GMU's 1, 2, 201 - If you have the points saved up, we hunt some of the best trophy elk and deer units in Colorado. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. I went in blind having never hunted it before. "The up-and-coming units in Arizona are 6A, 8, and 5BS.". While the terrain will vary throughout the trip, you should expect rough, steep, rocky areas, open . Can you get over the counter mule deer tags in Colorado? Backpack Hunting . In Montana, Region 3 in the southwest corner of the state covers nearly 12 million acres, more than half of which is public land managed by the BLM or Forest Service. The state is managing individual deer herds vs. a blanket management strategy, so we're already seeing improvements in the state deer herd.". Colorado is the best state to draw a tag. It is as steep and rugged as the Tetons in Wyoming. They are well adapted to arid and rocky environments typical of much of the American West. Deer can be hunted in the morning and evening during these hours. Publisher, Kevin Steele is with Brett Marquardt from Streamlight Inc. discussing the new Streamlight Pro Tac 2.0, the latest edition in the Pro Tac series. In 2019, there were far fewer deer than in any year I have ever seen in Colorado. In this article, well give you a rundown of the best places to hunt mule deer in Colorado. Bull Tag / 0 pts. Our Memberships Include The Most Accurate Draw Odds Available, Join Now! In addition to this, parts of Colorado received over two feet of new snow in June. Colorado has some of the best hunting in the country, from the Wilson Range to the Utah border, from Disappointment Valley to Big Gypsum Valley, and from the Dallas Divide to the Uncompahgre Plateau. Deer hunting in Colorado is Draw only and must be secured through the licensing process offered by Colorado Parks and wildlife. Deer hunting in Colorado starts with archery in September and ends with muzzleloading in October. Each state has something unique to offer, so pay attention. The areas with the best deer hunting on public lands are: the HD Mountains, the Piedra River, Florida River and Los Pinos drainages, and lands southeast of Pagosa Springs. We are located in a haven for giant trophy mule deer. CPW issues hunting and fishing licenses, conducts research to improve wildlife management activities, protects high priority wildlife . The adventure is big. Mone deer are thought to number approximately 37,500 in the state, while the goal is to have a population of 450,000. And everything about the pursuit is big. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Harvest success has also declined in recent years. Mule Deer Hunting Location - Jackson County, CO - Units 6, 16, 17 & 171. "But people are raising their hands to help, so I'm confident we're going to really see a renewed revival of New Mexico mule deer in the next 4-5 years. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. ", For trophy hunters, Pawlak shared some helpful hints: "I really like the units in eastern Nevada around the towns of Ely and Pioche. My prediction is that mule deer populations will be severely impacted as the season dates are pushed back even further. Even if you get a max point unit, you won't do that well unless you know the area really well. As a former New Mexico taxidermist, Christensen learned a lot about where and when bruiser bucks are killed in the state. Kali Parmley, Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter speaks with Bret Maffet of Franchi Firearms to discuss the all new Momentum All Terrain Elite. Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Outfitter offers access to over 20,000 acres of private land managed by the state. Phone: (435) 865-1020, database of Colorado for mule deer opportunities, Annual Small Game Hunting License (required to apply), Youth Annual Small Game Hunt License (under age 18, required to apply), Habitat Stamp (required for adults to apply). The eastern side of the state is mainly private land, meaning you'll probably have to hire an outfitter. Archery is one of the most common hunting methods used to kill deer. In Colorado, mule deer are the most common deer and can be found anywhere. . This is a wilderness hunt, you are going to earn a big buck. "After all the rain last year and more rain this year, things are looking good," he said, pointing to the significant influence that moisture has on deer health and antler growth. Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is at the Streamlight booth at SHOT Show 2023 to go over the Bear Trap light from Streamlight. The landscape is big. Please call us at 970-746-5158 for more information on our plains deer hunts in eastern Colorado, or for a detailed itinerary. The Colorado San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests are home to excellent mule deer hunting. Hunting, habitat loss, and disease are all to blame for this decline. 2021 found most of the mature bucks and a fair amount of does and small bucks sticking to thick cover provided in this middle transition range. State wildlife managers are proactively managing predator populations and experimenting with deer trap-and-transplant efforts, with the goal of successfully relocating urban deer back to the sticks. 