Mule deer hunts are primarily conducted by glassing open hillsides at dawn and dusk and then stalking animals on foot. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife notes four basic deer hunting methods—stand hunting, still hunting, spot‑and‑stalk and driving. Spot‑and‑stalk is most common in open country: hunters scan terrain with binoculars or spotting scopes, then move quietly into shooting range while keeping the wind in their favour. In timber or brush, stand hunting from tree stands or ground blinds allows deer to approach unaware, whereas still hunting requires slow, deliberate movement to catch deer before they detect the hunter. Group drives are occasionally used in some regions.

Mule deer populations fluctuate with habitat conditions, predators and hunting pressure. There are numerous subspecies (including the Sitka black‑tailed and Columbian black‑tailed deer), but management generally focuses on habitat quality and buck‑to‑doe ratios rather than taxonomy. Seasons are set by state and provincial agencies; in many areas, hunters must draw limited tags and abide by antler restrictions to protect young bucks. Conservation challenges include winter range loss, disease (e.g., chronic wasting disease) and competition with whitetail deer. Trophy fees and conservation stamps fund habitat restoration and migration corridor protection.