Mule Deer Rut

Alright So ill be back at it with the bow in a week. I have yet to kill my first deer with it this year. So I was not given a chance with a rifle so I am going after them with the bow. I have only hunt a few spots during this late hunt. One place is for Mule deer on the desert. How should I hunt this? Should I wait until the rut is on to go after them? When does that happen?

Or I can hunt whitetails in another area. Which one will be the most exciting and have a good chance at? When is the rut for whitetails? I have heard that they are harder to hunt than a mule deer. They are more skittish?

Help me out. (???)

Thanks
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Springville Shooter
Not quite sure where you are or your exact circumstances, but mule deer will begin the first stages of the rut within the next couple of weeks with the peak usually around the end of November. Whitetails in the west rut through November also peaking toward the end. I don't consider whitetail any easier than mule deer, unless you get into an area that is very densely populated during the rut. If you are more specific, you will get better advice.----------SS
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Thanks, Yea I guess I better be more specific. If I go the mule deer route it will be on the desert west of Idaho Falls, Around the INL Site area. That means alot of Sage Brush. There are some buttes out there with cedars though.

If I go the Whitetail route I will be hunting around the Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Island Park area. I know IP better than Rexburg or Idaho falls.
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I've heard the same, generally November is the time of the rut. I've never had the chance to hunt deer in the rut, I'm sure it'd be exciting. I used to go jump shoot ducks along the river just as you enter Swan Valley and I always kicked up deer that were running around the river bottoms. That could be a place to possibly check out. I'd go with what area you know best though. Good luck to you... you've had a heck of a season so far!
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Springville Shooter
If you can hunt muleys during the rut I would definately go that route. I take it that you have a general tag in Idaho? I think that you have to buy a whitetail specific tag to hunt whitetail bucks past the general season closer which closes mule deer. The good news is that whitetail tags are OTC so you don't have to make up your mind until the day you want to hunt. Great opportunity. Good luck either way. ----------SS
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Thanks guys!
Yea I have had a crazy season. I am ready to tae down an animal. Yea I am from Idaho so I have a general Deer tag. It works for both Mule deer or Whitetail. ALmost every unit is open for archery in september then two weeks in october there is a general then it goes back to archery for me. Some units have muzzleloader hunts. There is only two areas that are open to hunt. Only The big desert unit for mule deer and there is like 5-6 units north of Idaho Falls all the way into Island Park for Whitetail. I guess I will just do some research and go check out a few places and wait for those big bucks to start moving.
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