and watch the thickets as people move through them. They may just bump a buck into a position for you to make a play.
PROS:
Easy Vehicle Access, Lower Temps, & Good Deer Numbers
CONS:
Potentially Busy, Snow Storms Likely, & Tough To Glass
HUNT SAFETY
Hunt Summary: Red, Dark Blue, Light Blue, White, & Yellow Pins
The transition middle ground is where deer numbers are highest and will only increase if strong winter-like storms come through. Much of this country offers thickets and edges along brush pockets that are quintessential deer habitat.
Glass and move more regularly in this area to check multiple edge habitats and brush pockets in prime time. Spend more time glassing into the shaded brush in the middle of the day, especially where a buck may be interested in rebedding between 10am and 2pm.
Since this is where the highest deer numbers are known, there are usually the highest hunter numbers here, as well. If a hunter walks by a thicket or drives their ATV along a two-track but does not stop to glass patiently, it’s likely there will be deer nearby that they have missed. Do not get discouraged.
PROS: Highest Deer Numbers, Good Glassing Habitats, & Private Land Sanctuaries to Hunt Near
CONS: Likely Hunter Competition, Roads Can Be Rough & Numerous
HUNT LOW
Hunt Summary: Brown, & Green Pins
This lower sagebrush country will be hot and deer will bed down relatively quickly in this country, making these areas even more important to be in position on time and to give them until dark to trust there is no animals here.
Few people choose to hunt out here, though there are certainly deer in the low country and oftentimes mature bucks in this country that gets overlooked. Keep in mind, if you’re on a rim you will need to get multiple angles to confirm what is below you.
The rock outcroppings and isolated brush patches in this part of the unit offer the best opportunity to glass up bucks in the heat of the day. If the mountain is giving you a hard time, it’s a good idea to try a few of these off-the-wall spots.
PROS: Lowest Hunter Competition, Best Glassing Habitats, & Good Age Class
CONS: Lowest Deer Numbers, Roads Can Be Rough, & Temps Can Be Hot
VIEW YOUR HUNT PLAN BREAKDOWN