TEN SECRETS FOR TAKING MOUNTAIN MULE DEER
More Secrets for Trophy Mountain Mule Deer
 Editor’s
Note: Last week I hunted with Chad Schearer of Central
Montana Outfitters, a guide for 14 years to mule deer,
antelope, elk, bear and fish. He also has an unusual
talent of knowing how to get out-of-shape, overweight,
middle-aged-plus hunters within range to take shots
at the game they're hunting. This week Schearer, who
has had his own outfitting business for 10 years, tells
us the secrets of how to take those trophy mountain
mule deer that so many hunters want to bag. Schearer
serves on the pro staffs for CVA Muzzle Loaders, Mossy
Oak Camouflage, Knight & Hale Game Calls, Trophy
Rock Minerals, Buck Knives, Montana Decoys and Fred
Bear Archery.
5) Be in good physical condition. Although we do a
lot of glassing from vehicles when we're hunting, once
we discover a good buck, we go after him on foot. Often
you'll have to cover ground quickly and be in pretty
good condition to get to the place where you can take
a shot at the buck, especially during the rut. When
the bucks are chasing the does, you may have to hurry
some to get into position to cut off a buck and get
a shot at the doe. Once you get to the spot to take
the shot, you have to be able to get your breathing
under control to take an accurate shot. Therefore  physical
conditioning is very important. One of the best ways
to get in shape for mountain mule deer hunting is to
climb stadium steps at a football field, an exercise
that will get the right muscles in shape and ready to
be used if you have to go after a big mountain mule
deer.
6) Have good equipment. One of the most-critical pieces
of equipment you can have for a mountain mule deer hunt
is good boots. Often mule deer are in country that has
a lot of cactus. Therefore, rubber boots don't work
really well in this country. You need boots with a good
quality sole, and I like heavy leather boots. You'll
need anywhere from 400 to 600 grains of Thinsulate insulation
in the boots. I also suggest that you take a heavier
boot with more insulation to be prepared for snow. You
not only need good warm clothing, but you need extremely
quiet clothing. If you're closing the distance on a
big mule deer and you're hunting with a muzzle loader,
you need to be within 200 yards or less of the mule
deer before you take the shot. If you have clothing
that makes noise, those big ears on the mule deer will
definitely be able to hear you. So, be really conscious
of having extremely-quiet clothing when you're hunting
mule deer.
 I
wear the new Mossy Oak Camouflage Brush pattern when
I'm hunting mule deer, because I believe it is an incredible
western pattern that blends in well with the brush we
have out here. The boots I prefer are the Redhead Pro
Mountain Guide Boots with 12-inch uppers, and I've found
them to be, by far, the best hunting boots I've ever
worn. I also recommend Beagle Wear Wool Clothing for
hunting out here.In Montana, you have to wear 400-square
inches of blaze orange. In other states, you may not
have to wear as much orange as you do out here in Montana.
You want to make sure you have clothes that will keep
you warm and also dry.
I've been wearing various parts of Redhead Cold Weather
Gear lately because this clothing features a layered
system, and it has four jackets in one, which allows
me to layer according to the type weather that I happen
to be in when I'm hunting. I can wear a jacket that
takes care of me if it's raining or snowing, and if
the weather really gets cool, I can wear just the best
part of the jacket and be comfortable. One element of
the clothing that many people overlook is a good pair
of socks. Even if you have a quality pair of boots,
you really need a good pair of socks to get the maximum
usage from the boots. You want socks that will wick
the moisture away from your feet. Keeping your feet
dry inside your boots can really make a difference in
how comfortable you are when you're hunting. So, if
you're going out West on a hunt, make sure you spend
some time and some money getting good socks.
 For
underwear, I like Under Armour, a relatively-new underwear
I've found that provides some definite advantages to
those who hunt in the West. If you're walking and hunting
a lot, this underwear keeps your muscles compressed,
wicks moisture away from you, instead of holding this
moisture on the skin, and does a much-better job of
keeping you warm than most other underwear does. What
socks are to boots, underwear is to your warm clothing.
Having quality underwear is one area that hunters often
overlook. Yet, I feel that good underwear is as critical,
if not more critical, to being a comfortable and successful
hunter as having the right kind of outer clothing is.
I've found that this Under Armour also helps block wind,
which is another reason hunters get cold in the mountains,
and it also seems to stop odor, an important feature
when you have to get in close to mule deer, especially
when you're hunting with black-powder rifles, and for
that matter, any other type rifle.
To learn more about hunting trophy mule deer, you can
contact Chad Schearer at P.O. Box 6655, Great Falls,
MT 59406; (406) 727-4478 (home); (406) 799-7984 (cell);
email him chad@centralmontanaoutfitters.com;
www.centralmontanaoutfitters.com.
TOMORROW: SECRETS NO. 7 & 8 FOR TROPHY MULE DEER
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