The best mule deer numbers are found southeast of the Panhandle region of Idaho. You should be able to shoot a 300 yard rifle with accuracy due to the open terrain. 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. John Vore, game-management bureau chief for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department, reported some hunters tag huge mule deer bucks using boats to access the Missouri River Breaks area where the river separates regions 4 and 7 in the state. Did prior hard winters finally catch up with fewer bucks making it to maturity? "Yet, it's undersubscribed for archery, and it only takes 3 years to draw a muzzleloader tag or 5 years for a rifle tag. Application Fee/Terms: non-float state; $15/species application fee + $160 hunt/fish combo license (nonrefundable); $315 for deer permit if drawn. That means you. 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. to identify six of the top states for nonresident mule deer hunters. The state has "general-season" permits, but don't be mistaken by the lingo because these are not over-the-counter permits. 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. 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. If you're seeking a DIY adventure, Healy offered a promising factoid: 86 percent of Nevada is composed of public land. Only one hunter did not kill a bowhunter. Best Units for Hunting Western Mule Deer. While the terrain will vary throughout the trip, you should expect rough, steep, rocky areas, open . Subscriber Services. 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. In this unit, deer summer range generally from elevations of 5,000 to 11,500 feet. Colorado mule deer populations by unit - updated April 2020 Colorado deer populations to population objective range . Utah's deer management strategy changed significantly 3 years ago. The outfitter and guides will expend maximum effort in an attempt to recover your animal and will make all final determinations as to the ability of the client to continue hunting if the animal is not recovered. Mule Deer hunts take place on our private Ranches in Rand, CO. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. Posted at 01:41h . He said, without question, the late-January archery rut hunts are the ticket to trophy muleys. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Every year, thousands of hunters flock to the state in hopes of bagging a trophy mule deer. It has become more difficult to access land on the Plains simply due to supply and demand. Now just use Google Earth and the Colorado Hunting Atlas to figure out what terrain and access appeals to you. However, with Unit 49, licenses are actually up since 2010, so here it is all point creep. In the event a big game animal is wounded, your hunt is over until the animal is found. Hunters have a legitimate chance at shooting a B&C pronghorn in all GMUs that have a huntable population. Hunts are spot and stalk. He was super . What is the best OTC archery elk unit in Colorado? This region is teeming with quality deer, which can be found in a region with rich history and a breathtaking view of the Cimarron Range and the mighty San Juans. The terrain where you'll find mule deer ranges from dry, high-desert foothills to the rugged, mountainous, alpine zone. Colorado is still the best place to hunt big mule deer bucks on a regular basis and will most likely always be given the amount of habitat and lush alpine basins, but mule deer hunting is starting to resemble Colorado elk hunting more and more. Please call us at 970-746-5158 for more information on our plains deer hunts in eastern Colorado, or for a detailed itinerary. DIY Drop Camps - For the DIY hunter, our drops camps reside in proven hunting areas for elk and mule deer. Whether the tag in your pocket leads you to a comfortable lodge for a guided hunt on private land, a DIY spike camp deep in backcountry wilderness, or somewhere in between, hunting the West will grab you by the soul and easily can become a year-round obsession. In Moffat, Routt, and Eagle counties, it is estimated that 20 to 25% of hunters target deer. Jul 2, 2012. Mule Deer Hunting Location - Jackson County, CO - Units 6, 16, 17 & 171. We love guiding mule deer hunts in the famed Strip and Kaibab region (units 13A, 13B, 12AE, 12AW, 12B, 12BW) and have over three decades experience hunting this very special place. About Guy Eastman, Editor-In-Chief . There are some good hunts in the Sangre's a friend of mine did the early season rifle hunt last year packing in on horseback and he shot a really nice 180 class buck in velvet above timberline. 7 Day Rifle Package 5 Days Of Hunting Using the Colorado Hunting Map to keep track of your progress is the simplest way to do so. 13-Sep-17. The extremely later season dates in 2021 appear to indicate that things may only get worse. "Draw odds are also fair for hunters who apply for the early rifle season [Oct. 23-Nov. 1 approx. Additional days are available as season permits for $700 per day per hunter. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) was founded in 1988 as the first official nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of Odocoileus hemionus black-tailed deer and mule deer. hunters have the opportunity to see some of the most gorgeous scenery and experience some of the best hunting in Western Colorado. . There are multiple herds in several counties. Other Important Considerations. Each state has something unique to offer, so pay attention. ", For trophy hunters, Pawlak shared some helpful hints: "I really like the units in eastern Nevada around the towns of Ely and Pioche. One of the finest Colorado elk hunts is waiting for you. Tags for these hunts typically take 10 years or more to draw, but they're worthwhile hunts with excellent trophy potential if you're willing to wait.". In addition to this, parts of Colorado received over two feet of new snow in June. Back at the farmhouse, mounted racks from white-tailed bucks adorned the dining room walls. Alcazar recommended units 7 