Looking for Good Outfitter

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TexHunter

New Member
Dec 26, 2016
7
0
I am looking for a good outfitter for a mule deer hunt. I have been on 4 mule deer hunts and I am 0 for 4. I've been on 2 DIY hunts in Colorado and 2 guided hunts in New Mexico. With the hunt this last year being a complete joke. So looking for an outfitter that runs a good.operation and I have a legitimate chance at a good mule deer. So far the best muley I have seen was a 120 class 5x5 in Colorado on one of the DIY hunts.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Hilltop

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
3,845
2,228
Eastern Nebraska
Hi Tex,

Do you have any Preference Points in any western states? Some of the best hunts will take place in areas where points will be required to draw the tag.
 
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TexHunter

New Member
Dec 26, 2016
7
0
No, preference points. I know that is a bit of an issue but was hoping to find a hunt with a land owner tag or guide tag. An I am open to any state and Canada as long as there is a good opportunity to harvest a Mule deer. I have been "Jonsing" for a Mule Deer for a number of years now. There are some hunts out in the Trans Pecos area of Texas but a lot of the hunts I found that were interesting were booked 2 and 3 years out.
 
brianboh

brianboh

Active Member
Jun 4, 2015
396
1
Powell, Wyoming
TexHunter said:
No, preference points. I know that is a bit of an issue but was hoping to find a hunt with a land owner tag or guide tag. An I am open to any state and Canada as long as there is a good opportunity to harvest a Mule deer. I have been "Jonsing" for a Mule Deer for a number of years now. There are some hunts out in the Trans Pecos area of Texas but a lot of the hunts I found that were interesting were booked 2 and 3 years out.
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If money was not an option I would go to alberta
 
Hilltop

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
3,845
2,228
Eastern Nebraska
TexHunter said:
No, preference points. I know that is a bit of an issue but was hoping to find a hunt with a land owner tag or guide tag. An I am open to any state and Canada as long as there is a good opportunity to harvest a Mule deer. I have been "Jonsing" for a Mule Deer for a number of years now. There are some hunts out in the Trans Pecos area of Texas but a lot of the hunts I found that were interesting were booked 2 and 3 years out.
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I'm sorry but can't help. Everyone I would recommend would require points to draw a tag.
 
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Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
4
Oregon
TexHunter said:
... a lot of the hunts I found that were interesting were booked 2 and 3 years out.
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The best ones often are... Have hunted with these guys, had two great MD hunts, smaller family run outfit. http://www.mackinoutfitting.com/ Been a few years, but may be worth a check. They did offer hi success for 165-185 bucks. Be in decent shape and able to shoot to 350-400 if needed, absent weather or a winter die off, you should get a nice buck.
 
mntnguide

mntnguide

Very Active Member
Feb 21, 2011
979
165
The mountains of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
If $ isn't much of an issue...plenty of landowner guided tags in Utah/Colorado/Idaho with great mule deer hunting...you need to narrow your preferences etc down in order to help settle. But for the right $$$ you can have just about as big a muley as you could want without preference points in those states

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
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sheephunter

Active Member
Jan 29, 2012
245
10
Colorado
mntnguide said:
If $ isn't much of an issue...plenty of landowner guided tags in Utah/Colorado/Idaho with great mule deer hunting...you need to narrow your preferences etc down in order to help settle. But for the right $$$ you can have just about as big a muley as you could want without preference points in those states

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
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What he said. Additionally (but only if $$ is not an issue) check out the Ranching For Wildlife ranches here in CO. They charge big moolah but have long season dates (read that as "hunt the rut").
 
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TexHunter

New Member
Dec 26, 2016
7
0
sheephunter said:
What he said. Additionally (but only if $$ is not an issue) check out the Ranching For Wildlife ranches here in CO. They charge big moolah but have long season dates (read that as "hunt the rut").
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Not sure how much these hunts cost but I will check into these and the Utah, Idaho and Colorado hunts. I have budgeted 5k to7k for my next hunt. Not sure if that's enough for some of the hunts everyone has suggested but I appreciate the feedback.
 
7 Mag

7 Mag

New Member
Dec 22, 2015
41
0
Indiana
I agree with everyone and I'll add Montana to your list to check into. Tags aren't that difficult to obtain and the outfitter I hunted with was hidden valley outfitters. Good luck!
 
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Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
4
Oregon
TexHunter said:
Not sure how much these hunts cost but I will check into these and the Utah, Idaho and Colorado hunts. I have budgeted 5k to7k for my next hunt. Not sure if that's enough for some of the hunts everyone has suggested but I appreciate the feedback.
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You might consider using a hunting consultant. Generally no added cost to you. The good ones know their outfitters. I've used Crosshair Consulting several times in past seasons, Wade is a solid guy, there are others, like Jack Atcheson & Sons, Inc., etc. If you ask for a high success MD hunt for 150-170 type bucks, odds are your budget is plenty. If they produce bigger bucks regularly, costs go up quickly. The Alberta outfitter I shared earlier, is a legit hi success 165-185 producer, with an occasional 190-200, and was $6,500 last I checked.

Hope you find the muley you seek.
 
Finsandtines

Finsandtines

Very Active Member
Jun 16, 2015
587
178
Florida
For what it's worth, if I had that budget, I would probably lean toward Alberta, then Colorado. Although the scenery may be better in co.
 
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TexHunter

New Member
Dec 26, 2016
7
0
Mule Deer

Tim McCoy said:
You might consider using a hunting consultant. Generally no added cost to you. The good ones know their outfitters. I've used Crosshair Consulting several times in past seasons, Wade is a solid guy, there are others, like Jack Atcheson & Sons, Inc., etc. If you ask for a high success MD hunt for 150-170 type bucks, odds are your budget is plenty. If they produce bigger bucks regularly, costs go up quickly. The Alberta outfitter I shared earlier, is a legit hi success 165-185 producer, with an occasional 190-200, and was $6,500 last I checked.

Hope you find the muley you seek.
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Thanks for all the suggestions and help. I checked with the outfitter you recommended and they were already booked foe 2017. So there was another outfitter out of Alberta that I have found recommenations on in numerous places. Including this thread so I just booked a 6 day hunt with him. Again thanks for all the feedback and help from everyone. If I do any good I will be posting pics next September.
 
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TexHunter

New Member
Dec 26, 2016
7
0
Mule Deer

cmbbulldog said:
Who did you book with?
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I ended up booking with Mikes Outfitting in Alberta. His name came up everywhere I looked. Including a hunting forum based here in Texas. The excitement of just booking the hunt has already put out the flames from this year's debacle in Chama New Mexico. So hopefully I can finally harvest a respectable muley.
Again thanks to everyone for the help.
 
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