{"id":60,"date":"2020-08-16T07:39:14","date_gmt":"2020-08-16T07:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tma65.com\/blog\/?p=60"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:37:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:37:22","slug":"how-to-effectively-spot-more-mule-deer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-effectively-spot-more-mule-deer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Effectively Spot More Mule Deer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-effectively-spot-more-mule-deer\/#How_to_Effectively_Spot_More_Mule_Deer\" >How to Effectively Spot More Mule Deer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-effectively-spot-more-mule-deer\/#The_Optics_You_Carry_How_to\" >The Optics You Carry How to<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-effectively-spot-more-mule-deer\/#Look_then_Look_Some_More\" >Look, then Look Some More<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-effectively-spot-more-mule-deer\/#Get_There_Early\" >Get There Early<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-effectively-spot-more-mule-deer\/#Closing_the_Distance\" >Closing the Distance<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Effectively_Spot_More_Mule_Deer\"><\/span>How to Effectively Spot More Mule Deer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/videosview\/illuminated-reticle-battery-installation-2\/\" title=\"Illuminated Reticle battery installation on your TRACT TORIC 34MM 4-25X50\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"506\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to<\/a> Effectively Spot More Mule Deer. The key to <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"hunting\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"308\">hunting<\/a> mule deer is being able to cover a lot of ground, especially with your eyes. In other words, be prepared to do a lot of glassing. This doesn\u2019t mean you won\u2019t wear a hole in the soles of your boots, because you might. We\u2019re just saying that in order to save yourself the trouble of blisters and bumping too many <a title=\"Coveted 4th Season Mule Deer Tag\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/coveted-4th-season-mule-deer-tag\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mule deer<\/a>, follow the western hunters\u2019 credo, \u201cLet your eyes do the walking.\u201d Or something along those lines.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Optics_You_Carry_How_to\"><\/span>The Optics You Carry How to<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">You\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/all-about-hog-hunting\/\">hunting<\/a> in the big, wide-open country so you need the highest magnification <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/thinking-about-air-rifle-hunting\/\">binocular<\/a>, right? Not necessarily. While, yes, mule deer country is vast and open, an 8x or 10x binocular with a really\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tractoptics.com\/blog\/8x-versus-10x-binoculars\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wide field of view<\/a>\u00a0is much more efficient while a 12x, which will\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tractoptics.com\/blog\/defining-the-optical-triangle-of-a-binocular\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">allow you to see a bit further<\/a>,\u00a0is a lot heavier. Again, considering the country you\u2019ll be hunting, neither an 8x nor a 10x will reveal much about antler formation from long distances anyway. But, at the end of the day, using a lighter <a title=\"10x binoculars\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/tag\/10x-binoculars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">binocular &#8211; either 8x or 10x<\/a>, rather than a 12x or heavier &#8211; with a wide field of view to spot deer before switching to high-power spotting scope or your riflescope will save your arms and eyes from a lot of stress.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_890\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-890\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-890\" title=\"How to\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/mule-deer-1200.jpg\" alt=\"How to\" width=\"720\" height=\"377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/08\/mule-deer-1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/08\/mule-deer-1200-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/08\/mule-deer-1200-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/08\/mule-deer-1200-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/08\/mule-deer-1200-573x300.jpg 573w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/08\/mule-deer-1200-150x79.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-890\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">How to<\/figcaption><\/figure><p style=\"text-align: justify\">\u00a0<\/p><p><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Look_then_Look_Some_More\"><\/span>Look, then Look Some More<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Be patient. Often times, mule deer hunters tend to <a title=\"3 Reasons to Give Binoculars This Christmas\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/3-reasons-to-give-binoculars-this-christmas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">give a distant hillside just a few swipes with the binocular<\/a> before getting up and moving on to other areas. Lean back against your pack and get comfortable. Rest your elbows on your knees to give yourself a steadier rest. Sometimes, it\u2019s the full body of a deer ambling along that you\u2019ll see first though more than likely, it\u2019s the gleam of a rack or the flicker of a tail that initially catches your attention.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_There_Early\"><\/span>Get There Early<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Start walking your eyes as soon as you can make out shapes through your binocular. This is why using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tractoptics.com\/blog\/the-best-performing-low-light-binocular\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">optics that transmit light<\/a>\u00a0even at dawn and dusk is super important. Big mulie bucks, especially in the warm early season, are heading for the shadows at first light after feeding in the predawn hours. Check and re-check every crevice, creek, ditch and dark spot.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Closing_the_Distance\"><\/span>Closing the Distance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Remain quiet at all times. A mule deer\u2019s huge ears allow them to pick up sounds that other big-game species would typically miss. Barring a few feet of snow on the ground, don\u2019t be afraid to stalk a buck you\u2019ve previously spotted in socks or bare feet, especially if you happen to be hunting with a bow. Always wear extremely quiet clothing and never talk above a whisper.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">As you\u2019re planning your mule deer outing this fall, <a title=\"Do\u2019s &#038; Don\u2019ts of Cleaning Optics\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/dos-donts-of-cleaning-optics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">don\u2019t skimp on your optics<\/a>. Quality, lightweight <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/binoculars\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"binoculars\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"145\">binoculars<\/a> and a riflescope that transmit light even in the early and late hours can be the difference between filling and burning a tag. Did we mention exude great patience?<\/p><p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Effectively Spot More Mule Deer | TRACT design and engineer performance-grade optics without the added retail costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12181,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2257],"tags":[2291,2324,2460,2493,2688,2719,2720,2721,2722,2723,2725,2726,2727,2728,2729,2730,2731,2797,2839,2943],"class_list":["post-60","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-fix-adjust","tag-10x-binoculars","tag-8x-binoculars","tag-big-game-hunting","tag-binoculars","tag-how-to","tag-how-to-calibrate-red-dot-sight","tag-how-to-call-a-buck-in","tag-how-to-call-bucks","tag-how-to-call-in-a-buck","tag-how-to-change-bushnell-v4-from-meters-to-yards","tag-how-to-choose-a-fishing-rod","tag-how-to-choose-a-pocket-knife","tag-how-to-choose-a-rifle","tag-how-to-choose-binoculars","tag-how-to-choose-scope-rings","tag-how-to-choose-the-right-compound-bow","tag-how-to-choose-the-right-telescope","tag-hunting","tag-hunting-out-west","tag-mule-deer-hunting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11460,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60\/revisions\/11460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}