Mull Deer Hunting by State 2025

California

460,420

Colorado

400,000

Wyoming

330,700

Utah

314,850

Montana

249,758

Idaho

249,691

Texas

227,392

Oregon

170,000

Nebraska

130,000

Washington

90,000

Arizona

85,000

Nevada

84,000

South Dakota

80,600

New Mexico

80,000

Kansas

53,400

North Dakota

21,000

Oklahoma

1,750

Alaska

State	Mule Deer Population↓	Best Season	Bag Limit	Deer Hunting Rank	Details
California	460,420	Mid-August to beginning of November	Two Mule Deer per calendar year	8	Population listed is for black-tailed and mule deer combined
Colorado	400,000	Mid to late November	Two per calendar year	1
Wyoming	330,700	October 1st to 20th	Varies by license and area	4
Utah	314,850	Mid-October	One buck deer in the hunting unit listed on permit	5
Montana	249,758	September 2-October 15 (bow), October 21-November 26 (rifle)	One per calendar year	3
Idaho	249,691	November	One per calendar year	2
Texas	227,392	Late December and January	Two Mule Deer per calendar year	10
Oregon	170,000	August 28th - September 26th (bow), October 2nd - November 5th (firearm)	Usually, one deer. Other units may require that a buck be taken		Population may reach as high as 190,000
Nebraska	130,000	September to December (bow), Mid-November (rifle)	Two permits that allow the harvest of a buck per year	6
Washington	90,000	Late October through early November	One deer per hunter per license year (with exceptions)		Population may reach as high as 110,000
Arizona	85,000	August 15-31 (bow), November 1-30 (rifle)	One per calendar year except as prescribed in R12-4-120	7	Population may reach as high as 100,000
Nevada	84,000	October 5th to November 5th	One Mule Deer per tag annually.	9	Population may reach as high as 90,000
South Dakota	80,600	Sept. 1 through Jan. 1 (bow), Rifle season is weapon- and unit-specific	Varies by license and area
New Mexico	80,000	September and January (bow), October through mid-November (rifle)	OTC opportunities available		Population may reach as high as 100,000
Kansas	53,400	November	One Mule Deer per calendar year
North Dakota	21,000	Late October to December	One Mule Deer of the type described on their license
Oklahoma	1,750	October 1st to mid-January	No more than two antlered deer		Population may reach as high as 3,000
Alaska	1	Year-round

In states in which population is an estimated range, low end of estimate is displayed. See Details column for high end.
California lists populations of black-tailed and mule deer as a single combined statistic.

Why Do People Like Hunting Mule Deer?

Hunters come in many shapes and forms, and there are a lot of people who enjoy hunting mule deer. A lot of people view this as a classic big game animal as a classic trophy, and it is a milestone for a lot of young hunters. If you are interested in hunting mule deer, there are several important points to keep in mind. One of the first things you need to figure out is where you want to hunt them.

Where Is the Best Place To Hunt Mule Deer?

First, you need to think about the best date for hunting mule deer. In general, they can only be hunted in 18 states. They do not necessarily live everywhere, so you need to be in the right location. There are also some states that have easier regulations than others, as public land quality can vary from place to place.

Ultimately, if you are looking for the best place to hunt mule deer, you will want to go to a state with a large population of them. California has the largest population of mule deer, about 460,000. Colorado is also a dream for most outdoorsmen, and that includes hunters. Colorado has extremely good mule deer habitat, thanks to a tremendous amount of food and smart property management practices. It has the second-largest population of mule deer in the country, and there are more people who hunt in Colorado than in any other state.

What Is the Best Time of Year To Hunt Mule Deer?

When you are hunting mule deer, you also need to think about the time of year during which you want to go hunting. For example, lots of people hunt using archery sets from August until September. Mule deer tend to be found at high elevations during this time, typically above the tree line. Then, during the fall, most people tend to hunt using rifles. Keep in mind that the regulations can change depending on the time of year you hunt, so be sure to talk to the authorities before you get started.

Are There Other States That Are Great for Hunting Mule Deer?

There are plenty of other states that are great for hunting mule deer as well. For example, Idaho is almost as popular as Colorado when it comes to hunting mule deer. Lots of big bucks have migrated to Idaho over the years, and there are lots of large herds to be found. In addition, Montana is a great place for people who are interested in hunting mule deer.

Keep in mind that you may have to apply for a different license if you decide to hunt for mule deer in multiple states. If you have the right paperwork, you may be able to chase them all over the state. If you do not live in Montana, for example, the cost of obtaining a non-resident license can be high, so be sure to do your research ahead of time.