Where to Mule Deer Hunt in 2025: States, Strategies, and Opportunities

In this episode of the Hunt West podcast, host Jaden Bales provides a soup-to-nuts overview of mule deer hunting across various Western states, including Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, and Washington.

He discusses the current state of mule deer populations, various management strategies, and the best hunting opportunities available. Jaden also covers specific hunting regulations, season dates, and draws for different weapon types, offering tips for planning successful hunting trips in 2025 and beyond. The episode aims to educate hunters on how to create multi-state hunting plans while considering differences in terrain, buck ratios, and public land access.

SHOW NOTES & MANAGMENT PLANS

00:33 Mule Deer Population Decline 

01:08 Planning Your Mule Deer Hunt

04:24 Colorado: The Mule Deer State

Colorado Mule Deer Management Plan >>

11:35 Idaho: General Season Opportunities

Idaho Mule Deer Management Plan >>

15:53 Nevada: Low Density, High Quality

Nevada Mule Deer Management Plan >> 

20:37 Montana: General Season Abundance

Montana Mule Deer Management Plan >>

24:59 Utah: Conservative Management

Utah Mule Deer Management Plan >> 

28:37 Oregon: Emerging Opportunities

Oregon Mule Deer Management Plan >>

32:42 Wyoming: Diverse Management

Wyoming Management Plans/Reports >>

39:00 Washington: Over-the-Counter Hunts

Washington Mule Deer Management Plan >>  42:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Contact Jaden at [email protected]

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.