Best mule deer and elk state

davehaze · Oct 4, 2007

Hi, I'm looking to relocate from Texas to either Colorado or Utah and would like some opinions and suggestions to which state and where in the state would you choose to live to hunt mule deer and elk. Thanks!

huntindude · Oct 4, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Oct-04-07 AT 07:24PM (MST)[p] Colorado for deer, Utah for elk. or if you want the best quality animals you'll never be able to hunt, Arizona.

overton · Oct 4, 2007

This is turning out to be a bizarre day. I again agree with Dude. Colorado for real nice mule deer and Utah for giant elk, like I'll ever get to elk hunt there. Some lucky jerks actually get drawn for Arizona. Ha Hah.

Ransom

fatrooster · Oct 4, 2007

davehaze, I'll have to agree with the two previous posts. By the way, welcome to MM land. fatrooster.

liv4hunt · Oct 4, 2007

Utah for elk?
You have got to be talking about the limited entry areas? Or the ability to shoot spike elk in the general season spike units? There are some decent ares for mature bulls in the general area for any bulls! But that is a small area of the state and honestly not the most productive option compared to other states!!
Utah is not the best place to send people to hunt elk unless they are able to buy a tag in a limited entry area every year, and we all know what kind of money that takes!! (you don't have to live in the state to do that!!) Or another possibility is to draw for those limited entry areas, but for a lot of people this option will be a once in a life time hunt!!

I would say Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Colorado have a lot more options and areas available to hunt. Not always the best quality bulls, but a lot better chance at being successful year after year!!

But as with everything, if you live in a state with elk, you learn where they are and how to hunt that area, your odds double in regards to how successful you're going to be!! It's all about time spent in the field!!

Just an oppionion!!

Work to hunt!! Live to hunt!! And the rest spent keeping the wife happy!!

couesbitten · Oct 4, 2007

davehaze, I'm going to have to agree with liv4hunt. If you want to hunt every year for a chance at a decent buck or bull, I'd be looking at WY, ID or MT. Then you can put in for the limited draws in the other states, nd when you draw a tag, enjoy a hunt for a chance at a quality animal. Scott

Califelkslayer · Oct 4, 2007

Ditto liv4hunt. In Colorado you have great mule deer and can hunt units every year for elk that offer great success rates while still building points for that trophy hunt.

Learning areas in Id, Mt, Wy and Co would bring even more success every year as you aquire "honey holes."

davehaze · Oct 4, 2007

Thanks for replying guys and it seems like Colorado is best but I know very little about where in Colorado would you live that is close to some of the best hunting areas?

shotgunjim · Oct 5, 2007

The only advantage I see Utah having is, Nevada is to the west, Idaho and Wyoming to the north, Colorado to the east and Arizona to the south.

overton · Oct 5, 2007

>The only advantage I see Utah
>having is, Nevada is to
>the west, Idaho and Wyoming
>to the north, Colorado to
>the east and Arizona to
>the south.

You forgot New Mexico is caddy corner to the southeast.

Ransom

deserteagle500 · Oct 5, 2007

ya, good idea... don't hunt utah...lol

beat this

BigPig · Oct 5, 2007

For more opportunity, CO, no doubt. You can hunt elk every year on OTC tags and can find good bulls if you do your homework. You can also hunt big bucks on tags that are relatively easy to draw. Utah has great game in the state but the vast majority is on Limited Entry units and it will take you many years to draw. Not being able to hunt game in your own state is no fun.

As to where, that depend on your needs. Do you need to be close to a metro area for work? Does your wife need a shopping mall? Or would you prefer to live deep in the mountains like a hermit? All options are available in CO and ods are, no matter where you end up, you have great hunting within a couple hours drive at most.

TennVol · Oct 5, 2007

I am a bit biased since I live here, but my vote goes to Colorado. We have the largest herd of elk in North America, and our mulies aren't doing too bad either. If I could live anywhere in the state - just for hunting purposes - I would probably pick Craig.

Plus, if you move here, that's one less nonresident hunter we will have to complain about!

MSgt, USAF
1984 to present