Hunting mulies from the river.

[Bushleague]

I drew a high priority mule deer tag this year, and plan on doing a canoe hunt in late October. While I have done plenty of river hunts I have never hunted mulies from the river and never done a river hunt so late in the season, so I'm not sure what to expect in the way of behavior.

I know how to hunt the habitat and topography around the rivers, but beyond that I'm thinking by that areas where agricultural fields butt up against the river valley would be my best bet by late October. My strategy will to be get up on the side of the river valley and glass, hoping I will have some snow on the ground to help with glassing as well as give me some tracks to work with.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[OpenSights]

You asking for permission all the way down the river?

This would be the hard part I would think if you see them up on the flats and not right on the river bank which is public.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by OpenSights

You asking for permission all the way down the river?

This would be the hard part I would think if you see them up on the flats and not right on the river bank which is public.

We are talking about a fairly expansive valley of crown land here, by butting up against I'm talking about a kilometer or so as the crow flies, a fair bit more when factoring in vertical.

I have no intentions of hunting in the immediate vicinity of any private land, and no intentions at all of asking for permission... I don't hunt rivers that necessitate the latter.

Now... any real advice would be welcome.

[catnthehat]

I find many times I get more of a view from across the river, where I hunt mule deer there are very high banks with lots of plateaus on the way up.
if you are on the same side you are hunting, you often do not see the animals until you move to the other side of the river!
My strategy here is to glass from the far side and move over and then hunt the animal from several hundred yards parallel to it.
Going straight up towards the critter rarely works in my experience.
Cat

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I find many times I get more of a view from across the river, where I hunt mule deer there are very high banks with lots of plateaus on the way up.
if you are on the same side you are hunting, you often do not see the animals until you move to the other side of the river!
My strategy here is to glass from the far side and move over and then hunt the animal from several hundred yards parallel to it.
Going straight up towards the critter rarely works in my experience.
Cat

Thanks Cat, very useful tips.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I find many times I get more of a view from across the river, where I hunt mule deer there are very high banks with lots of plateaus on the way up.
if you are on the same side you are hunting, you often do not see the animals until you move to the other side of the river!
My strategy here is to glass from the far side and move over and then hunt the animal from several hundred yards parallel to it.
Going straight up towards the critter rarely works in my experience.
Cat

The best place to find them in October will be right in the breaks along the river. ..especially when pressured.
It's super tough going in many places and recovery will likely be a chore. As Cat suggested, approaching from above or below is not a good bet and hunting parallel can be an endurance test. That's why they are there.
Lots of Big Guys around if you can put it all together. Good Luck !

[Red Bullets]

Air currents in river valleys are something to consider. In the mornings as the air warms it rises up the valley slopes and in the afternoon the air cools and drops down into the valleys. Mulies will move up the slopes in the morning to keep the air currents on their backtrack so they can smell anything following them. The mulies will come down the slopes in the afternoons. South facing slopes will have more beds.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Salavee

The best place to find them in October will be right in the breaks along the river. ..especially when pressured.
It's super tough going in many places and recovery will likely be a chore. As Cat suggested, approaching from above or below is not a good bet and hunting parallel can be an endurance test. That's why they are there.
Lots of Big Guys around if you can put it all together. Good Luck !

Sit, glass, spot and stock from side, wind in face, sit and ambush first and last light in areas often travelled.....
Remember that will attempt to bed with wind over thier back and looking down into a draw....for the most part...good luck.