Mule Deer in Cutblocks

[cbearw]

Hi : This is my first time on any forum. My question is about hunting mule deer in cutblocks ( recently logged off areas). I have been hunting the okanagan area in Central BC, Canada. The terrain is fairly steep and heavily timbered with cedar, spruce, larch, and fir. The open areas are cutblocks and the hunting pressure is moderate with lots of road hunters. My approach has been to still hunt along the edges which is often noisy or to glass from some of the higher mounds in the cutblocks. I have seen one nice buck watching me from the edge of a cutblock but he made his escape while I was looking for a place to go prone. I have seen a very big buck prior to the opening but it appears he has gone nocturnal now that the season is open. I am wondering if my tactics are ok for this cutblock hunting. The timbered areas are way too thick to still hunt. I have hunted mulies along the bench lands of the Frazer River but i am new to the area and this type of terrain. Any advice from muley hunters who hunt cutblocks would be appreciated. ....................Thanks.............cbearw

[Buckbuster]

cbearw- I've never hunted in the specific area you are talking about, but I'm thinking that hunting clear-cuts is very similar anywhere because of the nature of the animal.

I have hunted a lot of clear-cuts in other areas and here's what I can tell you about my experiences.

1. Like any open area, such as a meadow or field, deer aren't likely to be caught in the middle unless they've been pushed out of the cover. In which case they'll be moving pretty quickly to more cover.

2. After an area has been clear cut, the additional sunshine causes a lot of grass and small plants to sprout up, which deer love to feed on -usually at night. You'll find them coming out of these cuts in the early morning hours and staging to go into them at dusk.

3. Scout the cut for trails and see where the deer are making their entry and exit. Sometimes they will go in from one side and exit the other after feeding during the night. The direction of their tracks will give you a clue as to where they are going for water or bedding down.

4. Find a concealed spot where you won't be spotted easily. I've found that a pop-up blind is a great way to hunt an area that is so open. When you have a wide open area there is a really good chance that a deer will get the jump on you before you see it because there is such a lot of area to glass. They will hang in the edge of the adjoining cover and look over everything before they show themselves. Usually they'll work their way along an edge until they're comfortable about going out into the open area. If you do your scouting well, you can position your blind to have a good shot as they walk slowly along the edge or work their way into the open.

5. Remember that mule deer like to bed down where they have a good view of open country around them. If you go out into the clear cut you may be spooking deer before you even set down to glass.

Good luck,

Buckbuster

[cbearw]

Hi Buckbuster: Thanks for your reply. Your tips are very much appreciated. I will keep them in mind for next year for sure. Didn't get my muley this fall but then there is next fall to prepare for. I always felt very exposed walking into a clearcut. Its quite difficult to still hunt as the deer generally hear or see you as you mentioned. Your advice to scout the perimeter and learn their patterns makes a lot of sense. A blind in the right spot should help too. Hope your days in the field were rewarding this fall. Thanks again for the comeback................regards...............cbea rw