Colorado Mule Deer Results

[OutdoorWriter]

I'm sitting in a Comfort Inn in beautiful Wellington, Colo. where I arrived late Mon. to start a hunt for a "management" mule deer buck with Atkinson Expeditions -- www.atkinsonexpeditions.com

The first three pix are my management buck -- a high & wide 3x3 with 17" back tines that I killed Thurs. a.m. Although he's only a 3x3, the very symetrical buck grosses 155. Note how the browtines are growing from the FRONT of the antler bases at about a 45 deg. angle.

I used my tried & true Mod. 70 .264 Win mag. I quit reloading about 10 years ago, so I have been shooting Win factory 140-gr, PPs. The shot on the buck took out the heart and one lung. He rang about 20 yds. and dropped dead.

Another management 3X3 buck killed by Roger Bell from Gold Beach, Oregon on Weds. morning. He nailed it with a 130-gr. Hornady bullet while the buck was bedded with two does.

This 10x8 trophy buck -- not management -- was taken Weds. by hunter Richard Attenberger using a .300 short mag. It scores just under 206

 

[YELUM]

Very nice bucks. And beautiful pictures too. Thanks for sharing.

Yelum

 

[Daxter]

Great bucks, congratulations! I like both the managment bucks, and the trophy is awesome. Also, good job to your photographer. Those pictures are set up perfectly. Great photography, really showcases the bucks.

Dax

 

[OutdoorWriter]

Here are a few more photos. -TONY


Another of Roger Bell's buck with guide Chanse Snow.

The red arrow at the upper right was where Roger's buck was bedded. When he was hit, he got up, ran a few yards before going down and then started tumbling, stopping just short (where the other arrow is) of going off the steep cliff. That's Chanse standing to the left of the arrow.

This is a wider view showing where the buck went down. Hard to see in the photo but Roger and Chanse are standing where the arrow points.

Chanse and Roger dragging the buck down to where I had brought the truck. I had dropped them off about 1/2 mile away from the bedded buck, and they worked their way to within 160 yards to a ridge to the left of it. Once I heard the shot, I drove back to the spot where I took the photos of the cliffs.

This is a photo taken of the ranch terrain from the area where I killed my buck. The snow-covered peaks off in the distance are within Rocky Mt. NP. All the brush is mountain mahogany.

 

[AspenAdventures]

Great pics, great sequencial shots, nice bucks, beautiful country!

Wait? Why am I here at work if it is that great out there?

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

 

[Waygoner]

Congrats on taking some beautiful bucks. This might be a dumb question, but is this a high fence operation? I've always heard the term 'management buck' when talking about Texas type game ranches where your fee depends on the size of the buck you shoot. Is that how it works with this outfitter?

 

[OutdoorWriter]

Nope, not a high fence in sight. In fact, the only fences we encountered on the 35,000-acre ranch were one around the main ranch-house area to keep the cattle at bay and another low barbed wire one that separated the ranch property from Larimer County land that is closed to public access. There might also be a two or three-strand wire fence around the perimeter in some places that border major roads.

The outfitter -- Atkinson Expeditions -- leases the ranch for deer and elk hunting, but the game has the freedom to move anywhere it chooses. In fact, most of the elk that were there earlier in the fall are already gone. We did see one herd of about 35 with two smallish bulls, though.

They conduct two types of deer hunts -- one for trophy bucks, priced at $3,500 and another for the management bucks at $2,500.

The management bucks are those OLDER-class bucks that will never become 4x4 or better. Since many of the deer on the ranch are permanent residents, the outfitter has a good idea which are which because they often run across the same bucks in their home territories.

The 3x3 I shot was an estimated 6 yrs. old, and they had seen him repeatedly since Aug. Yet when we went looking for him, it took us 2 1/2 days to locate him, and that was by accident while we were glassing another smaller 2x3.

The big 205" that was killed by a trophy hunter was one they had NEVER even seen before, however. So it's possible with the rut already started, he had moved in from elsewhere.

Nearly every larger buck we found had a harem already gathered and chased the does constantly. My buck had at least 7-8 with him when we first spotted him. -TONY

 

[eelgrass]

Nice job fellas!

Eel

 

[echoman]

Great Bucks!! Good job boys

 

[ICHABOD]

Sweeeeeet!

------------------------------------------------------
By the way,
I live in UT.
There are a lot of UTARDS that live here.
I have also seen quite a few WYOMORONS, NEVADUHNS, COLORADORKS, ID-IOTS and AIRHEADZONANS in my travels.

 

[Model_70_Guy]

Outstanding photos, Great play by play on how the hunt went down. Thanks for sharing.

