October Muzzleloader or December Rifle

COHunter · Mar 12, 2017

OK, Whitetail experts, more newby questions

Would you guys rather hunt during October 14-22 or December 1-15 if those were your choice. (Colorado)

Habitat is river and creek bottoms surrounded my Corn, Alfalfa and Winter Wheat fields

Corn will more than likely still be standing in October

thanks

iccyman001 · Mar 12, 2017

Personally I'd prefer the Dec 1-15th hunt.
I like late season patterns because if I focus on food, I've got a pretty good shot at doing some damage. Depending on when your rut is, I've also found that there can still be some late chasing in early Dec.

I've only hunted one state with standing corn and this was only once, so take this with a grain of salt.

But I found the deer were bedding in the corn during the day and then moving out of it at night. So I don't know how active it'll be in those river bottoms during Oct.

I'm saving my CO points to hunt WT. I don't believe it's as sought after as mule deer, so I am hoping to find a cool area with some mature WT.

Good luck!

DW · Mar 12, 2017

All of iccymans points are true, plus you'll have a little more range with a rifle. Having said that, the biggest whiteys I've seen were in those last two weeks of October. The mornings are getting crisper and they ain't had any in nearly a year! They're on their feet traveling, lookin for that first hot doe and they'll whip any buck they come across. Decoys, rattlein horns, doe in heat scent, I'd have em all in my back pocket at that time. You're also basically gettin first crack at em. Whatever you decide it should be fun! Keep us posted!

COHunter · Mar 13, 2017

Thanks Gents! Plenty more questions to come I'm sure

Stillwater165 · Mar 19, 2017

Late and cold all the way ! Hunted whiteys my entire life , many on the wall , all late season deer from various areas. My wife hates the cold and only hunts October season ......... I've been telling her to go late for years !

Gator · Apr 10, 2017

IF you are a good stalker and can hunt the wind and move like a ghost. You can kill big deer in that standing corn, they really feel safe in that jungle.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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COHunter · Jun 5, 2017

Got the December tag!

iccyman001 · Jun 6, 2017

>Got the December tag!

Good luck and have fun!

COHunter · Feb 24, 2018

This lifelong Mule Deer hunter is a Whitetail junkie now!

Forgot to post pics from my hunt last December here in Colorado. Shot the first buck I saw, but wont do that again this year (unless he's really big), but very happy with my first whitetail buck!

12point · Feb 24, 2018

Good job, really nice 8 point. Thanks for giving us an update.

WiscoKid · Feb 27, 2018

Congrats, I was going to chime in late and also say December. It's just starting to get good October 22 when that season is over. Take the post rut food source hunt any day if given those options. Good work