Colorado Archery Muley...

bowhunter223 · Feb 12, 2008

I have never hunted colorado and wanted to see what everyone thinks would/can be a good unit to hunt muley's with a bow...as a non-res. Also considering the winter this year.
I've heard most 2nd season's are good for a bowhunter. I would like to see alot of bucks and a 170" class buck would make me pretty happy.
Let me know. Thanks in advance for all your help in this homework process.
-223

d13r · Feb 12, 2008

a 170 buck would make everyone on MM really happy since here it at MM it would be called a 195 buck......

JB

HiMtnHntr · Feb 12, 2008

It would take some doing anywhere in the state to see a lot of 170" deer, let alone in unit that requires few or no points, which I assume you are after. Most every unit, however, will hold that kind of deer and hunting early is a good way to find one.

bowhunter223 · Feb 12, 2008

Can a NR draw #43 with zero points? It's what the "draw odds" on here says....yet I hear that's a coveted place to draw?? Help me out.
-223

to the first post!!!

zekers · Feb 12, 2008

Yes, you can draw with 0 points in 43. I don't know how coveted it is, but it is a good unit. Everything from junipers, to aspen, to big arse mountains. Good luck.

bowhunter223 · Feb 13, 2008

What are some better units, NR with Zero points? other than 43......

Thanks to all the MM'ers who have helped out.
-223

Cali4x4 · Feb 16, 2008

If you bow hunted in a 3rd or 4th season with the rifle hunters you would have a chance at a 150 to 170 buck. But it would take pp's and you would be tempted for somthing better with your rifle.

coloradooutdoors1 · Feb 16, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Feb-17-08 AT 06:12AM (MST)[p]Well first off, you can't hunt during the rifle season with a bow here in Colorado. Your archery seasons are separate. You can hunt areas west of I-25 from the end of August until the end of September for both elk and mule deer. Your late season deer hunts for archery occur on the eastern plains, anything east of I-25. The archery season out there starts October 1 and runs until 31 December, with a couple of closures in there in some units. The eastern plains of Colorado hold some very big deer, both mule deer and whitetail deer. Most units require 0-1 preference points to draw an archery tag, but most of the east is private property. There are a few state wildlife areas out there that produce some very nice deer, but it is public, so you have to deal with some people, mostly duck hunters though. Not alot of bowhunters out there. You can knock on doors, which is what I did, and I have had permission to hunt this particular ranch for 9 years now, and have taken 5 P&Y bucks, all whitetails. If you have any questions about Colorado hunting, let me know. I have been booking hunts here for 11 years now and can help out with most questions.

DesertSheep · Feb 17, 2008

"Well first off, you can't hunt during the rifle season with a bow here in Colorado."

Really? I do know that some people who draw a rifle sheep/goat tags hunt with their bows. I looked in the regs and it doesn't say it's prohibited.

midwest · Feb 17, 2008

Just got my regs. You can hunt rifle deer season with bow, crossbow, hand gun, or muzzy in CO.

coloradooutdoors1 · Feb 17, 2008

As for sheep/goat tags, those tags are a once in a lifetime tag, and you can use the weapon of choice if you want. I don't believe that applies to elk, deer and antelope. I will have to check on that, but I have never had anyone want to hunt deer with a bow during the rifle seasons, just seems a bit odd, but it may be possible. Just went over the regs, didn't specifically say, just the legal method of take, but didn't get into whether you can use a bow during the rifle season, but I will call a friend of mine today and see if he knows the answer to that question and post it.

ColoradoRam · Feb 17, 2008

Regulations for deer and elk do state that you can use a bow during rifle season as mentioned above.

Turk · Feb 17, 2008

Sheep and goats are not a once in a lifetime draw in Colorado!

Cali4x4 · Feb 17, 2008

Maybe coloradooutdoors meant that you can not hunt with an archery only tag during a later rifle season. That would be correct.

