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Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 8pm MT - Bear, deer, elk, moose, pronghorn, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep and mountain goat limited license application deadline (Primary Draw) . Colorado: Colorado has a mule deer population between 400,000 and 450,000 animals, and this state has produced more record mule deer than any other. Just scout, you already have the points, in fact a few too many. Our private ranches in Rand, CO, host mule deer hunting. Should you choose to stay with us, you will have a hearty breakfast each day prior to heading out to camp as well as a packed lunch to take with you. And everything about the pursuit is big. The eastern side of the state is mainly private land, meaning you'll probably have to hire an outfitter. If an antler does not grow normally, it could be due to a stressor. The state should increase its goal to 500,000 mule deer to prevent population growth from continuing, according to this recommendation. "Hunt in units where you don't need a lot of points to draw a tag, that way you can learn the unit and learn the deer so you can come back and have a more productive hunt each time.". He said, without question, the late-January archery rut hunts are the ticket to trophy muleys. Application Fee/Terms: float state; $13/species application fee; $65 hunting license (refundable if unsuccessful); deer permit prices if drawn: $283 or $368 for quality and high-demand. Deer Hunting in Colorado GMU 7 . Overview Known For Colorado is known for its big game animals, especially trophy-class mule deer and elk. Add $1000 for 1 on 1 guided hunt. Also regular hunts 10%-60% below pricing, first come first serve until they are gone. Because of the widespread distribution of Colorado's deer herd and tags to match, hunters are somewhat relieved from the disease known as "point creep" that often hinders the prospects of planning a solid muley buck hunt. ], but I'll warn you: Early hunts on the Kaibab are extremely tough because of high hunting pressure and lack of rut activity. Deer Hunts - Colorado is know for its trophy mule deer, and we've got some of the best bucks in our units. This is especially true when hunting mule deer in Colorado. Colorado mule deer populations by unit - updated April 2020 Colorado deer populations to population objective range . Years of development and pushing the limits of what is possible in a rifle optic have led up to this moment. Todd's Loco 7x7. 61 could be a great option as you can draw deer and elk now or very soon. Elk, Deer, Buffalo, Antelope, Hogs, Moose, Turkey www.DiscountedHunts.net Hunt NOW or Plan for 2022 season. The Colorado San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests are home to excellent mule deer hunting. Most of it consists of flat farmland with adjacent sandhill desert country. The northeastern portion of the state has the highest number of pronghorn and provides an opportunity to see a large number of animals during the hunt, while still providing an opportunity at a trophy buck. Units such as 22, 11, 211, and some others in the area have high deer populations, realatively easy to draw (esp with a bow) and relatively high success rates. In 2019, there were far fewer deer than in any year I have ever seen in Colorado. Guided mule deer hunts in Western Colorado have seen a 90% to 100% success rate over the last two years. Kevin Steele from Petersen's HUNTING speaks to Jordan Egli of Burris Optics about the all-new Veracity PH Riflescope. All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. First, remember that Colorado offers over-the-counter (OTC) elk licenses for many units during the archery, second rifle and third rifle seasons. Best caliber for Colorado Mule Deer. Western Kansas consists mainly of private ground, so hiring an outfitter or knowing the right farmer is your ticket. A 2:1 client to guide ratio ensures that we are prepared to handle any clients who come in by themselves or with a group. Five units (4, 13, 22, 85, and 421) were among the top units for both the second and third rifle seasons in terms of overall Bull Elk harvest as well as hunter success for the second and third rifle seasons. If you were born after January 1 1949 you will need a valid Hunter's safety Card (from any state) to purchase a hunting license. Limited-entry permits use a modified bonus point system in which 50 percent of permits go to applicants with maximum points, while the remaining 50 percent of tags are allocated in a random draw. Colorado limited archery season license change 2019 to 2020 All limited archery licenses by region; Region: 2019: 2020: Total change: Percent change: NW: 4,431: 4,306-125 Publisher, Kevin Steele is with Brett Marquardt from Streamlight Inc. discussing the new Streamlight Pro Tac 2.0, the latest edition in the Pro Tac series. later Cow elk start at $2000, bull Elk $3000, Mule Deer $2195, Antelope $1495, Whitetail $1495 on private land. The early hunts are difficult for mule deer hunting no matter where you're at, but late-October and early November seasons are highly sought after. The bad news is it can take decades to draw a coveted tag in some of the premium units. The fat on a mule deer cannot be removed after it has come off the ground following a long winter. These private land hunts take place in GMU # 99, 104, 105, 106 and 110. Each fall, hunters from all over the country, and around the world, set their sights on the mountains, valleys, and wide-open spaces of the West in search of adventure, camaraderie, a world-class trophy, and the opportunity to fill the freezer with lean protein. Take Unit 49 1 st season rifle. Mule deer hunting is for those who enjoy large game, with minimal patience. Here at Kiowa Creek Outfitters, our deer quality continues to improve. 