Colorado Late Deer Seasons

[Founder]

So, Utah mule deer talk has dominated the forums here for the past few weeks, but what about the effect of Colorado's late season deer hunts. As many know, I'm against rut hunts altogether. I know I have heard others say they also would like to see the 4th season hunts go away.
SO, my question is, is there a group of sportsmen in Colorado who show up to commission meetings to voice their opinions? How do residents of Colorado see those late hunts? Are they OK with less opportunity so that they can hunt the rut once in a while?

I personally would like to see zero 4th season deer tags and more 2nd seasons tags.

What do you guys think? Let's here from some of you from Colorado. It's getting tougher to draw tags every year, that's got to be getting hard for many of you to swallow........

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

 

[wyodeerhunter]

If you want no rut hunts I want no deep snow hunts. If it snows more than 6 inches hunts are cancelled. And a real 6 inches.....

Joking.

 

[Romulus]

I think we will see the impact of the new season structure in the next 2 years. The new extended 3rd season will be worse for the bucks than the 4th season due to the amount of tags. I agree the seasons should be moved earlier for more opportunity. I think they could still have 3 seasons just shorten them a bit and move them. Say Oct 10-20 Oct 24-31 Nov 4-10. I think this would put more big bucks in the woods and you would see some monsters. By the time the new season structure period comes up the older age class bucks will really be depleted in my opinion. Doug

 

[Christian]

Careful what you ask for, you might get it.

Us Idahoans bit off on "earlier season means more big bucks" philosophy in 1991 when we agreed to having the F&G move Idaho's general season to early/late October dates with no rut hunting. They were right in that a few more big bucks survived, but our hunt now occurs at the worst time of year to actually see one of those big bucks. Yet I still see them once November rolls around becuse they are there.

Please don't point out that unit 45 produces huge bucks in October- it is a very open unit where deer are more vulnerable (and is one reason why it is controlled) and nothing like most of the brushy/timbered country in SE Idaho where many of our buggest bucks grow (still).

My point? go ahead and cancel the 4th and 3rd season hunts in Colorado then wait three years. This forum will be posted with complaints about how no one can find any big bucks in Colorado. Don't makes hunting so tough that only the select few who can live on the mountain can get a big one.

My friend just killed a 190 typical on a late hunt in Idaho in a unit that has a TERRRIBLE general hunt in October. Obviously that buck was there in October... there is just so little opportunity to find one for the average hunter who can't scout 30 days. That is part of the reason Idaho sucks for big bucks- dates of the hunt, not because we don't have them.

The Christian

 

[orion23]

i have to respectfully disagree with you Christian.

I would still rather get rid of the later hunts and have bigger bucks and have to hunt them in their summer range. Yeah, its harder, but they are there. you just have to go find them. There would also be more of them because you havent killed them when they are so vulnerable.

Just my opinion, id rather know there are more giant bucks and hunt them when its harder to find them.

Travis
www.RidgelineOutdoors.com
Blacks-Creek Pack Dealer
Havalon Knife Dealer

 

[tailchasers]

For the most part I feel colorado does a good job managing the deer herds and I do like having the 4th season. The type of weapons allowed though should be changed to primative only. The later the season the more restictive the weapon choice. I do voice myself very well with other outdoors persons on various levels and feel confident we are being herd. For me it starts on the local level with discussion with our local DOW officers then on to the regional level then Denver. If enough people talk to the local and regional, which is much easier than the Denver way, they do listen. Only real times I am aware of DOW deafness is when land owners and outfitters come into the picture. The DOW smooches the land owner and outfitter arses pretty good around here. As for "hard to swallow"? Well to me offering 35% of tags to nonresidents is hard to swallow. Thats very generous especially when considering we have residents sitting on the side lines not drawing because our resident tag allocation is gone.

