Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting The Cult of the open-country mule deer rifle

Hey, it's Halloween! Time for a Cult-of post <grin>......

I'm thinking I'm gonna burn my pile of preference points on a trophy high-desert mule deer hunt, in either Steens ot the Trout Creek Mtns in southeastern Oregon. Talking next year here.

Never having hunted mulies in the sage and juniper, I can only imagine what it's like. But I'm imagining that longer shots are most certainly possible, and that the wind "might" be blowing <g>. So I'm going to be thinking in terms of optimizing my rifle/bullet for longer shots.

My 30-06 will make the trip, and in reality, that's a fine choice right there with high-BC bullets. I'm about to embark on a reloading adventure with the 200-NAB and RL17 and if I can get sub-MOA over 2700 fps, as Shane's data suggests might happen, then that might end my gyrations right there.

However this hunt just screams 7mm mag of some sort to me. So I'm also putting thoughts towards what it would take to get a light, accurate 7mm mag in da house. I'm thinking in terms of a 7 WSM or 7 Rem Mag here- not a big fire-breather.

I think my fantasy front-runner is a Kimber in 7 WSM, with a premium barrel. Buy a WSM non-shooter cheap, rebarrel it.

Rifles I have already that have obvious utility here:

7mm-08 M700 MR; very accurate, very slow barrel though.

30-06 sporter, very fast & accurate barrel.

300 Win Mag Sendero, very accurate, also big and heavy.

Curious to hear from you dedicated open-country mule deer hunters. I've been saving points for 11 years so it'll be a big deal; a premium tag in a trophy unit.

Oh- not interested in a .270.... already got the .270 Improved aka 30-06.... grin...

Not much flatter, nor higher BC than a 264 Win. And less recoil to boot.

I'd go with your front-runner, it's a great choice and you already want one. I did the same, put a Pacnor 1-in-9 5-groove on it and here's what it'll do at 100 yards with 160 Accubonds:

I was laying right next to this guy last week when he dropped the hammer on this heavy old buck with his .308 from 440 meters out. We had plenty of time to set up, range, talk about wind, settle the nerves and make the shot. He used a 165gr accubond.



Thats the exit hole you see in this picture..

I would take the 30-06.

Open country last Thursday.


Yesterday, about 70 miles away from the first pic.

Even in "open Country" there are many breaks and coulees that aid stalking. Chuck Adams, the archer, has taken many world class mule deer with his compound bow at fairly close range.

I've taken several dozen mulies. Most were taken with my 30-30 carbine at about 125 yards or so. But my Savage .308 (shown) has significantly more reach. 243 is a good choice, too. Mulies are not armor-plated.

Good binoculars such as Bushnell 10X under their H2O line are tough to beat.

Sherwood

My experience with the Idaho side of the Owyhees is that ranges are often the same as anywhere else. Expect a 1-2 hundred yard shot. It can always be further, but just as often a shot is much closer. Anything you listed is just fine, save that sendero...too damn heavy for hiking those damn canyons.

What I should have added, or made more clear, is that I already have perfectly good rifle(s) for this.... grin.... it ain't about need....

Last year I built a dedicated open country mule deer rifle. In the past I've used sporter weight rifles in 25-06, 270, 30-06, 264wm, and 300wm. What I came to consider the ideal plains/breaks rig is a vanguard with a 26" #4 chambered in 264 win. I did a 1-8" twist. For glass I mounted a vx3 4.5-14x40 lr with an elevation turret. Weight is 9.25lbs in a laminate stock. I took two whitetails at home before heading west and then took the biggest mule deer yet. So far this year only one whitetail, but I'll be cruising the sage in a couple of weeks.

Then get whatever your heart desires. I'd be hard to beat a 7mm Rem or a .264 Win for versatility on that hunt.

The Steens and Trout Cr. are more of what I consider "open country MOUNTAIN hunting"!

In other words lots of steep rugged terrain that lend itself IMO to a light handy Mountain rifle with some reach.

A kimber montana in 7 WSM or a Rem 7 in 7 SAUM are what I would consider about perfect.

Been hunting this year with a 257wby 700 sps in a TI stock and a 4.5-14 on it. Shoots great with 100gn tsx's but didn't get to bloody it this year. Killed my last mulie with my kimber montana in 300win mag 3.5-10 and 180 partitions. Have 7 or 8 points in Oregon myself I've been trying to figure out what to do with.

The only thing that will ever notice your 7-08's "slow barrel" is your chronograph. I'd be taking it or your '06. But I tend to big game hunt with just one rifle so I might not be a good one to ask. Good luck on the hunt.

7x57...1.5-5 Leupy...



Ingwe

I'd just grab your .30-06 - explain to me what it will NOT do that a 7 Rem Mag. will...

Dont mean to butt in here but it will NOT chamber a 7 Mag round.....

Ingwe

Sounds like KC knows the country....I'd grab a 7 pound 270 Winchester and have at it.But a 7 mag of roughly the same weight would be good as well.I'd hunt with either one without giving the matter a moments thought.

In all liklihood you will kill at under 300 yards.

I wonder if Swampy's M700 in .30-06 will....?

It won't run a ~ .600 BC bullet at 3050 fps.

That's about it. I love 30-06; great round. A 7-mag of some flavor simply is a bit better at extended ranges. This may be meaningless- I don't know, that's one reason I axed the question.