and 8 in the north-central part of the state, near the Wyoming border, for hunters looking for areas with lots of public land and good potential for trophies. Every effort will be made to recover the animal (the animal that has been wound) if you draw blood. Arizona continually makes headlines with giant muley bucks harvested in the Arizona Strip and the Kaibab Plateau. The highest concentration of mule deer can be found in shrubland areas of western Colorado. The areas with the best deer hunting on public lands are: the HD Mountains, the Piedra River, Florida River and Los Pinos drainages, and lands southeast of Pagosa Springs. Preference points are not required for Colorado residents to apply in the 2021 lottery. Every mule deer tag can be purchased during the big game draw for a limited number of exceptions. Our private ranches in Rand, CO, host mule deer hunting. From applying for tags early in the year, to buying, preparing, and organizing new gear through the summer, to the trip, long or short, to the hunting grounds, to the excitement that makes it almost impossible to sleep the night before opening day, the anticipation of the hunt can be almost as enjoyable as the hunt itself. In terms of mule deer hunting, Colorado is generally considered to have some of the best deer hunting in the country. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports some herds have up to 24,000 mule deer! This camp is where the big bucks call home for the summer and early fall. Colorado Mule Deer Hunting License fee structure is as follows: DEER. By Josh Dahlke. State wildlife managers are proactively managing predator populations and experimenting with deer trap-and-transplant efforts, with the goal of successfully relocating urban deer back to the sticks. These private land hunts take place in GMU # 99, 104, 105, 106 and 110. This is a wilderness hunt, you are going to earn a big buck. The state should increase its goal to 500,000 mule deer to prevent population growth from continuing, according to this recommendation. Trophy Mule Deer In Colorado's Famed Unit 21 - Worldwide Trophy Adventures. We can help you register for the draw. Most hunts that take 10 points or less tend to hover aroundthe same amount of points to draw for a number of years without increasing. | Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. You may add on a bear tag with any elk or mule deer hunt. Colorado is the ideal hunting destination for those looking to hunt mule deer. Deer Hunting in Colorado GMU 7 . A hunting license and a valid firearm permit are required for hunting deer. Todd's Loco 7x7. Also nearby, you can also enjoy some exceptional post-hunt trout fishing on the banks of the San Juan river. Buy On Amazon. Being small in size, they are easy to hunt. - Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge in Okmulgee. My adventure took place in the Sandhills of Nebraska, and after long days of spotting and stalking in subzero temperatures, I was blessed to kill a mature muley buck. Wyoming offers large expanses of public land, mostly in the western part of the state, and produces lots of record-book bucks. Combine the rain with two consecutive mild winters with high fawn survival and Utah deer are seeing a bright spot, but Moretti balanced his optimism with caution: "Like anywhere in the West, we can turn right around and end up in a drought or get a hard winter, either of which could wipe out the gains we've made.". This allows these hunters to capitalize on having first crack at the deer before they realize hunting season is upon them. Montana has a lot of country and . Well take care of you every step of the way to ensure you have the best chance at success when your big moment comes. 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. Annual Small Game Hunting License (required to apply) $86.56. Our magazine, which is available in print and online, has everything in one location -application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions, other tag opportunities, hunt planning, and much more. He had two suggestions for hunters who approach drawing an elk tag in different ways in the state. Most unsuccessful applicants from last year are hoping things reverse for point creep this year with so many high point applicants burning points in 2021, but not so fast. Currently my partner and I have 4 points but someday when we have "max" points we are planning on going on a two week backcountry hunt to try and kill a pair of velvet giants. Kali Parmley, Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter speaks with Bret Maffet of Franchi Firearms to discuss the all new Momentum All Terrain Elite. The deposit is non-refundable. With strong herd numbers in Northwest Colorado, our hunts offer exceptional opportunities for success. A 12 point deer is commonly referred to as one of the Souths or Midwests deer. A trophy neither of us have ever had the opportunity to accomplish. As a mentor, these hunts present an ideal opportunity to enjoy a hunt with a kid and learn more about an area for future hunts. 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. But with so much public land and so many different types of terrain, it can be hard to know where to start. . Although we wont see the same jump in points required to draw certain units from 2021, we are not likely to see hunts get easier to draw unless quality is not there. Hunt over tens of thousands of private acres in beautiful southwestern Colorado. Due to the amount of snow still on the mountain slopes, the spring melt has been delayed. Overview Known For Colorado is known for its big game animals, especially trophy-class mule deer and elk. Despite the fact that the hunting pressure was higher, fewer people left the state during the 2017-2018 season. But if you're willing to do your homework and patiently accumulate bonus points, you could find yourself hunting some of the biggest bucks in the country. "Ninety-seven percent of deer licenses can be drawn with zero to three points. With this information in hand, youll be ready to start planning your next mule deer hunting adventure in Colorado. The mule deer is a native Western North American species found west of the 100th meridian between 23 and 60 degrees north; a buck mule deer weighs 130 to 280 pounds; its name derives from its large ears that resemble those of a mule. Keep in mind we are non-residents and the tag quota will need to be factored in. October 30 - November - 7. Pronghorn tags in both states can be very difficult to draw. Since then, MDF has gathered the grassroots support of more than 150 chapters with nearly 50,000 members nationwide. 