Colorado unit 38 4th rifle Deer.

Cohunter22 · Aug 12, 2022

Hey all, I have looked through a lot of posts here already about this topic but I didn't see anything very recently. Does anyone have any tips for this season? Not spots, but things to look for, elevations, terrain etc. I understand weather is a huge factor but I am relatively new to mule deer hunting. Not sure if this would be worth spending time up there during 4th rifle given the fact most of the public land is pretty high.

Lots of public land up higher 9000-1000 ft it looks like. I know golden gate SP allows hunting but I figure that's a pretty crowded spot even with the 35 hunter limit. Anyways, sorry to bring up this topic again, just mainly want to get some information as to how the deer behavior would be up in that unit that late in the season.

Thanks in advance!

-Chris

liecabucks · Aug 12, 2022

You’ll catch a few up that high but most will be low, chasing does and doing what they do that time of year, which is transitioning to the winter range.

Cohunter22 · Aug 12, 2022

That's about what I figured. Didnt draw any deer tag this year so if I want to hunt, I may just have to hope some are up high.

Thanks!

HntHrdr · Aug 12, 2022

38/29 are difficult units. On one hand you can get a tag and “hunt” close to home for a front ranger on the other hand that is some of the most crowed public land period, from bikers to hikers to other hunters. I’ve done it a couple times and it’s a sh*t show. The orange army is out in force that for sure and there is only so much public for them to recreate on. Private land owners get crazy up there too, so make sure you know where you are standing. Sorry to be a Debbie downer, but there is a reason those tags make it through to the leftover list every year

Cohunter22 · Aug 12, 2022

HntHrdr said:
38/29 are difficult units. On one hand you can get a tag and “hunt” close to home for a front ranger on the other hand that is some of the most crowed public land period, from bikers to hikers to other hunters. I’ve done it a couple times and it’s a sh*t show. The orange army is out in force that for sure and there is only so much public for them to recreate on. Private land owners get crazy up there too, so make sure you know where you are standing. Sorry to be a Debbie downer, but there is a reason those tags make it through to the leftover list every year

Thank you for the response, I kinda got that feeling from the other posts I have read as well. I knew looking at the leftover list they were there for a reason and if I had gotten the tag I wanted, I wouldn't even be thinking about that unit. It might have to be a weekday trip for me.

HntHrdr · Aug 12, 2022

Weekday is the best bet… just know that 4th rifle falls on thanksgiving week, so probably lots of others off. If you don’t have a wife I’d hunt thanksgiving day… I’d bet it’s pretty empty up there then.