Are there any OTC rifle mule deer states left?

[Justabirdwatcher]

I've taken a keen interest in hunting mule deer the past few years. I've been pulling tags off the CO leftover list, but every year I get more worried about getting a tag. What is the current (and maybe projected future) situation with OTC (rifle) tags for mule deer in the west? The only OTC mule deer tags I have found are archery in AZ. I haven't looked at the plains states like OK, NE, KS and the Dakotas because I enjoy spending my 2 weeks vacation in the high country. But I'm not opposed to chasing muleys anywhere if need be.

20 years ago I would hunt muleys in NM with OTC tags, and some of my friends from TX would come up and join me, as they could get OTC mule deer tags then too. But now everything is a draw in NM.

Thanks for the info.

 

[teej89]

Well there's Washington ha can't speak anything of it as this is my first year.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Well there's Washington ha can't speak anything of it as this is my first year.

Okay thanks. That's the furthest drive for me but good to know it's still an option.

 

[TheNorthStar]

Idaho has sold out this year already, I believe, but most of the state is open to general tags.

 

[seeth07]

Nebraska tags go on sale next month

 

[Huntin' Fool]

California A, B and some D zones. A and B zones are blacktails.

 

[MarvB]

California A, B and some D zones. A and B zones are blacktails.

Fowl Hunter didn't "B" sell out a few years back (probably longer than I remember) when they reduced the tag numbers? I seem to remember it going to a restricted draw the following year but not sure as I usually hunt "C" in Calif.

 

[Huntin' Fool]

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=30896&inline

Calif. tags available

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Nebraska tags go on sale next month

That's a state I need to learn more about. The Sandhills area was absolutely beautiful the one time I drove through it.

 

[MO Betta]

Kansas is draw only for nonresident. If you apply in certain units for archery or muzzle loader (note, no rifle option for nonresident mule deer I am aware of) you can also apply for a mule deer stamp, so if you successfully draw in the whitetail pool then you'll have to be successful in the mulie pool afterwards. If you're successful in both it becomes an either species/either sex tag using the weapon you applied under. If you draw in the whitetail pool and you're unsuccessful in the mulie pool you just have a whitetail tag. It's $152.50 if you are successful in the mule deer draw in addition to the $442.50 whitetail tag and $97.50 nonresident hunting license. There weren't any leftover permits this year.

Deer

The official website of the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks

ksoutdoors.com

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Nebraska tags go on sale next month

Just spent an hour looking over the state site, and wow. It's very difficult to understand - for me at least. I'd love to hunt public land in the sandhills area someday. It's roughly the same drive for me as the places I've hunted in Colorado.

 

[3855WIN]

Hunt whitetails

 

[Deleted member 38069]

This year? In South Dakota before April 1st, NR can purchase an archery "Any deer" tag. After the 1st, you can only buy a tag for private.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Hunt whitetails

Have been since 1979. After 41 years, muleys are a nice change of pace.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

This year? Before April 1st, NR can purchase an archery "Any deer" tag. After the 1st, you can only buy a tag for private.

where are you talking about?

 

[Deleted member 38069]

where are you talking about?

Statewide. New reg that they started this year.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Any reason it needs to be OTC? WY special draw you can get the same region every year. ID is maybe your best bet for a true OTC tag, although pay attention to the effects of the cut to NR quotas next year. MT combo is pretty dependable annually, but your cost also includes an elk tag that you may not be using. NE can be great to hunt annually if you pay for private ground. SD the NR’s were basically given a major handicap over R’s with the new set of rules. ND is stingy with NR tags. NV is workable if you are set on archery and willing to hunt hard.

If my goal was annual public land mulies in the same general location on a budget my picks would be CO, or maybe ID. NV if it was just archery and I didn’t mind the distant travel. If I could spring a bit more $ I’d consider WY, which might gain dependability to draw over CO, but maybe lower value of the hunt quality for the price.

I know you’re looking at trying to make a plains state work for this for drive time, but I think your pickins are a bit slim.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Statewide. New reg that they started this year.

you talking Nebraska?

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Any reason it needs to be OTC? WY special draw you can get the same region every year. ID is maybe your best bet for a true OTC tag, although pay attention to the effects of the cut to NR quotas next year. MT combo is pretty dependable annually, but your cost also includes an elk tag that you may not be using. NE can be great to hunt annually if you pay for private ground. SD the NR’s were basically given a major handicap over R’s with the new set of rules. ND is stingy with NR tags. NV is workable if you are set on archery and willing to hunt hard.

If my goal was annual public land mulies in the same general location on a budget my picks would be CO, or maybe ID. NV if it was just archery and I didn’t mind the distant travel. If I could spring a bit more $ I’d consider WY, which might gain dependability to draw over CO, but maybe lower value of the hunt quality for the price.

I know you’re looking at trying to make a plains state work for this for drive time, but I think your pickins are a bit slim.

Just looking at the possibility of a 2nd mule deer hunt this year, somewhere new. Plus, I loathe draws and avoid them every chance I get.

 

[Deleted member 38069]

you talking Nebraska?

Sorry I deleted the part where I specified the state.

The state I'm talking about is SoDak!