Early season COLORADO bow hunt

[eieibow]

I have 9 preference points for Colorado mule deer and am looking to use them this year for a early season bowhunt. This will be my 1st mule deer hunt and I'm not looking for a huge deer just a respectable pope and young. The 2 units that I'm looking at are 61 and 21, any thoughts or suggestions on these or other units?

 

[racksackssales]

Nothing more intoxicating than golden aspens and bugling bulls!

 

[BOHNTR]

Of those two units, I would choose 61 over 21.

 

[mnhoundman]

Not to turn you away, but before burning all those points it would be wise to get a year or two under your belt. There is a learning curve, that's what they told me and were they right! I burned my point in Wyoming on my first hunt and wished I wouldn't have, I have learned a ton in the last two years. It's just my opinion on what I experienced, 9 year's of points is a long wait! Hope this helps.

Oh and welcome to the forum, there is a new member introduction thread, it really helps to give an intro!

 

[JimP]

For hunting mule deer even a respectable Pope and Young deer is going to be a little hard to come by on a first time hunt into a area that you don't know.

I have a area that I have hunted enough that I have named a number of the trees along with the draws and smaller hill tops and while it has a good share of Pope and Young bucks along with some Booners you see them very seldom and feel lucky if you manage to get one every 5 or more years.

So before I burned my points on a recommendation of a internet forum I would take a vacation into the area and see just what it has to offer and see if it is what I expect.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Seems like your'e setting the bar pretty high for your first mule deer hunt.

 

[Slugz]

Heed the advice unless you have a ton of experience under your belt......figure the GMU you want to target mule deer in and maybe elk hunt it a few years...get to know the lay of the land and pattern some animals moving.....that being said 61 and 21 would not be at the top of my list for a deer hunt..just me though.

 

[Slugz]

Nothing more intoxicating than golden aspens and bugling bulls!

I though he was mule deer hunting.

 

[JimP]

I though he was mule deer hunting.

And early before the aspens turned gold.

I should also say to the OP, there are a lot of units here in Colorado that you can pick up a leftover tag for after you get yourself another PP, just to get your feet wet.

 

[gypsumreaper]

I agree, I picked up a leftover archery tag my first year bow hunting because I didn't draw my rifle Muley. Needless to say I was way outa my element I had hunted elk for a year with a bow and figured having both tags wouldn't hurt. Well bow hunting deer in the same areas I rifle hunted was a huge change it kicked my but and glad i didn't use pp to get the archery tag. I did kill a decent 4x4 buck luckily but I spent around 20 of the 30 day season on the mountain and killed my buck 3 days before the season close. Don't use ur points and get ur feet wet or hire a guide to take you out if you are serious about it. Even a semi guided horseback hung can get you deep into the mountains provide all ur gear and the guide in camp gives you suggestions where to go and cares for the horses while you hunt ur way.


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[Umpqua Hunter]

I hunted 61 for elk a couple years ago (muzzleloader season), and saw a handful of respectable bucks but the archery deer guys I spoke to said the unit was down. I have heard the same for 21 of the past few years.

Last day to modify apps is April 11.

 

[az.mountain runner]

Don't understand if it takes time to draw a tag how are you going to get a 1 or 2 year learning curve?mnhoundsman

 

[gypsumreaper]

He has 9 pp right now to draw the tag, he could probably get the tag now, but we're all suggesting to get a leftover tag if possibly and book 1-2 more pp before burning points on a unit. Instead of burning points on a tag on an animal with minimal experience


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[JimP]

^^^^^^^^^^This exactly^^^^^^^^^^

There are quite a few units in Colorado that you can draw as a second choice after you get your PP on the first choice, and have a chance to see a Pope and Young buck in it.

I did that for 14 yeas as I was building points before I drew the unit that I wanted to hunt during the late deer season.

 

[Slugz]

Don't understand if it takes time to draw a tag how are you going to get a 1 or 2 year learning curve?mnhoundsman

Leftover, late season, hunt other species. Colorado I would argue is the only state you could hunt the same camp year after year multiple species and have many options. For example my primary draw is a limited archery tag for elk, if I don't draw it I can grab a leftover bull/cow rifle tag and still hunt the same area just a different season. While doing that (for 3-4 years) I've been scouting muleys and will then spend my points in there if i think its worth it. I have a solid knowledge of animal movement and terrain by now. On seasons the whole plan falls apart I will grab a bear tag and archery hunt. This plan puts me in the woods every September either hunting or watching Mr Elk. Add in the insane blue grouse (dusky) hunting and I can keep busy.

I've used this plan to gain knowledge on my primary hunting GMU and 3 other backups.

 

[mnhoundman]

He has 9 pp right now to draw the tag, he could probably get the tag now, but we're all suggesting to get a leftover tag if possibly and book 1-2 more pp before burning points on a unit. Instead of burning points on a tag on an animal with minimal experience


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Yeah that's what I was getting at, lots of points invested for no experience. I did that and was the wrong choice, you learn alot even in one year. My opinion having done that a couple years ago

 

[racksackssales]

Most people who bowhunt elk prefer to call or chase them when they are bugling, rutting, and chasing cows around. They enjoy the excitement and thrill of hearing thunderous bull elk talk echoing through the trees and canyons.

 

[hferrin701]

I echo BOHNTR, go with 61

 

[SouthForkguy]

couldn't agree more

 

[CoHiCntry]

61 is no slam dunk! You better have something going for you as far as Intel, trespass hunt, guide etc. Most guys I've talked to are really disappointed with there hunt for mule deer in 61. Of course there's also a few that get lucky and there are some big deer. I talked to several member of Huntin Fool that drew a couple years ago. All but one were not happy with the hunt. The only guy I talked to that as happy shot a 170 deer & so did his son.