If you're an avid hunter or simply a food enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of Hank Shaw. He’s a James Beard Award-winning chef and author of five cookbooks, including his latest, Hook, Line, and Supper. In his newest course for OutdoorClass, Venison 101, Hank takes you through all things venison, from the moment the animal is downed all the way to the dinner table.

Hunters from all over the United States and the world head to the western states to chase bucks throughout the fall and winter; however, each month, mule deer bucks do something different. Here is a month-by-month breakdown of expected mule deer behavior from August through December. This breakdown can give you a good idea of what to expect and where you might find bucks hanging out during any given month for hunting season.