OTC DIY Rifle/Muzzleoader Mule Deer State?

[tinkystuff 123]

I have never been out west & I have been wanting to hunt mule deer out there. I want to do rifle or muzzleloader on public land & hoping to get a 140' or better I'm also wanting have a good experience as well. I have also thought about doing the guide/outfitter thing but it is a little expensive & really not my style (I have not ruled this out yet) I have been researching different states & I'm having a really hard time narrowing my search down to 1 state or 2. This is what I have so far:
Nebraska- Buffalo OTC or Republican MDCA Draw Advice?
Idaho-I heard not to hard to get a tag? Units-43,44,48,49,39,52?
Washington- easy to get a tag but confusing, lots of hunters?
Utah- Heard good things any advice?
Colorodo & Wyoming- Good hunting, Hard to get a tag? is it worth the wait? Does OTC exist?
N.Dakota, S. Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico- Any advice?
If anyone knows a state that I left out that is good let me know, I'm open to any suggestions. Some of the states are better or worse than others for certain reasons easy tag, good deer, lots of public access etc. or hard to draw, confusing systems, which units to try to get etc. So again I'm just trying to narrow it down so I concentrate on 1 or 2.
I thought about starting to apply for draw for 1 future hunt & Hopefully buying 1 OTC for this year

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

No OTC deer tags in Colorado.

 

[Tim McCoy]

It is not OTC, but has been a 100% draw, MT Deer Combo tag. $600 ish. Loads of Block Managenent areas where a 140" mulie is a very reasonable goal. Some of the enrolled ranches have MD and WT.

 

[Hilltop]

Welcome to the forum tinky. Please drop an introduction in our new members section. Many people come on asking for advice and then leave- our long term members are more likely to help if a person invests a little time in the site.

In my opinion you should take a look at Montana. Expensive but easy to get tags with the kind of hunting your looking for.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree on Montana, for your goals it'd be a good place to start.


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[gonhunting247]

I think I'd put in for CO and MT with the idea of going to MT (General deer) this year and drawing a mid tier CO draw tag in a few years. There's lots of other options too, but that would be my first choices.

 

[TimberJunkie]

Montana is a good bet. We average about a 120" to 140" buck every year. We see some in the 160" range. There is tons of open country. Spotting a buck is easy, closing the distance with a muzzie is a little harder. We can usually get within 250 yds for a shot, but practice and train to around 500 yds. Most of Eastern Montana is general deer tag, and lots of private ground is open to hunt through the state Block Management program. March 15 is draw deadline, in recent years the have been some leftover tags, but deer only go fast, there is a a limited number of deer only tags compared to big game combo. If you decide to go this route PM me. We can get more specific about areas.

 

[ore hunter]

plenty of area in Idaho otc "b" or "A" tag areas.Id recommend some easy to draw units in utahs general but u gotta put in by tomorrow.

 

[tinkystuff 123]

Ok I will do that. Just found this site recently. looks like it has some good info!

 

[tinkystuff 123]

Thanks Timber Junkie, Looks like I'm going to have to act fast to meet the March 15 deadline. I'm going to start researching MT Let me know of any good areas to start looking into

 

[oldschool.06]

I hunted Montana last year it was really fun 4 out of the 7 guys that went got one . They arent the hugest bucks but all were 4 pointers or better . Im all about the meat compared to the trophy aspect of it ..although who wouldnt like to have a big mount lol

 

[joens]

You will not be disappointed in a beginner DIY hunt in southeast Montana . You will see deer . and you will likely shoot something . The later weeks of the season will be better. And just like anywhere . the better you get to know the area the better your chance of getting a bigger deer .

 

[maximus]

if you like to try bowhunting here in arizona you have 3 weeks in august and a month in january during the rut,

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

+25 on Montana for the hunt you are looking for

 

[luckynv]

You are beyond the deadline but many units in Utah are easy to get with little or no points muzzleloader general tag. You still may be in time to buy a point for next year. Good luck and God bless

 

[genesis27:3]

Thanks Timber Junkie, Looks like I'm going to have to act fast to meet the March 15 deadline. I'm going to start researching MT Let me know of any good areas to start looking into

If you're going to do some of your own research, which is the best thing you can do, and want to know of good areas to start looking. One place to look is goHunt.com/insider. There is a yearly subscription, but the information given is well worth the cost. It will break things down for you pretty good.

 

[480/277]

+26 for Montana
No mule deer in Wyoming anyways