There are many areas of the state that offer great mule deer hunting, but some of the best spots include the San Juan Mountains, the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, and the White River National Forest. The deposit is non-refundable. 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. Only one hunter did not kill a bowhunter. Colorado Mule Deer Hunting License & Tags. Kevin Steele from Petersen's HUNTING speaks to Jordan Egli of Burris Optics about the all-new Veracity PH Riflescope. In a hunt . Deer can only be found in the snow; they are only found when deep snow is present. The state has "general-season" permits, but don't be mistaken by the lingo because these are not over-the-counter permits. About Guy Eastman, Editor-In-Chief . Most outfitters are one to two years out, with some being booked indefinitely for the foreseeable future. This is because the mule deer are in their peak breeding condition and the bucks are in their prime. Also regular hunts 10%-60% below pricing, first come first serve until they are gone. We are looking forward to our 18th consecutive hunting season on the Eastern Plains in Colorado. Currently my partner and I have 4 points but someday when we have "max" points we are planning on going on a two week backcountry hunt to try and kill a pair of velvet giants. PO Box 250 A tough winter in 2016, followed by a drought that lasted more than a year and a half, cut that total by about 20,000 deer, but Utah still remains a top destination for mule deer hunters, according to Covy Jones, big-game coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports some herds have up to 24,000 mule deer! If you're ready to travel out of state to hunt muleys, read on. Why didnt there enough predator control? It can take six or more points to draw a tag for the rifle season, but the area offers abundant public land, including BLM, state wildlife areas, and National Forest Service property. One of the finest Colorado elk hunts is waiting for you. 13-Sep-17. ], but I'll warn you: Early hunts on the Kaibab are extremely tough because of high hunting pressure and lack of rut activity. New Mexico Brendon: (575) 518-8323, Copyright 2023High Mountain Hunts, LLC | Designed by Frontier Business Group. Search our database of Colorado for mule deer opportunities. A trophy neither of us have ever had the opportunity to accomplish. 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.". Fee. Beginners usually hunt mule deer after some guidance before going for any . In 2010, Utah had the second highest number of typical mule deer taken in the United States. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Deer hunting in Colorado is Draw only and must be secured through the licensing process offered by Colorado Parks and wildlife. COLORADO PLAINS DEER The number of hunters is increasing, which has a negative impact on harvest success. Predator Hunting with .17 Caliber Rifle: Pros and Cons, The Only Three Guns You Need to Go Hunting, Federal Terminal Ascent Hunting Bullet: Field Review, What To Do When Your Rifle Breaks While On a Hunt, Tested Tough - Modern Zeiss Sports Optics, struggling North American big-game species. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife has seemingly achieved the perfect balance with its deer management strategy accessible tags and potential to kill noteworthy bucks. The final balance and all completed paperwork are required 30 days prior to the scheduled hunt start date. 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. Archery is one of the most common hunting methods used to kill deer. Guided mule deer hunts in Western Colorado have seen a 90% to 100% success rate over the last two years. Lee Sells Outfitters & Guide. Theres good news and bad news for hunters who want to pursue mule deer in the west, however. "We carefully regulate harvest, hence the quality of deer hunting right now" explained Colorado Big-Game Manager Andy Holland. Keep in mind we are non-residents and the tag quota will need to be factored in. We work with the best outfitters on the Eastern Plains, so get in touch with us to help you figure out which outfitters have what you are looking for. There's a long road ahead for the conservation of mule deer, and dollars are necessary to pave the way. The eastern plains and the Western Slope are among the best places to see whiteheads. In terms of kills, it was the fewest since 2015. Our Eastern Plains Mule Deer operations encompass over 60,000 acres between 24 different . A general lack of water is a major reason MDF chapters have focused heavily on building guzzlers for deer in the state. All Rights Reserved. Deposit: $1,500 of the total hunt cost including taxes and a signed contract is required at the time of reservation ($2,000 deposit for Unit 76 hunts). Even if you don't live in muley country or plan to hunt these amazing deer in your lifetime, you can still positively affect the future of the vulnerable species (and enjoy numerous member benefits) by joining MDF. Deer can be hunted in the morning and evening during these hours. Utah's deer management strategy changed significantly 3 years ago. Toggle navigation The number of points required to draw a white-tail deer ranges from 0 to 2, while the number of points required to draw a mule deer ranges from 2 to 6. We can help you register for the draw. All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Colorado unit 57, which includes areas 57, 58, and 581 northwest of Canon City, produces