Guns and Gear for a Mule Deer Hunt

by
posted on September 28, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
browning_mule_deer_hunt.jpg

Editor's Note: Contributor Brad Fenson recently had the opportunity to put the following gear to the test on a Colorado mule deer hunt. You can catch up on that story here.

Browning X-Bolt
In Colorado, I used a Browning X-Bolt Long Range Hunter rifle that has since been replaced with the Hell’s Canyon Long Range. The new-for-2017 bolt-action features a fluted, heavy-sporter barrel that is free-floated, hand-chambered and finished with a target crown and threaded muzzle brake. Additional selling points include: a short-throw, 60-degree bolt lift; detachable rotary magazine with inline cartridge feed; an A-TACS AU (Arid/Urban) camouflage-covered stock; Cerakote Burnt Bronze metal finish; Inflex recoil pad; and an adjustable Feather trigger. The grip and feel of Hell’s Canyon rifles gets your mind racing with adventure. They are durable and weatherproof, making them ideal for any weather and the toughest terrain.

Browning Ammo
The Leupold VX-6HD scope used on the hunt had two turrets burned, giving me the option to use Browning’s 155-grain BXR or 190-grain Big Game bullet. The BXR rapid-expansion bullets have a matrix tip designed specifically for all kinds of deer hunting, which made the choice easy. The tip allows for high downrange velocities and energy retention while providing rapid expansion on impact. The massive expansion means quick knockdown power, so deer go nowhere after the shot. My buck collapsed in his tracks, making retrieval easy.

Latest

Massaro Cleaning
Massaro Cleaning

Clean 'em Up—Gun Cleaning 101 for Hunters

Ever wonder how often to clean your gun? How about what to clean it with? How about what to clean it with if you're hunting at 40-below? Phil Massaro answers all these questions and more, in this clean-freaks primer.

Hunting Show Attendance Shattering Records

Attendance records have been shattered at this year’s major hunting shows. The latest, Ducks Unlimited’s DUX (Ducks Unlimited Expo), set a new high-water mark in Memphis, Tenn. According to the Commercial Appeal, the July to Aug. 2 event attracted roughly 30,000 attendees. The 2025 event, also held in Memphis, drew a crowd that numbered nearly 20,000.

The Colonel’s Caliber in an Interesting Rifle—.35 Whelen

“Only accurate rifles are interesting.” Townsend Whelen

New for 2026: Beretta A400 Solo

Beretta USA has launched the A400 Solo, a new semi-automatic shotgun engineered for hunters who demand performance in the harshest conditions. Built on Beretta's A400 platform and packed with the company's latest advancements, the A400 Solo combines Beretta's B-Link Pro gas-operating system, Steelium barrel technology and Kick-Off Plus recoil reduction system into one dependable platform.

Know How: Find Your Long-Range Limit

Curious where your ethical limit is in the field? Mark Kayser shows you exactly how to find it.

Smith & Wesson Honors America's 250th Anniversary with Limited-Edition Model 1854

Smith & Wesson has announced the launch of its America 250 Limited Edition Model 1854 rifle, created to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.