Jim

 

[OutdoorWriter]

Thanks guys. Glad you enjoyed the pix. -TONY

 

[browtine]

Congrats Tony!!!! The pics are incredible.

Later, Brandon

 

[littlefoot]

those are some nice bucks...congratulations. nice pics, too.. you one of them nascar driver's? they're always 'switchin' hats, too...?

 

[OutdoorWriter]

>those are some nice bucks...congratulations. nice
>pics, too.. you one
>of them nascar driver's? they're
>always 'switchin' hats, too...?

You caught me redhanded. Gotta take care of the sponsors, ya know. }> -TONY

 

[BeanMan]

Looks like some terrain around Owl Canyon to me.

BeanMan

 

[woodruffhunter]

Nice!!!!!!

 

[OutdoorWriter]

LAST EDITED ON Nov-19-07 AT 07:58AM (MST)[p]>Looks like some terrain around Owl
>Canyon to me.
>
>BeanMan


I have no idea where Owl Canyon is, so I can't say one way or another. All I can verify is that we were on a 35,000-acre ranch a bit north and west of Wellington, CO. Is that near Owl Canyon? -TONY

 

[MuleyBuck009]

LAST EDITED ON Nov-19-07 AT 09:31AM (MST)[p]Hello Tony,

I just wanted to add my two cents worth on the hunt pricing so there was no confussion in the future. The price on the management hunts was correct at $2500.00, our trophy hunts are a bit more than the price you listed - they start at $5000.00.
We pride ourselves with the quality of animals we harvest off our leases and we practice sound management of our deer, elk and antelope herds. We pay our landowners generously for the privilege to hunt and be responsible stewards to their lands and in turn we get to spend each fall with these amazing animals. Please remember to support your local chapters of the Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and any other foundation you may be part of. They are out there to help insure that all hunters benifit from habitat protection and rehabilitation.
Tony, it was a pleasure hunting with you and having you in our camp this past week - Hope to see you again soon.

Best Regards, Robert / Atkinson Expeditions

P.S. Great Post !!!!

 

[BeanMan]

Tony,

That would be the Owl Canyon area. I grew up near there.

BeanMan

 

[OutdoorWriter]

Bean,

Yupper. I pulled up a sat map of the area and was even able to find the spot where I shot my buck. It looks like we were just north of Owl Canyon and near where the tower sits up on a hill.
When we were glassing, we could actually see vehicles moving along on SR287. -TONY

 

[BeanMan]

Nice area,

Oh, and your picture with RMNP in the background actually shows the Snowy Range in WYO. If RMNP had been in the background you would have seen Fort Collins in the picture.

BeanMan

 

[OutdoorWriter]

LAST EDITED ON Nov-19-07 AT 12:40PM (MST)[p]>Nice area,
>
>Oh, and your picture with RMNP
>in the background actually shows
>the Snowy Range in WYO.
> If RMNP had been
>in the background you would
>have seen Fort Collins in
>the picture.
>
>BeanMan


Hmmm.

You sure those peaks on the LEFT aren't in RMNP?? Wouldn't Ft. Colllins be east of it, i.e. farther to the left?

 

[OutdoorWriter]

Rob,

Thanks for correcting the cost on the trophy hunts. The prices weren't on the web site, and I thought Sean had previously posted the cost in another forum as $3,500. I'm now guessing that was for the two openings availble for the cancellations, huh?

I didn't get out of Wellington until 6 am and arrived home at 7 p.m. last night -- 13 hours for 950 miles. I broke out a hunk of the jalapena and cheese sauage last night. Man, talk about lip-smacking delicious. -TONY

 

[MuleyBuck009]

You can't go wrong with that kinda snack. Glad you made it home safe and sound.
I'm not sure if you have checked the Hunting Journal on our web site since you got home, but Chanse ended up harvesting the "LimeStone Ridge" buck last night (last day of the season). He ended up scoring a little better than we thought he might - low 170's.
Anyway, thanks again and let me know if I can do anything at all for you.
Happy Holidays - Robert

 

[OutdoorWriter]

LAST EDITED ON Nov-19-07 AT 03:03PM (MST)[p]Rob,

Yup! Saw Chanse's buck there this a.m. Super critter! Tell him congrats for me.

My taxidermist will be in town tonight, so he's stopping by to pick up the cape. His shop is about 60 miles north of Phx. -TONY

 

[cohntr6]

Uh Fort Collins in directly south of where the pictures are taken. Yes the peaks are in RMNP, Commanche peak, etc. This is unit 9.

Hey Rob A,
IS Luke guiding for you all this year?

