Colorado Mule deer hunting

awvskeeter · Jan 30, 2005

Me and my brother are wanting to plan a hunting trip to Colorado to hunt mule deer and elk. We are from West Virginia and have never hunted in the west before. We hunt deer here and know that it is going to be a big change from where we are used to hunting. We have talked to some game wardens over the phone and they are recommending unit 24. We don't care if we kill anything but would like to see some beautiful country and see lots of game. I have been lucky enough to take several 160 whitetail bucks in WV with a bow and would like to have a big mule deer to go with them. We will be hunting with a rifle but would like to find a good place to return with a bow. I know the odds are against getting one but we all get to dream. Does anybody here have any advice. I don't want specific areas just units or any info on unit 24. Thanks guys and this is a great web site.

hornaddiction · Jan 30, 2005

You do know that you have to apply for all deer tags in Colorado don't you?

Horn
www.trophiesonthewall.com

awvskeeter · Jan 30, 2005

Yes we were wondering wich unit to apply in.

cohntr6 · Jan 30, 2005

There are a bunch of units you can draw very easily. Some units there are plenty of leftover tags that you can buy in August. My point is if you miss the April deadline you can still get a buck tag in certain units. As far as units... there are only a handful that you will not draw (at least in this lifetime!) so that leaves a large part of the state open to hunt. I tend to hunt the later rifle seasons (3rd or 4th) because I like snow, cold temperatures, closer to the rut, etc (not that snow and cold are likely during 2nd rifle). Do you have a preference? 4th buck rifle tags are even more limited and not even offered in some units. Sorry I am not familiar with unit 24. My suggestion would be to go to CDOW's website and look at the harvest statistics and find a unit or units that produce. Here it is: www.wildlife.state.co.us
look at the left side and go to hunting-->big game--> then look for stats.

Jeff

bowhuntinnut · Jan 31, 2005

Unit 24 is has the Flattops wilderness and is full of elk, the deer hunting is ok but it is not really the place i would go for a good muley buck. If you are planning the rifle hunt you better like to hunt in a crowd because this unit is insane during the gun hunt. If your willing to get off the road and do some hiking then you will see game but you have to beat the other hunters to them. I would recomend that you find an area other than this if deer are your first interest. If elk are on the top of the list then this is the place to go if ya don't mind shooting a 4 or 5 point bull. There are just so many elk here that the deer have not done as well in the past ten years.

awvskeeter · Jan 31, 2005

I really appricate the help it is very hard find good info. We really just want to trying a hunt out west and plan on doing alot of walking. We hunt some pretty remote areas here in WV but I know its nothing like out there. Thanks for the help. You have to remember that the biggest animal we have here is a 200 pound whitetail a 5x5 bull elk would be huge to us. Thanks again.

azridgerunner · Jan 31, 2005

Skeeter,
I hunted Colorado only once. I drew unit 54. Its just north of Gunnison. I am used to hunting AZ and going to Colorado was like hunting in a zoo. During a couple days of scouting before the hunt I found nice 4 X 4s walking around feeding along the roads and herds of does and spike bucks around. I took a 173" typical 4 X 4. Huge deer. Looks great on the wall. If I do it again, I'll put in for unit 54. Lots of sage and deer can be glassed up easily. If you don't have good binos and a tripod, get some. You'll have a blast. Enjoy.

searcher · Jan 31, 2005

Skeeter

These guys are probably right about 24 being crowded in gun season. I hunted above Deep Lake in 1997 first gun season and it was tough to find a place where you could camp there were so many others in there. It is popular because of the lake and supposedly Teddy Roosevelt hung out in the area. I have not been back since. I am a WV native. I know a lot of mountaineers hunt in CO so you should be able to hook up with someone locally to get some advice from. Send me a private email if you want to.

Searcher

walltenthunter · May 29, 2005

Try units 36 and 37 around State Bridge. This over the past 40 years has produced many, many, many large muleys, and there is a good deal of national forest lands. A couple of years ago there were leftover tags for at least one of these units. Other options would be units 23 or 11. 23 is near Meeker, and 11 is in the Piceance Creek area. In 23 about 14 years ago I shot one whale of a buck on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area just east of Meeker. Bucks I find are often lower in elevation that elk, so transtion zones between sage and pines are good. In 11 get away from all the oil rigs (UGGG!!! ATVers and hunt opposite to where all the other hunters go, a good stategy anywhere. Around State Bridge between there and the unit boundary to the east I have hunted south and found deer. These units I mention have been in the best Colorado deer units for the past 50 years. Great genetics and alot of public lands. Don't let anyone tell you there are not big bucks on public lands. Where they are is where the hunters are not, remote draws, stair step canyons where they lay on stair steps in elevation, and where there is not a road for a mile or 2.

Enjoy. The good ol' days are back for Colorado.