find a water source close to thick, heavy cover, chances
are good that a buck or two will be using it.
When searching for a water source, I start prospect-
ing with onX Maps. Not only does onX show public-
and private-land boundaries, it also gives me a great
aerial view of the terrain, allowing me to discover stock
tanks and ponds. If you’re hunting heavy cedar/canyon
country, which is common in the plains region, look for
tanks and ponds near or in heavy timber. If you can
get a camera up before the season opens, great. If not,
hang one upon your arrival.
Mule deer aren’t nearly as skittish around a ground
blind as whitetails, but it will definitely help if you can
brush the blind in. Also, don’t set the blind too close to
the water source. I like to position my ground blinds
30-35 yards away to avoid crowding approaching deer.
Another great October tip is to locate areas where
mule deer will be feeding. These may be private ag
fields surrounded by public dirt, open pasture grass
surrounded by heavy sage and open hillsides that give
way to dry creeks lined with thick cover.
Gain a vantage point — in this part of the country,
it could be something as simple as a 20-foot-tall hill —
and glass right at first light. I love to climb windmills
and glass from them. A windmill will likely be the tall-
est object in the area, and if you climb high enough,
you’ll be able to glass a lot of ground. (I highly recom-
mend wearing your safety harness and using a climb-
ing belt.) Big bucks won’t be on their feet for long, but
if you spy one and put him to bed, you have a decent
chance of getting close.
Once the buck lies down, take your time. He doesn’t
have does to chase, so he’ll likely stay in the same bed
most of the day. In this country, bucks will often enter
a heavy patch of cover and hunker down. You may not
be able to actually see them bed, but if you pull up the
onX Hunt app on your smartphone and take note of
the buck’s general vicinity, you can make a pretty good
guess as to where he’s napping. Mark your location
and the buck’s predicted location on onX.
Pick a number of landmarks before you start your
stalk — old fence posts, a sage bush that is taller than
the rest, a washed-out creek bank and the like are all
good options. The plains country is pretty flat, and once
http://www.bowhuntingmag.com PETERSENÕS BOWHUNTING 91
By JaceBauserman
FOR PLAINS MULEYS