5; 6; 7; First Prev 7 . "I'm expecting some nice bucks to be killed there this year. The average success rate on a deer hunt is 95%, with more than 100% opportunity. In terms of mule deer hunting, Colorado is generally considered to have some of the best deer hunting in the country. The hunting area consists of varying elevation from 5,500ft above sea level to 14,000ft above sea level. Sand Hill country GMUs 31, 32, and 33 in the southeast corner of the state also are capable of producing B&C bucks. Home; Deer Hunting . For spot and stalk archery hunters, there is usually enough wind, and it is typically a steady wind that allows hunters to sneak in very close, especially if the ranch has some topography. In 2020, Colorado allowed muzzleloader deer hunts in 85 Game Management Units across the state, and many of those units permitted hunting in adjoining units, giving hunters even more room to roam. Montana Region 7 (made up of districts 700 to 705) in the southeast corner of the state, especially the southern parts of the region, wasnt as affected by the brutal winter of 201112 as other parts of the state and has good numbers of pronghorn in each district, Vore said. . The best ranches will have both types of terrain on them as once the crops are harvested later in the year, the deer need some place to take refuge. If the ranch doesnt have this type of country to pursue them in, youre only left with about an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening to hunt. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Publisher, Kevin Steele is with Brett Marquardt from Streamlight Inc. discussing the new Streamlight Pro Tac 2.0, the latest edition in the Pro Tac series. Read . With this information in hand, youll be ready to start planning your next mule deer hunting adventure in Colorado. Please call us at 970-746-5158 for more information on our plains deer hunts in eastern Colorado, or for a detailed itinerary. Utah has six limited-entry units where trophy quality can be amazing, and a bonus-points system is used, rather than preference points, meaning half the tags in each unit are given to the top points holders and half are awarded in a random draw. VDOMDHTMLtml>. Deer Hunting in Colorado GMU 7 . If you are looking for an exceptional Mule Deer this is the place to go. ", Point System: modified bonus point and preference point, Application Fee/Terms: non-float state; $65 hunting license (nonrefundable); $10/species application fee; deer permit prices if drawn: $268 general, $568 premium limited entry (Henry Mountains and Paunsaugunt units) or $468 regular limited entry, Application Deadline: first week of March. Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is at the Streamlight booth at SHOT Show 2023 to go over the Bear Trap light from Streamlight. Resident adult: $39.75; Resident youth: $15.50; Nonresident adult/fishing combo*: $396.75; Nonresident youth/fishing combo*: $101.50; One final fee is your annual habitat stamp. Utah took advantage of a combination of favorable weather, aggressive habitat management, and strict regulations to increase its mule deer population by as much as 100,000 from 2008 to 2016, pushing the size of the herd past 380,000 animals. Unit 62 offers good mule deer hunting, and is worth the two preference points that it takes to draw. All Rights Reserved. ", Application Fee/Terms: float state; $321 tag float; $43 application fee (includes preference point) + $10 habitat stamp. In the past, hunters could bounce from general unit to general unit during the course of their hunt, but now they can only hunt in the unit for which they have a permit. "We manage for quality, so most hunters we hear from are willing to wait a year or two to hunt," explained Chris Healy, public information officer for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. A total of 113 hunter harvested bucks were checked in the field in 2019. For many hunters, even those who dont live in the region, western big-game hunting is a passion that consumes them year-round. 2. "The deer herd has been struggling in New Mexico," explained Moretti, blaming drought as the main culprit. This camp is where the big bucks call home for the summer and early fall. As stated above, second, third, and fourth rifle seasons are all mostly in November. Early Rifle Deer - By application - typically draws with 10 points. "These areas are underrated," said Healy. We have enjoyed close to 100% opportunity in the last 20 years. Preference points are not required for Colorado residents to apply in the 2021 lottery. Our lodge is within walking distance to downtown Pagosa Springs where you can rest in the local hot springs. Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss the Predator 4 and Predator 8. Arizona is a hot, dry place, and recent droughts have had their impacts on the overall mule deer population, which hovers between 85,000 and 100,000 . To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Archery season runs in September and most rifle seasons occur during October, with some exceptions. Elk Venison and Root Vegetable Stew Recipe, Predator Hunting with .17 Caliber Rifle: Pros and Cons, Best Coyote Cartridge: .223 Remington vs .22-250 Remington, Six Great Lever-Gun Hunts for North America, Desert Ghosts: Hunting the Elusive Coues Deer, Tested Tough - Modern Zeiss Sports Optics. There are other units just as good. DIY Drop Camps - For the DIY hunter, our drops camps reside in proven hunting areas for elk and mule deer. PO Box 250 If you successfully draw your Colorado mule deer hunting tag, you will have to pay for your license. Our semi-guided mule deer hunts offer the highest opportunity for a deer you can display with pride. The trophies are big. It makes for an interesting and exciting hunt.". ], but I'll warn you: Early hunts on the Kaibab are extremely tough because of high hunting pressure and lack of rut activity. Healy mentioned that Elko County attracts the most out-of-state hunters in units six and seven. "I think the number one mule deer state for people to be building points in is Colorado," Pawlak said. Elk, mule deer, and pronghorn are three iconic species among the big-game animals hunters pursue throughout the western United States. Cooler weather did not play a role in the later rifle seasons being so tough. The statewide buck tag does not allow mule deer hunting in the state's Mule Deer Conservation Areas. Well also provide some tips on what to look for when choosing a hunting spot. Also nearby, you can also enjoy some exceptional post-hunt trout fishing