Tony,
These are my old stomping grounds, I actually hunted one of Wes's leases before it was leased. A couple years ago I guided for Aaron Neilson on some of Wes's leases east of there.
Congrats on the buck!
Jeff

 

[OutdoorWriter]

Thanks, Jeff.

I didn't think I had my lens pointed to the north, but when a guy gets old, you never know because it's hard to keep oriented. -TONY

 

[BeanMan]

Pretty indistinct I'd day. Commanche Peak is real close to RMNP but it's not in RMNP but I'm willing to concede this one. Still think it's the snowy's and you got your camera pointed 304 degrees and not 238. Saw that view for 28 years.

Beanman

 

[MuleyBuck009]

LAST EDITED ON Nov-19-07 AT 07:57PM (MST)[p]Hey Jeff -

Luke is not guiding for us any more, we had a bit of a falling out - to much drama to go into it. Never did get to talk to you after your wife killed that smokin buck in 2005. Didn't it end up scoring around 214 gross ? Have you seen any other good bucks on that property ? Take care and talk to you soon.
As for the mountains in the background of that photo - Tony and Jeff are pretty close. The mountains are the Medicine Bow's and the Mummy Range north of RMNP. RMNP is a little farther south (Longs Peak is not in the view) - not quite the Snowy's either (farther north out of the picture).

 

[jmcenulty]

Nice story and pics. Congrats

 

[OutdoorWriter]

Hey Rob,

I have been snacking on jalapena and cheese summer sausage every night since I got home. It is delicious. Tell Barb I'm delighted with it, and if she needs an endorsement, I'm available cheap. -TONY

 

[MuleyBuck009]

Hello Tony,

I'm a little jealous. I have not had any of the jalapeno and cheese summer sausage in quite some time - it was a good thing you had a lot made up, cause you'll miss it when it's all gone. I'll let Barb know about the endorsement idea, she'll eat it up.
I'm headed back out to eastern Colorado on Friday to scout the properties some more for the December 1st. opener - I'll keep you posted on my findings.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. Keep in touch and talk to you soon. Did you see the "Eastmans" article yet?

Robert

 

[OutdoorWriter]

LAST EDITED ON Nov-22-07 AT 07:55AM (MST)[p]Rob,

Well 54 lbs. of sausage should last me a while, but I'm now wishing I didn't have it split up into three varieties, especially the regular type. Both the hot and the jal. & cheese are super.

I don't have a subscription to Eastman's and rarely see it on the racks around here.

So when will you actually hunt the east side?

And Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! -TONY

 

[MuleyBuck009]

The late season starts on December 1st. and runs thru the 14th.
My daughter and I are headed out in the morning to scout some more - I'll let you know what we find. Hope you had a great day - I had way to much to eat as usual.

Robert

 

[Midnight2]

Congratulations. What great photos and explanation too. Sounds and looks like you had a great hunt. Loved all the support photos. Thanks for sharing

Midnight

 

[cohntr6]

I have noticed that with Luke over the years I have known him, drama always seems to follow. Do you know if he ended up guiding for Limmer?
A friend and I grossed my wife's buck at 214. I also had it scored by two other people at 218 and 219 so take your pick, still havent had it officially scored yet. We ended up having Shawn Steely do the shoulder mount and it turned out pretty good.
I hunted the property the following year(2006) and held out for 4 days, nothing showed up so I shot a 'management buck', a 3x3 with a few extras and 6 1/2" bases, he was 5 or 6 years old. I was not able to get up there this year even though I was in CO hunting elk last week and my intention was to get a buck tag for up there and hunt after I filled my cow tag, didnt turn out that way. Damn elk! LoL!
Last year I did find out the guy hunting the property next to me killed a 194" typical the same year my wife killed her buck. He showed me some pictures, sweet buck.
Take care, good luck out east.



Jeff

 

[MuleyBuck009]

I was very disappointed with everything that went down with Luke and I thought he had way more integrity than what he finally ended up showing. As far as I know he did some guiding for Limmer and also tried to start his own outfit - I have not had contact with him for almost a year now, so who really knows.
I did see your wife's buck in Trophy Hunter last year - what a toad and for where he came from just blows my mind. Just goes to show you what little if no pressure can produce. Have you moved out of the area ? your last post gives me the impression that you are not living around here anymore.
Thanks for the well wishes for my hunt out east. I've been able to locate a 30" wide 7x7 that should score in the mid 190's and a 28" to 30" wide 8x11 that should score around 215". We'll see where it goes, there's still 4 days before the season opens and they could very well leave the area.
Take Care and talk to you soon.