Al

 

[jimmedup]

I think the tags are limited enough during the 4 season. so i dont have to much heartache over it.. yea some big bucks hit the ground this year.. but not as much as I thought would. I am still seeing some pigs out there. If you want a tougher hunt you could hunt with a muzzy or archery during the rifle hunt.

 

[nmbighorn]

I think 4th season should go as well as early muzz. and early high country rifle hunts. Run three combined hunts with the first one starting on the first Sat. of Oct.-- 1st combined is muzz., 2nd and 3rd combined rifle. The archery hunt should only be for 3 weeks starting on the 1st of Sept. and leave the plains as they are. Oh and manage predators.
nmbighorn

 

[bigmoose]

No 4th season hunts. Spread the tags out in the second or third seasons.

Moose


Every hunting season you miss is one you can not make up

 

[utalkturkey2]

you think it a tough draw now wait until next year when everyone fed up with utah heads east like my self. See you in colorado.

 

[Christian]

Orion23, point taken. Sounds like you should be hunting Idaho as it fits what you describe. There are big bucks out there, just go kill one in October. It's tough.

The Christian

 

[tailchasers]

Oooo a nonresident turf war in colorado. Texas vs Cali vs Utah vs Wisconsin vs......... aw heck just clean the mess up after you're done fuedn'

 

[Coyote_chaser]

Thats why they call it "hunting" and not "shooting". Hell we would all love to have rut rifle tags, like you said its "easier". Try to explain that to UT though. It seems its only "easier" for deer and not elk!

 

[one_dryboot]

I cant complain about colorado 3rd season, I have put two great bucks on my wall the last few years.

 

[travishunter3006]

All hunts that occur in the snow or cold should be stopped. not because of the rut or because of the snow fall, but because its too dang cold for me! I hate hunting in the cold. i got a little frost bite on my hands and now have nerve damage. only summer hunts in july. that way only spikes are shot becuase they haven't forked yet! LOL

 

[dillon]

I don't know how Colorado works well, but do you have a Regional Advisory Committee there and a Wildlife Board?

How many 4th season tags are there in CO?

I know they get some sweet bucks on those hunts. Isn't it a decade long commitment to get a tag to hunt then?

I have one non-res point, but I am not in a hurry to get a hunt there with school being my main focus.

Dillon

 

[wildsage]

I haven't researched the other units, but in the units in the area I live they only gave out 15 tags total for 3 units and only 2 land owner vouchers - with the 3rd season extended later into November, I believe it had a greater effect on the mature bucks than those hunting the 4th season. I know I personally know of friends that killed good bucks in the 3rd season this year and it left small bucks to chase in the rut - there were still a few good bucks taking care of the does but not what you would expect. I personally would like to see them stop all hunting of elk and deer during their rut, that includes bow and muzzleloading. I know with the new equipment in bow hunting and inline muzzleloading, alot of the big mature bulls are getting hammered before rifle season. Oh well that is just my take and I am sure with all the pressure of the hunting community nothing will change. All in all, I think our DOW has done a good job managing our herds, we have come along way since the days when we had one season which lasted two weeks and you could hunt anywhere in the state at the same time for elk and deer. With all the special interest groups now, ATV's, bowhunting, muzzleloading, and rifle hunters it is more difficult to meet all their demands. Oh well better stop the rambling.

Wildsage

 

[Pooner]

I personally think Colorado management is doing a great job for opportunity and for trophy management. And lets face it we all want big bucks but most people want to hunt. So its tough finding the fine line betweent them. Colorado continues to produce big bucks every year. Its not like the have all been shot. If you feel its too easy just draw the second season tag. You will be able to draw it much easier, and can hunt much more. Also the amount of money that is brought into colorado through hunting in rural areas boosts a lot of economys. My theory if its not broke dont fix it. If there become a problem in a few years fix it. But not now. Just my opinion though. I feel like many times we things we have to change the regs every year.

 

[OldMan]

I don't know much about CO. But with all seasons, regardless of species, getting compressed into October it is hard to squeeze in much hunting if a guy works for a living.