The Gear Hunting mule deer out west requires a vastly different strategy than what I'm used to in the east. It's all about glassing the sage brush and oak thickets, stalking to a setup that will offer you a shot, and then taking that shot -- at distances that would make most eastern hunters cringe. This isn't a 50-yard game played in the woods, 150 to 300 yard shots are the rule.

To make these long shots we were using Browning .270 WSM bolt-action rifles with Dura-Touch armor-coated stocks, shooting Winchester Supreme XP3 ammo with 130-grain bullets, and glassing with Swarovski optics. All proved extremely satisfactory.

To book a hunt contact Elkhorn Outfitters at 970-824-7392; elkhornoutfitters.com. --JC

About the Buck of the Day
Check back each weekday to see the latest record book bucks certified by the Boone & Crockett club.

Browse through the gallery at left (it'll get bigger every day) to see the details on each new animal added, including; the hunter who killed him; where he was taken; what he scored; and the date he was killed.

Note that some of these deer were killed years ago and only recently submitted to and approved by the club for entry into its books.

About the Boone & Crocket Club
Founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt, the Boone and Crockett Club can boast a list of hugely significant accomplishments, among them; the protection of Yellowstone, Glacier, and Denali National Parks; the foundation of the National Forest Service, National Park Service, and National Wildlife Refuge System; the passing of the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts; and the establishment of the Federal Duck Stamp Program.

It's a long list, and it gets even longer when you consider that each trophy the club records is another validation of the system it helped build, a sign that America's wildlife conservation efforts continue to be a resounding success because of the sportsman's support.

The magnificent animals shown in this gallery are proof of this. So browse through the photos, plan your next dream trip, and know that each hunt you take strengthens the foundation of hunting's future.