Help: Muleys Vanished 🙄

[Archelk]

I have a cousin hunting a unit in NM that has alot of Oil & Gas roads. We have been running trail cams for awhile and have nice bucks on them. This being the first week of the hunt, he has hunted pretty hard. By glassing, tracking, driving and re-checking trail cams, it seems our deer have vanished. What is the deal? Today was the nicest day so far with overcast skies and a decent little drizzle/shower. Not many fresh tracks around. Where are these deer? Do they just hang tight and go nocturnal? Help pros please!

 

[Forkyfinder]

Seems like MD arent well most places...

 

[cgasner1]

Nice bright moon and they have no reason to be up and moving during the daylight. They are still around just hard to turn them up I bet you got about 15-20 min on each end of the day that your best bet right now

 

[manitou1]

Every decent mule deer buck I have ever located/scouted vanishes after ONE sighting.
Welcome to my world, lol.
Serious though.

Good luck.

 

[brockel]

Really bright outside at night right now

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

The moon is not pur friend currently like others have stated. Hang in there.

 

[Hunter0925]

I found 2 good ones here before season started. One was poached and the other, I believe was ran off because of people running a 2 track that has zero need to be ran besides laziness.
Point being, deer get moved or die for no reason. Deer are still there but it may take more work to find them.

 

[jimh406]

Mule deer don't use the same places every day. That being said, they might or might not be back to those places now that the season is open.

 

[TOGIE]

So, you’re saying the season is now open and they’ve become harder to find?

 

[Archelk]

So, you’re saying the season is now open and they’ve become harder to find?

Correct. Even quit getting pictures of them. On high places this morning by daylight and couldn’t even glass up a doe. Did some walking and finally jumped one.

 

[TOGIE]

Correct. Even quit getting pictures of them. On high places this morning by daylight and couldn’t even glass up a doe. Did some walking and finally jumped one.

I think that’s your answer then. Pressure

 

[Archelk]

I found 2 good ones here before season started. One was poached and the other, I believe was ran off because of people running a 2 track that has zero need to be ran besides laziness.
Point being, deer get moved or die for no reason. Deer are still there but it may take more work to find them.

I have wondered just how much poaching is going on!

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Deer move?

 

[elkduds]

Those who know where deer go when pressure comes already have those bucks hanging.

 

[Tmbrgost]

I guess you got to ask yourself the question, “Where would I go if I was being hunted….as a deer of course?”

Rocks, darker Timber, smaller roaming areas, places off the beaten path, food, water & safety.

If I were a betting man I would put my money on that they are still in the same place just a ridge or two further in (a mile or two) and have gone nocturnal.

Good luck-

 

[cgasner1]

May have changed the routine up also with the velvet being gone

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Hunt the hunters movement which is what animals do. Smallest of cover that is overlooked can be a safe haven.