5. Colorado is one of only a few states that allows hunting of mule deer by nonresidents. Add $500 for a combo hunt. Habitat Stamp (required for adults to apply) One thing to remember about units that have large portions of high elevation roadless or wilderness type country is this can make for an extremely physically demanding hunt. Mountain Hunts - GMU's (Game Management Units) 6,16,17,171. These hunts take place in Late September/Early October and November during . Wyomings Elk Area 7, south of Casper, is a large unit with lots of elk and is about half public land. Units We Deer Hunt: 22, 32, 33 and 42. . With our fully guided, private land archery, muzzleloading, and rifle deer hunts, we can provide you with a price range from $6,500 to $9,000 per person, depending on where you choose to camp and the location where you choose to hunt. Not only are hunting licenses among the cheapest in the West and readily available, there are also plenty of bears. Preference points are not required for Colorado residents to apply in the 2021 lottery. Additional days are available as season permits for $700 per day per hunter. There is no one definitive answer to the question of what caused this difficult season, despite the fact that many factors contributed to it. Theres good news and bad news for hunters who want to pursue mule deer in the west, however. This is a decrease of 12.28 percent from 2018 when 11,711 bucks were killed. Premium tags are usually tough to get in Utah, but Christensen hinted toward the increasing buck quality and hunting opportunities in some of the general units. When is the best time to hunt mule deer in Colorado? The number of points required to draw a white-tail deer ranges from 0 to 2, while the number of points required to draw a mule deer ranges from 2 to 6. "But they expect to get a chance to shoot a high-quality [trophy] deer.". In fact, six of the top 20 typical mule deer bucks of all time, and seven of the top . "We carefully regulate harvest, hence the quality of deer hunting right now" explained Colorado Big-Game Manager Andy Holland. Deposit: $1,500 of the total hunt cost including taxes and a signed contract is required at the time of reservation ($2,000 deposit for Unit 76 hunts). The state does have a Walk-In Hunting Access program and some state wildlife areas in mule-deer country, but it's fragmented and probably highly pressured. It provides them with everything they require to survive, including leaves, stems, and young twigs that they use to browse for food and cover up. If you only have 2 in your group, we may add 2 other hunters to the camp. Colorado Corner Crossing - Here We Go Again. It has become more difficult to access land on the Plains simply due to supply and demand. A tough winter in 2016, followed by a drought that lasted more than a year and a half, cut that total by about 20,000 deer, but Utah still remains a top destination for mule deer hunters, according to Covy Jones, big-game coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Hotchkiss, CO 81419. There are numerous reasons to hunt in Colorado, but record mule deer bucks draw the most attention. 99% of all archery and muzzleloader hunts on the western side are earlier in the year during September. Mike Ornoski has bowhunted in Arizona for more than 35 years. Where we hunt in unit 62, it currently takes a nonresident one or two preference points to draw a mule deer license for the second rifle season. You may add on a bear tag with any elk or mule deer hunt. Mule Deer hunts take place on our private Ranches in Rand, CO. If there is stress during these vulnerable months, mule deer can become ill and die. The demand for hunting older age class bucks has outfitters tying up any piece of private land that has the potential to hold big, mature bucks. Now just use Google Earth and the Colorado Hunting Atlas to figure out what terrain and access appeals to you. . MDF continually works to improve habitat, control predators and counteract localized threats to mule deer throughout their range. The statewide buck tag does not allow mule deer hunting in the state's Mule Deer Conservation Areas. Years of development and pushing the limits of what is possible in a rifle optic have led up to this moment. When this doesnt happen, they often stay up in the middle transition range as long as possible, hiding from hunting pressure and preserving what winter range they have when they are forced upon it. Kevin Steele, Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING talks with JJ Reich of HEVI-Shot about the new offerings for 2023. Mule deer are a struggling North American big-game species. The adventure is big. Photo Gallery. The 2018/2019 winter was far more difficult for mule deer than previously thought. Annual Small Game Hunting License (required to apply) $86.56. Every year, thousands of hunters flock to the state in hopes of bagging a trophy mule deer. Our mule deer hunts typically achieve a 98% or higher success rate. With this information in hand, youll be ready to start planning your next mule deer hunting adventure in Colorado. Eastern Plains hunting is possible. Nonresidents can only draw muzzleloader or archery permits for mule deer, and there's a major catch: You must apply for a whitetail permit in order to apply for a muley permit (aka the $100 mule deer stamp), and your chance of drawing a whitetail permit in those five units is typically 70 percent or greater. You should be able to shoot a 300 yard rifle with accuracy due to the open terrain. You can easily spot them around in any season. Large chunks of the private land in Area 7 are enrolled in Wyomings Access Yes program, which opens private land to public hunting, with some restrictions in certain areas. The highest concentration of mule deer can be found in shrubland areas of western Colorado. It could be the result of an injury during a fight, low testosterone levels due to malnutrition, or even disease. The state offers a variety of different areas to hunt, and the deer population is healthy. . 