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. GMU's 1, 2, 201 - If you have the points saved up, we hunt some of the best trophy elk and deer units in Colorado. Send us an email at [email protected] to learn more. Hunting out West can be a daunting task without the tools necessary to know when, where and how to apply, draw and hunt. "Since 2012, nobody has drawn a mule deer tag in the Arizona Strip [units 13A and 13B] with less than 15 points," explained Eric Pawlak, manager of Cabela's T.A.G.S. This is a decrease of 12.28 percent from 2018 when 11,711 bucks were killed. Its often reported the state is home to more pronghorn than people in a good weather year. The good news is many Western states have huge mule deer herds and produce phenomenal bucks. Nonresidents can apply for preference points for $92, plus a $9 fee per species, and residents can do the same for $92. Walnut Hollow Country Deluxe Antler Display Mounting Kit in Solid Walnut for Mule Deer & Whitetail Deer. The eastern plains and the Western Slope are among the best places to see whiteheads. There is no reason to believe that warmer weather contributed to the difficult 2019 season. The up-and-coming units in Arizona are 6A, 8, and 5BS.. 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.". 4. The Grand Canyon States animal population ranges between 85,000 and 100,000. (580-512-7004; stuartranchoutfitters.com), Ouachita Mountains/Arkansas River Valley Region, The Choctaw Hunting Lodge is located in Pittsburg, Okla., and situated on 44,000 privately owned acres. Lydia Decaria, license sales representative with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, said Pronghorn Area 73, north of Casper, is very popular with hunters because it has huge tracts of Bureau of Land Management property. Moretti also noted the prowess of eastern Nevada, pointing to solid spring rainfalls in 2015 as an indicator that bucks should be packing on healthy headgear. Publisher Kevin Steele is in the Beretta booth with Logan Killam, the Shotgun Product Manager, to discuss the all new Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey. Most of it consists of flat farmland with adjacent sandhill desert country. Colorado-Gunnison Basin Mule Deer (Units 54, 55, 66, 67) - Worldwide Trophy Adventures. Elk Venison and Root Vegetable Stew Recipe, Predator Hunting with .17 Caliber Rifle: Pros and Cons, Best Coyote Cartridge: .223 Remington vs .22-250 Remington, Six Great Lever-Gun Hunts for North America, Desert Ghosts: Hunting the Elusive Coues Deer, Tested Tough - Modern Zeiss Sports Optics. However, as noted above, if you want to hunt mule deer in Kansas, you'd better cross your fingers and plan to hunt whitetails. Kevin Steele, Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING talks with JJ Reich of HEVI-Shot about the new offerings for 2023. Years of development and pushing the limits of what is possible in a rifle optic have led up to this moment. 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. Fully Guided, Elk, Mule Deer or Bear Hunt - 7 Day package - (Wilderness camp) $4950 per hunter at 2 hunters per 1 guide. Theres good news and bad news for hunters who want to pursue mule deer in the west, however. 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. Kevin Steele stops by the Taurus booth to speak with Cody Osborn about the all new Raging Hunter platform from Taurus International. "The draw odds are significantly higher for youth than adults for these hunts.". Units 62/65 in southwest Colorado are ideal for spotting mule deer and have numerous breeding grounds. Until the 1980s, the White River herd in western Colorados Piceance Basin had consistently ranked among the countrys largest and most productive deer herds, unofficially ranking it as the largest and most productive deer herd on the continent. There are a lot of public land in Wyoming that can be accessed as walk-in hunting areas. The quality of the trophy Arizona Strip bucks found in unit 13B can be fantastic. Add $500 for a combo hunt. If you would like access to all of our research,join today! Kevin Steele, Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING talks with JJ Reich of HEVI-Shot about the new offerings for 2023. Trouble is, drawing a tag in these coveted areas ranges from extremely difficult to almost impossible. 1 Go to page. The state of Colorado has a number of reasons to be concerned about the mule deer population and their environment. High Mountain Hunts, LLC is an equal opportunity provider operating under a special use permit with the San Juan National Forest and the Rio Grande National Forest. This prime country allows us to offer trophy deer (mule deer & whitetail), pronghorn and spring turkey hunts on the eastern plains for archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunters. 970-250-0569. trophyhunts@gmail.com. Our Base Camp sits at 8400 ft. From this camp you will be hunting some of the best Mule Deer country in Colorado. We exclusively hunt GMU 76, 77, 78, and 771. Cedar City, UT 84721 "I think western Kansas offers some of the best whitetail hunting in the entire state, and Kansas is a whitetail-hunting mecca," Pawlak explained. Beginners usually hunt mule deer after some guidance before going for any . Wyomings Elk Area 7, south of Casper, is a large unit with lots of elk and is about half public land. . In a hunt . 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