Advances in hunting technology have been substantial over the past 60 years. Advancements that increase hunting success can result in reduced hunting opportunities, season length, or timing. Even with consistent abundance, male-to-female ratios, and success rates, mule deer herds may have a younger average age of bucks because hunters can now locate and harvest more or older males.

Hunting technology includes clothing, weapons and ammunition, optics, backpacks, transportation methods, trail cameras, drones, hunting apps and mapping programs, social media, and communication devices. Advances in technology and equipment have changed mule deer hunting with the most significant changes occurring in weapons and accessories, transportation, cameras, and drones.

Just a couple generations ago, many hunters used weapons with open sights or basic scopes that limited effective ranges to under 200 yards. Hunting access was mostly using two-wheel drive trucks. Hunters often left the truck on foot and bulky, less efficient clothing limited the time they could be exposed to inclement weather. Handheld devices were mostly limited to a map, compass, and possibly a camera, but things have changed a lot since then.

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