Help with desert bucks

Ok so i am hunting the desert this year with a dedicated hunter tag and I'm having a real problem patterning desert bucks. Its been a different year with a little more water than usuall earlier on but now its drying up. I havent seen any deer tracks next to water holes i have found deer around previous years. and the tracks that i have cut are just passing through (no older tracks and a week later thats still the only track around). I just cut what is one of the biggest buck tracks I have seen down there sunday night and was wondering if anyone has had any experience as to a desert bucks territory size, how far will they travel in a day, and do they change territories different times of the year? any help is much appreciated
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stillhunterman
I know your frustration. It's real tough to pattern mulies, especially a mature buck in the desert. You're right about the water, there is more avaliable this year. For that reason, I wouldn't hunt water, you are narrowing your area too much imo. You would probably to best to find an area that DOES have fresh sign, then find the highest vantage point you can, then sit and glass...and sit and glass...and sit and glass.

It gets dang hot in the sun all day like that but it's necessary. You must have decent optics to glass for that long, otherwise it is real hard on the eyes and you will not do it for as long as you need. It is nothing for a mature buck to wander around two to three miles and not returning to a particular area for days at a time. Lots of patience, good glass, a positive attitude and a bit of luck go a long way hunting the desert.

There are a some great hunters on here, maybe they will chime in with some good info for you. Best of luck on your hunt! :thumb
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Loafer
"stillhunterman" wrote:I know your frustration. It's real tough to pattern mulies, especially a mature buck in the desert. You're right about the water, there is more avaliable this year. For that reason, I wouldn't hunt water, you are narrowing your area too much imo. You would probably to best to find an area that DOES have fresh sign, then find the highest vantage point you can, then sit and glass...and sit and glass...and sit and glass.

It gets dang hot in the sun all day like that but it's necessary. You must have decent optics to glass for that long, otherwise it is real hard on the eyes and you will not do it for as long as you need. It is nothing for a mature buck to wander around two to three miles and not returning to a particular area for days at a time. Lots of patience, good glass, a positive attitude and a bit of luck go a long way hunting the desert.

There are a some great hunters on here, maybe they will chime in with some good info for you. Best of luck on your hunt! :thumb
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You aren't going to be able to pattern deer until you find them so if your not seeing deer or sign of deer I'd keep moving until you do.
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