quality pronghorn bucks, Alcazar said. Those late season hunts were fairly hot and dry, and although more mature bucks hit the ground than would have under normal season dates, it was not the widespread slaughter of adult bucks that could have taken place during a normal November. Hunting out West can be a daunting task without the tools necessary to know when, where and how to apply, draw and hunt. These are the good old days of hunting mule deer in Utah, said Jones, who added that all of the 29 general-season units in the state are capable of producing 200-inch bucks. Home; Colorado. The peak rut for mule deer and Coues deer was observed in Arizona in December and January. Horseback Pack-in (3.5 hour ride) Elevations range from 11,000 ft to 13,500 ft. Accommodates 2 to 4 hunters. The hunt will last until the end of the season in late January, after which it will begin in early October. Colorado is the ideal hunting destination for those looking to hunt mule deer. That buck displaced two former world-record bucks, both from Arizona, that were tied at the top spot with scores of 95 B&C points. 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. Additional days are available as season permits for $700 per day per hunter. We are located in a haven for giant trophy mule deer. Archery is the most effective hunting method, while rifle hunting is more effective in the latter half of the season. Our Memberships Include The Most Accurate Draw Odds Available, Join Now! What are mule deer hunting plans for the upcoming season? Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is at the Streamlight booth at SHOT Show 2023 to go over the Bear Trap light from Streamlight. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Years of development and pushing the limits of what is possible in a rifle optic have led up to this moment. Walnut Hollow Country Deluxe Antler Display Mounting Kit in Solid Walnut for Mule Deer & Whitetail Deer. You must log in or register to reply here. Since 2013, the deer population has increased from 390,660 to 430,130. A hunting license and a valid firearm permit are required for hunting deer. "In 2014, 550 archery tags were distributed for this area, with a season that runs from late August to mid-September. There are some good hunts in the Sangre's a friend of mine did the early season rifle hunt last year packing in on horseback and he shot a really nice 180 class buck in velvet above timberline. You may be able to expect warm weather, but keep in mind that all of that can change if a rare late spring storm strikes. The Plains is a totally different style of hunting than the high mountains of Western Colorado. Every one of these units have the potential to produce the mule deer of your dreams, and every year multiple 200-inch bucks are taken here. The trophies are big. With licenses down almost 1/3, you can attribute at least 2 points in most units to lower license totals. My great uncle had claimed the Midwestern bone trophies over decades as a deer hunter, but I was even more captivated by the forked antlers on the wall that came from a different type of deer. Thread starter NateDBigTex; Start date Aug 26, 2022; Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member. "The draw odds are significantly higher for youth than adults for these hunts.". We love guiding mule deer hunts in the famed Strip and Kaibab region (units 13A, 13B, 12AE, 12AW, 12B, 12BW) and have over three decades experience hunting this very special place. 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 . "I think western Kansas offers some of the best whitetail hunting in the entire state, and Kansas is a whitetail-hunting mecca," Pawlak explained. Bull Tag / 0 pts. Sand Hill country GMUs 31, 32, and 33 in the southeast corner of the state also are capable of producing B&C bucks. The most common habitat for these animals is in the states mountains and foothills, but they can also be found throughout the year. Deer Hunting in Colorado GMU 7 . 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. The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife manage our areas for trophy quality. Archery tags are available over-the-counter, and there are at least three seasons for mule deer per year in most units that cover multiple biological patterns (think hunting summer range and rut). Here at Kiowa Creek Outfitters, our deer quality continues to improve. 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. Limited-entry permits use a modified bonus point system in which 50 percent of permits go to applicants with maximum points, while the remaining 50 percent of tags are allocated in a random draw. . Photo Gallery. Put in for the early season high country buck hunt. If it is not found, your hunt is finished. This is the easiest rifle tag to draw, but the hunting can be very good. Best caliber for Colorado Mule Deer. Our hunting units produce the highest number of big mature bucks and a healthy elk population compared to other units in the state. The northeastern portion of the state has the highest number of pronghorn and provides an opportunity to see a large number of animals during the hunt, while still providing an opportunity at a trophy buck. Our lodge is within walking distance to downtown Pagosa Springs where you can rest in the local hot springs. Kevin Steele from Petersen's HUNTING speaks to Jordan Egli of Burris Optics about the all-new Veracity PH Riflescope. 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