1 Go to page. . "The draw odds are significantly higher for youth than adults for these hunts.". The deadline to submit an application is first Tuesday in April. Our success rate on mule deer and whitetail deer alike is 100%. An antler on a deer or elk would have symmetrical points, and these points would occur in typical locations. Miles Moretti, president of the Mule Deer Foundation, also showed optimism for Kaibab hunters. The best mule . Ten years ago it took 5. He specifically recommended deer hunters consider central Nevada near Austin and Eureka (units 16 and 17). Before you prepare to squeeze a trigger, consider dropping a shilling in the hat for muleys, or at least show up when it's time to cast a ballot or raise your hand when decisions are being made that impact the species. They prefer to eat plants such as grass, shrubs, and trees in search of food. Our editors have hand-picked these essential pieces of gear to make you a more successful hunter when you hit the game trails this season. Read on to discover some of the best units and areas to consider when applying for elk, mule deer, or pronghorn tags out West. This hunt is a spot-and-stalk affair; youll drive through the woods in a pickup truck or Polaris Ranger, and youll be rewarded with a mature buck. The landscape is big. You must have a Colorado mule deer license in order to hunt them. In this unit, deer summer range generally from elevations of 5,000 to 11,500 feet. Toggle navigation Walnut Hollow Country Deluxe Antler Display Mounting Kit in Solid Walnut for Mule Deer & Whitetail Deer. Residents and nonresidents with valid hunting licenses have access to a deer bag hunt. We have enjoyed close to 100% opportunity in the last 20 years. Points do not equal inches of antler or quality of hunt. In the eastern plains, it typically only takes five or six points to draw a rifle tag and zero to three points to draw an archery tag, so you can find yourself hunting big mule deer in a relatively short amount of time.". Publisher Kevin Steele is in the Beretta booth with Logan Killam, the Shotgun Product Manager, to discuss the all new Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey. This is a wilderness hunt, you are going to earn a big buck. Those late season hunts were fairly hot and dry, and although more mature bucks hit the ground than would have under normal season dates, it was not the widespread slaughter of adult bucks that could have taken place during a normal November. We are located in a haven for giant trophy mule deer. Kali Parmley, Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter speaks with Bret Maffet of Franchi Firearms to discuss the all new Momentum All Terrain Elite. If you would like access to all of our research,join today! Here at Allout Outfitters we pride ourselves in harvesting only the biggest and best. Youth Annual Small Game Hunt License (under age 18, required to apply) $1.31. The best season to hunt mule deer in Colorado is during the fall. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. What is the best OTC archery elk unit in Colorado? It's a preference point system now, whereas tags were formerly available over the counter [general]. The list of units you like will be pretty short at this point. Colorado's Best Trophy Elk Hunts. Mule Deer Hunting Location - Jackson County, CO - Units 6, 16, 17 & 171. It makes for an interesting and exciting hunt.". It will be interesting to see what happens to point creep after this year since they dropped tag numbers in so many units for Mule Deer across the state. But for the die-hard deer hunter, that might not be a bad strategy. A good strategy is to try for a rifle tag using your first three choices and then opt for muzzleloader or archery tag for last two choices. Due to the amount of snow still on the mountain slopes, the spring melt has been delayed. Guided elk hunts, with guaranteed tags on private land, are expensive; elk tags for public lands with limited access can be tough to draw; and competition from other hunters on public land with over-the-counter tags can be maddening, but elk hunting still is a passion that drives hunters from all over the country. "But unit 2C continually seems to produce the biggest bucks.". Big sagebrush, mountain-mahogany, and other woody vegetation provide the shrublands with everything they require. Western Outdoor Adventures is pleased to offer big game hunters like you some of the best Colorado Mule Deer Hunts to offer in the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Rifle seasons. The number of hunters is increasing, which has a negative impact on harvest success. In addition, the state should protect the shrublands of big sagebrush, mountain-mahogany, and bits- terbrush, as these plants provide the best habitat for mule deer. 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