Texas Mule Deer Hunting

Mule deer are one of the most valued game animals in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions of Texas and are the staple big game animal for landowners and outfitters alike. Whether it’s their limited distribution, low numbers or unique appearance and behavior, most sportsman view the mule deer as a highly sought after trophy and they are increasingly becoming the most hard to obtain trophy-class species in North America. Texas mule deer hunting may be one of the most best kept secrets to be found in the lower 48 with exceptional genetics, guaranteed landowner tags and correlated with great weather makes it one of our most sought after hunts that we facilitate annually. Mature desert mule deer bucks with antler spreads of 21" to 28" are common and occasionally the magical 30" mark is encountered. Typically our Texas mule deer harvested annually on our private ranches have scores ranging from 160" B&C on the lower end of the scale to bucks exceeding 190 B&C.

"The professional atmosphere and high moral attitude of Hunter and his staff made the trip an experience of a lifetime!"
~Christopher W. Stevens~

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West Texas Mule Deer Hunting

Our exclusive properties for Mule Deer Hunting are located in the Texas Panhandle and Trans-Pecos regions of the state and encompass over 315,000 private acres of prime mule deer habitat which are unsurpassed in the industry. Desert Safaris has qualified for the MLDP (Managed Land Deer Permit) program which lengthens our season from the Texas mandated 17 day season to 90 consecutive days due to increased range management practices. This allows us to harvest trophy mule deer bucks in conjunction with management bucks in order to balance our mule deer herd and obtain our maximum genetic potential on these private ranches.

Elevations on these ranches vary from 3000 feet in the Texas Panhandle plains and gradually increase to 7000 feet in the Davis Mountains high country of West Texas. These areas present a combination of limestone and granite geology, native grasses, cedar, oak and juniper in the high elevations and desert vegetation such as prickly pear cactus, cat claw, white brush and mesquite in the lower elevations. Implementing an intensive feeding program in 2006 has aided in additional nutrition that has dramatically improved our overall mule deer program. We adjust the feed mix at different times of the year according to the seasonal climate and the nutritional needs of our Texas mule deer. This has dramatically localized our mule deer herd and resulted in higher numbers, increased antler development and elevated fawn crop from an average of 30% to over 70% reproduction annually. Our most recently completed mule deer aerial survey in 2017 showed a ratio of 1.2 bucks per doe.

Desert Safaris conducts safari-style hunting techniques while utilizing jeeps, ATV's and ranch vehicles equipped with high-racks which allows us to access thousands of acres daily covering as much country as possible to locate mature bucks. Optics are a very crucial part of West Texas Mule Deer hunting with an extreme amount of glassing done and multiple hours spent daily field judging and evaluating game. Hunting mule deer is done slowly and methodically by spending multiple hours daily glassing, walking draws and canyons with an extreme amount of patience and persistence. You can reasonably expect to see 50-75 mule deer per day with weather permitting with a realistic number of 1/3 being bucks.

After a hard day of hunting, clients will relax in one of our multiple hunting lodges located on site, equipped with all the modern amenities and well appointed conveniences at your disposal. Satellite TV, commercial ice machines, central heat and air, full kitchens, laundry facilities, outdoor fire pits, spacious outdoor porch with views are just a few included options that we offer to make your stay more comfortable while hunting with us.

We host a very limited amount of Texas mule deer opportunities annually to ensure the highest success rates for our clients, so contact us to arrange your next trophy or management mule deer hunt in the Lone Star state.

West Texas Mule Deer Hunting Trip Includes:

  • 4 days Mule Deer hunting
  • 5 nights lodging
  • 3 meals daily
  • Managed land Mule Deer Hunting permit (no draw or application required)
  • 2x1 guide service
  • Field care of Mule Deer trophies
  • Aoudad Sheep and Javelina may be taken on a trophy fee basis

Not included in Mule Deer Hunting in Texas trip:

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Texas Deer Hunting Licenses
  • Gratuities
  • Airport Pickup
  • Taxidermy/Expediting of trophies

Mule deer Hunting clients arriving by commercial air service will fly into Midland, El Paso or Lubbock Texas depending on hunt area and begin a short 1-2 hour drive to our hunting lodge.

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