Best places for a non-resident

martinc · Jan 28, 2005

I would like to have your opinion on the easiest way for a non-resident to organize a self-guided mule deer hunt. I'm looking for an easy draw or over the counter tags, not too crowded a spot, and a reasonable chance to get a decent mule deer. Not looking for the monsters, since I assume the place will either be full of hunters or a tough draw. I'm experienced in whitetail hunting, including widerness areas, like Northern Maine.

martinc

txhunter58 · Jan 28, 2005

Colorado has a lot to offer, but if Mulies were the only quarry I would check out Wyoming. I have hunted near Cody and at that time it was a 90% draw. During my hunt I saw about as many deer every day there as I usually saw in 4-5 days in Colorado. Usually 100-150 deer/day. I know a guy that hunts down south in more rolling hills/open country that draws every year and they are usually 75% successful. Don't know the exact location. Remember that you can only hunt non-wilderness areas unless you use a guide.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

straightshooter · Jan 29, 2005

Sadly my friend the area you are looking for may not exist. Easy draw, not crowded, with decent deer, if you find a spot like that let the rest of us know about it. I'm just kidding with ya. Unless someone will just spit out a unit or area you are going to have to start doing some homework. On-line DWR sites can give you a lot of information like draw odds, hunter success rates, size of deer harvested. Just start doing some research. Hope I could help.

eelgrass · Jan 29, 2005

There are at least a couple outfitter/guides who advertise on this site that offer un-guided mule deer hunts. Might just be the ticket for you. I've been thinking of doing the same thing myself. In Utah.

Good luck,
Steve

martinc · Jan 30, 2005

I'm doing research on my own but would have like a starting point. It's funny that I'm researching Wyoming right now, before seeing the above answer. A lot of areas have >65% success for non-residents, some of them are tough draws but some are just general tags. If people have other suggestions in other states, they are more than welcome...

martin

ICMDEER · Jan 31, 2005

I'm from Wyoming and an outfitter, and I'd still recommmend Colorado over Wyoming. There are some decent spots in Wyoming, but the quality is better in Colorado. And the wilderness rull that requires a nonresident to have a guide in Wyoming is an issue. But either can be a good choice. One thing I always recommend is for folks to contact the Douglas, Wyoming, Chamber of Commerce. They keep a good list of landowners that do trespass hunts and that cna be a good deal, too.

Since you're from Canada, I'd look at Alberta or B.C. I feel like those are the best hunts available and as a Canadian citizen, you have some advantages there. Given a choice, I'd hunt either of those provinces first. And don't forget Montana. It can be good if you find the right ranch.

Good luck.

martinc · Jan 31, 2005

Thanks a ICMDEER
Since I'm from Eastern Canada, outside Alberta, Saskatchewan or BC, I don't think I can hunt these provinces without a guide. They would have been my first choice.
I will research Colorado and Montana too.
I'm not looking for monster bucks since it will be my first trip out west, except for whitetail hunting in Manitoba.
I'm considering a combo mule deer/antelope, so we shold get at least an antelope if we can't find a decent muley.
Can you tell me if the Walk-in Areas in Wyoming can provide access to reasonable pronghorn and mule deer hunting ? I don't mind walking a few miles into BLM or other available land...

martin

SMELLYBUCK · Jan 31, 2005

i'm sending you a pm

martinc · Jan 31, 2005

tx
do you remember which unit you were hunting ?

ICMDEER · Feb 1, 2005

I've posted this before, but in our area, the walk in areas are a poor place to hunt. I'd recommend BLM or U.S. Forest Service lands long before I ever hunted a walk-in area. The walk in areas are mostly pretty small and open country and they get so much pressure that there's not many critters left on them after daylight the first day. You might find something passing through, but there are better choices. Good luck and shoot me a PM if you decide to head this way.

Jim

txhunter58 · Feb 1, 2005

No, I don't remember the specific unit(s) that we hunted. They were all west or northwest of Cody. None of the areas we hunted were in Wilderness. However, we did use a guide and had horses. Dean Johnson outfitting was who we used.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)