DesertSheep · Feb 17, 2008

coloradooutdoors - sent you a pm

cohntr6 · Feb 17, 2008

Maybe coloradoutdoors meant you cant hunt sheep because they are once in a lifetime with a bow during a rifle season!! Makes no sense does it!!
Holy crap dude, you "have been booking hunts for 11 years" and have no comprehension of the regulations!!
If a person chooses to bowhunt during a rifle season it is completely legal. Did it occur to you that some people hunt in urban settings that bow maybe the only feasable option? Or folks are strictly archery hunters and want to hunt deer during the rut instead of in the velvet. YES, you do have to wear the required blaze orange while bowhunting during a rifle season.
As for once in a lifetime species only desert bighorn fits that
bill.

Here you go, straight from the 2008 Sheep/Goat regs on page 1::

2. Bighorn Sheep: If you harvest a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram
(1/2 curl or larger), except with an auction, raffle or special sheep
management license, you must wait 5 years (6th year after harvest)
before applying for Rocky Mountain bighorn ram license.
3. You can apply for 1 bighorn sheep license and 1 mountain goat
license a year. However, you cannot apply for a Rocky Mountain
bighorn and desert bighorn in the same year. If you apply for more
than 1 bighorn sheep license, your applications become void.
4. Desert Bighorn Sheep: If you harvest a desert bighorn sheep, you
cannot participate in future desert bighorn sheep drawings.
5. Mountain Goat: If you harvest a mountain goat, except with an
auction, raffle or special goat management license, you must wait 5
years (6th year after harvest) before applying for mountain goat
license

Sorry 223 someone needed to be set straight.
Good luck and you should listen to Himtnhntr he knows his stuff!!

Jeff

DesertSheep · Feb 18, 2008

You need to add bull moose to the list of once in a lifetime animals in CO.

And coloradooutdoors, you can ignore the pm I sent you. cohntr6 has covered it.

coloradooutdoors1 · Feb 18, 2008

Well you obviously know alot more about the regs than I do. I just book the hunts and am knowledgeable about most of the regs, but not all. You won't be drawing a goat or sheep tag in Colorado every year, or every 4-5 years, so maybe not once in a lifetime, but something totally different than most draws. I set up great hunts with some great outfitters, and just because I book hunts doesn't make me an expert on all the rules and regulations, that is left up to the outfitter and the client to make sure all is legal. I did just talk to the DOW rep and I stand corrected, you can hunt with a bow during the rifle seasons, but in 11 years, never had anyone request that information or even suggest it.

cohntr6 · Feb 18, 2008

Bull moose are not once in a lifetime in CO just desert bighorn. page 10 of the regs says that a hunter must complete a questionnaire about the hunt or they are ineligible for future moose licenses. If bull moose were once ina lifetime I imagine it would state it there.
Coloradooutdoors I am suprised you had to call the CDOW about that question and not just believe me!
LOL!!!

Jeff

Rem308 · Feb 18, 2008

You have about 0 chance at taking a 170 class mule deer on public land ,especially with a bow durring the second rifle season ! I havebeen hunting Colorado for 30 years and only saw one or two 170 class bucks and they were on restricted private property.

Colorado has some good deer but your chances of taking one is much greater on private ranch's and it will cost you alot of bucks to get a buck.

coloradooutdoors1 · Feb 19, 2008

I probably should have. I will not that make mistake in the future, you can bet on that.....have a great day

goldhunter · Feb 19, 2008

I must be lucky. Hunted Colorado twice. Both DIY public land. Both resulted in 170+ deer.

Lets just hope the winter is not to tough on the deer.

huntsonora · Feb 19, 2008

>You have about 0
> chance at taking a
>170 class mule deer on
>public land ,especially with a
>bow durring the second rifle
>season ! I havebeen hunting
>Colorado for 30 years and
>only saw one or two
>170 class bucks and they
>were on restricted private property.
>
>
>Colorado has some good deer but
> your chances of taking
>one is much greater on
>private ranch's and it will
>cost you alot of bucks
>to get a buck.

I would hunt a different unit....

DL

VELVETRUSH · Feb 19, 2008

You could try 64,65 the odds are still 100% and you only have to compete against 175 tags instead of 400 for 43.

DesertSheep · Feb 19, 2008

I found a moose regulation brochure from 1999 - before they combined it with deer/elk/antelope/bear.

Under "Bag Limit" it says:

"One moose. Anyone who harvested an antlered moose in Colorado cannot participate in future antlered moose drawings."

I doubt it has changed.