Suggestions For Colorado Rifle Mule Deer Unit

[Pajay 1962]

I'm a non-resident with 11 points now in Colorado (will have 12 going into the 2017 draw, as I already have elk planned for next year). I'm looking for a rifle hunt in 2017 where there is a strong possibility of a 180" or better mule deer. I've looked at the plains hunts, and I can't afford $9000 or more for a hunt. It doesn't matter if it is the early high country rifle hunt, or a public/private land hunt in 2nd, 3rd or 4th seasons, I just want a very real chance at a nice buck. I've fought point creep for years, expecting to have drawn with 6 points, but the unit I was applying for kept resulting in me being one point behind each year! I'm looking to go guided as well, can't burn this many points and take a chance. Won't ever build up points again like this, would rather get to hunt a place more frequently on my own and learn the area.

Unit Suggestions?

Jay

 

[hoshour]

Look in the March/April edition of Eastmans' Bowhunting Journal for the Colorado MRS and highlight the units you could draw with 6-8 points last year and that are have an A Overall rating. I counted 7 hunts. Do some research, narrow it down, look up outfitters and start calling. You can also call the CO FWP hunt planners and ask about those areas.

 

[Pajay 1962]

Thanks, but unfortunately I get the EHJ and not the Bowhunting Journal. I'll give the CO FWP a call as well.

 

[Skibum81]

All of the statistics that you would find in that issue of EBJ can be found in the hunting statistics section of the Colorado parks and rec website. Use the preference point required to draw doc to figure out which units you can draw when you a ready to hunt. Make sure to allow an extra point in there to account for point creep. That will narrow you to 5 or 6 hunts. Then call the biologist for each of those hunts and ask questions. That should narrow you down a few more units. Finally call outfitters in those units.

I do not know what unit would make sense for you, but that's how I would do it.

 

[hoshour]

All of the statistics that you would find in that issue of EBJ can be found in the hunting statistics section of the Colorado parks and rec website.

Actually, on the CO main table alone there are 13 columns of info on every hunt that you will not find on the CO site. That's not counting the side charts, maps and graphs and Brandon's commentary.