We have a known ranch in Montana some of my partners have hunted before . Its a DYI hunt but they all bring home a good deer each trip. This year was going to be my 1st trip and it looks like the window I have to book the hunt has closed due to football season being pushed back a week later this year. Also the ranch they hunt just lost 1/2 the land it once had. It could still work out but we are exploring all options in other states. The ranch they had was pretty affordable compared to the guided hunts ive seen in other places. They split the gas and take a group of 4 and split groccery costs as well. We will have to drive to stay as cost friendly as possible wherever we go. If we go to Montana it will be at the ranch they are familiar with. We are looking for affordable options in other states. Do any of you have 1st hand knowledge of somewhere we can almost be guaranteed a successful mule deer hunt that wont break my bank. Doesnt have to be record book deer. I can not plan a hunt until just before, During or after Thanksgiving, its just too risky. Season would have to be late November on. What yall got?

I've been to Rifle, CO twice and hunted public BLM land outside of Rifle. I killed nice bucks both times (one is right at 30" wide with heavy mass for a muley), but it has been 25 yrs since I have been so I'm not sure how the deer populations are up there now. We would do the same thing, take 4 people, carry food with us to eat on the way, buy groceries when we got there, and split the gas. Back then it cost me less than $500, but it would probably be closer to $1000 today. The license was only $120 back then, gas was $1 something a gallon, and we could buy all the groceries we needed for $100 once we got there. We didn't pay any guides so the cost wasn't bad at all.

I cant believe No one else has a hook up or have not recently been on a good trip.

PM Big Game Hunter, I'll bet he can hook you up!

Me too, I figured you would get plenty of ideas from guys who have been out there withing the last 5 years or so.

Friend of mine and i have went the last two years do it yourself hunting on private/public lands in craig, co we split cost and cooked a bunch food and just carryed a freezer on a trailer with us saved a bunch and see lord knows how many mule deer. But we was elk hunting i hope to draw a tag for mule deer next year.

Not sure why you're surprised, you're on a forum that's comprised of 99.9% whitetail hunters.

If I were in your shoes, I'd check New Mexico for public land access before I'd check north.

The biggest problem is getting the dates of the seasons to coincide the time frame I can go in a state where the success rate of drawing as a non resident is high. Ive pretty much looked online at every state with a population of mule deer.

Why don't y'all go to NE?

What is that Nebraska? Were looking into all options.

My idea too. I know of a couple nice places In NE and SD. PM Ill fill you in.

The one is VERY cheap..and we always were 100% for mulies..everyone of us..in 2 -3 days time total we would all tag out.

I for YEARS used to help anyone asking about Out of state hunts..even post video from hunts there so people could get a feel about the places..but caught too much crap from a few IDOTS on here about it...so I rarely even bother to try to help these days.

Isnt worth the trouble..but since noone else is answering Ill steer you to a couple places Ive actually hunted at..very affordable, in Nebraska and South Dakota.
PM me if youre interested.

Thanks outdoorobsession PM to ya. I knew Aldeer wouldnt let me down.

I know where I'd like to be sitting waiting on a deer in NE.

Good luck with your hunt.

Me too N2...

Go to Montana look at the block management lands for that area most ranches limit pressure. I killed a monster in Rosebud County on a block management Ranch in the 90s

Ok Im learning. Thanks guys who helped.

Here is more info http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/hunterAccess/blockman/

PM returned JD.