on the banks of the San Juan river. The terrain where you'll find mule deer ranges from dry, high-desert foothills to the rugged, mountainous, alpine zone. Kevin Steele stops by the Taurus booth to speak with Cody Osborn about the all new Raging Hunter platform from Taurus International. Not a 100% success-rate hunt. Thread starter NateDBigTex; Start date Aug 26, 2022; Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member. Five units (4, 13, 22, 85, and 421) were among the top units for both the second and third rifle seasons in terms of overall Bull Elk harvest as well as hunter success for the second and third rifle seasons. Unit 2B is somewhat different. . Hard to say what the best archery tag is in CO. Its usually more about 4th season for a chance at a trophy. Fully Guided, Elk, Mule Deer or Bear Hunt - 7 Day package - (Wilderness camp) $4950 per hunter at 2 hunters per 1 guide. In eastern Colorado, youll find some of the most severe torrent weather of any part of North America. The statewide average for buck-to-doe ratios is 35 bucks per 100 does that . Best caliber for Colorado Mule Deer. Theres a lot to be concerned about this, and its not a good thing for the future of deer in this state. Mike's 35" Loco Buck, scored 198. Archery and muzzleloader tags in those units will require fewer points.. Dream destinations include the Arizona Strip (units 13A and 13B) or Kaibab Plateau (units 12A East, 12A West, and 12B), but the drawing odds are long, sometimes in the low single digits, Ornoski said. While we target 1mature bucks, we continue to drop several world-class Muleys every year. Our average fee for sci tests is between $150 and 180 dollars. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife has seemingly achieved the perfect balance with its deer management strategy accessible tags and potential to kill noteworthy bucks. 17, and 18. Tags for these hunts typically take 10 years or more to draw, but they're worthwhile hunts with excellent trophy potential if you're willing to wait.". "The Plateau Thousand Lakes unit [25B] is the most difficult general-unit tag to draw," he said. You must log in or register to reply here. Colorado is still the best place to hunt big mule deer bucks on a regular basis and will most likely always be given the amount of habitat and lush alpine basins, but mule deer hunting is starting to resemble Colorado elk hunting more and more. Guided elk hunts, with guaranteed tags on private land, are expensive; elk tags for public lands with limited access can be tough to draw; and competition from other hunters on public land with over-the-counter tags can be maddening, but elk hunting still is a passion that drives hunters from all over the country. This Colorado private ranch has over 3,500 acres of great hunting terrain and we have Federal permits for nearby public land. Each fall, hunters from all over the country, and around the world, set their sights on the mountains, valleys, and wide-open spaces of the West in search of adventure, camaraderie, a world-class trophy, and the opportunity to fill the freezer with lean protein. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. If you would like access to all of our research,join today! The state does have a Walk-In Hunting Access program and some state wildlife areas in mule-deer country, but it's fragmented and probably highly pressured. The best mule deer numbers are found southeast of the Panhandle region of Idaho. Montana. "Yet, it's undersubscribed for archery, and it only takes 3 years to draw a muzzleloader tag or 5 years for a rifle tag. This is especially true when hunting mule deer in Colorado. New Mexico mule deer hunting offers a great opportunity to draw a tag and obtain a trophy buck. Utah's deer management strategy changed significantly 3 years ago. The highest concentration of mule deer can be found in shrubland areas of western Colorado. Elk hunting is a tradition shared by thousands of hunters each fall. Petersen's HUNTING Publisher, Kevin Steele is in the CZ booth with Dylan Rice at SHOT Show to talk about CZ 600 Series Trail rifle. Every effort will be made to recover the animal (the animal that has been wound) if you draw blood. It provides them with everything they require to survive, including leaves, stems, and young twigs that they use to browse for food and cover up. Using the Colorado Hunting Map to keep track of your progress is the simplest way to do so. Residents and nonresidents with valid hunting licenses have access to a deer bag hunt. It is necessary for the clients to obtain a deer license. This region is teeming with quality deer, which can be found in a region with rich history and a breathtaking view of the Cimarron Range and the mighty San Juans. Holland also noted the majority of public land is found west of I-25. Put in for the early season high country buck hunt. About Guy Eastman, Editor-In-Chief . Units 62/65 in southwest Colorado are ideal for spotting mule deer and have numerous breeding grounds. The mule deer can be found in Colorados mountains and foothills at dawn and dusk. . Add $500 for a combo hunt. Might want to think about the Sange De Cristo Range.above 11,600'and get in shape. Mike Ornoski has bowhunted in Arizona for more than 35 years. 1. 7 Day Rifle Package 5 Days Of Hunting Until the 1980s, the White River herd in western Colorados Piceance Basin had consistently ranked among the countrys largest and most productive deer herds, unofficially ranking it as the largest and most productive deer herd on the continent. Buck-To-Doe ratios is 35 bucks per 100 does that over the counter mule deer hunting adventure Colorado! Have access to over 20,000 acres of private land, meaning you 'll probably to! For when choosing a hunting spot rough, steep, rocky areas, open Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter with! 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