Robert

 

[OutdoorWriter]

Rob,

Sooo....any reports from the eastern hunt yet???? -TONY

 

[cohntr6]

Yah, like Tony said!! Report?!?!!
Yes we moved to AZ almost a year and a half ago. I really miss CO that is for sure! This heat is rough. We still havent had a hard frost yet and its December!
I sure hope to draw some good tags while I am here. Hopefully in a few years we will be back in CO. That is the plan anyway.
Jeff

 

[Elksnuffer]

Congrats guys,


Nice bucks!


Later
Snuffer

 

[MuleyBuck009]

Update :

Eastern Colorado is a tought nut to crack. After locating those two bucks (a 190"+ & a 205"+) before the season opened on Dec. 01 it has all been down hill since. The rut was completely over before the season started, mature bucks were in recovery mode and off by themselves, temps in the 70's at the begining of the hunt and 4 days of zero visability and 15" of snow have brought zero results as of today (Dec. 12). The age class in the area has be severly hurt by the CDOW CWD culling operations over the last couple of years and the oldest deer we saw in 8 days of hunting was a 3 year old 3x4 (150" buck). We have
access to over 14,000 acres of great CRP ground and over 1 1/2 miles of the South Platte in this area and never saw more than 10 deer a day - How can that be possible. Just 3 years ago on the river property alone you would see 30 to 40 deer a day (3 to 4 a day this year) - too much culling and it's not decreasing the percentage of possitive CWD test results.
If you live in Colorado and have noticed the same type of results in your hunting area, please voice your concerns to the CDOW - Please stop killing deer just to test a theory. The effects of these culling operations are going to be felt for many years to come.
Enough with my soap box - Jeff, good luck in AZ. and keep in touch the next time you're in the area stop by (since you're not here anymore I'll keep an eye on that honey hole for you, ha,ha,ha). Tony, take care and talk to you soon - Happy Hollidays to all.

Robert

 

[OutdoorWriter]

Thanks, Snuffer.

Rob,

Sounds like a real bummer. I take it no bucks taken then?

And Happy Holidays to you and your's too!-TONY

 

[MuleyBuck009]

Hello Tony,

Today is the last day of the season and I had other business requirements to take care of. I hunted 12 days of the 14 day season and we could not make it happen. The pictures are of the bucks we were hunting - we never saw them during the season, only before the season opened. The buck in the upper picture should have scored around 210" to 215" gross and the buck in the lower picture should have grossed around 190" to 195".
All of our big game seasons are complete now. Wes went 100% on kills in Kansas during the rifle season and 100% on shot opportunity and 85% on kills during the archery season - biggest whitetail killed was a 165"+ and a 190" to 200" buck was seen during the rifle season. Have a safe Holiday Season and remember, the 1st of January is just around the corner "Time to Quit" (can't stand those reformed smokers can ya) Good Luck.

Take care, Robert

 

[buckspotter7]

Great bucks in this post, B&C scores and all!

 

[dancasey2]

Great job!!!!!!!!

 

[cohntr6]

I'll have to refrain on the CWD stuff, Rob, I worked for CDOW as a temp employee and know firsthand what was going on a few years ago, especially with Stephens dairy and other places.
Its been a few years now so i dont know what is going on with the culling stuff but it does work in localized hotspots.
On a lighter note, dont worry I'll be back to hunt the honeyhole, he he!
Too bad about the hunt. I am chasing deer with a bow now and will be until I stick one or Jan 31 comes around!
Jeff

 

[MuleyBuck009]

Good luck - "Get a Big one". Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I know the culling can work in localized hotspots, but when they do it to the whole unit it gets my goat.

Rob

 

[Califelkslayer]

You guys KNOW that country and I don't BUT wasn't there 4 feet of snow there last Jan?? Ranchers flying hay in to feed cattle? I figured in my not always accurate thought process that the Colorado Plains would be down for a few years. Having seen what the 92-93 winter did to the local herds, I'm ultra-sensitive to deep snow on wintering grounds.

 

[MuleyBuck009]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-28-07 AT 03:16AM (MST)[p]You present a very valid point - last winter was pretty rough for southeastern Colorado and the ranchers lost a fair amount of livestock. The deer and antelope numbers were affected, but not as bad as you would have thought (as far as I know). The area where we most recently hunted did not get quite as much snow last winter. The drifts in southeastern Colorado were 10 ft in some locations, north central was no where near that.
I know of 1 buck over 240" that was killed with Adventures Wild in southeastern/southcentral Colorado this year (have not seen pictures yet) and a few others that have been posted on MM's that made it through last winter - it's all a matter of luck and being the right place at the right time (and doing enough pre season homework - mainly luck).

Robert