WV - CO Connection

Bonecollector

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Mar 9, 2014
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Yep, just north of me. I've seen some monsters on private ground in Dolores County. I hunt this area exclusively....when I can get a tag. I have enough points to draw in 2021.
Out of curiosity and saving me the time to look it up, roughly how many points does it take to draw in this area?
 

Colorado Cowboy

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Depends on the season and unit. There are 4 rifle seasons, an archery & muzzleloader. Anywhere from 5 to 15 for non residents. I checked this morning on my favorite unit that I like to hunt 4th season and it takes 5 for a resident and 12 to 15 for NR's. this one was taken 4 or 5 years ago on private land. Scored over 200 and is over 30" wide. Made the B & C and was the biggest buck in Colorado that year.
32787
 
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Colorado Cowboy

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It's in the showroom of Adobe Milling in Dove Creek, Co. The picture doesn't do it justice as there is nothing to compare it to so you get an idea just how big it is. The company is a pinto bean grower and retailer. The owners wife shot it on their farm.
 
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JimP

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Utah and Colorado are a lot alike when it comes down to when big bucks are shot. The later in the year that you hunt the better chances you have of finding a huge one.

Most of the huge bucks that are hanging in stores, service stations, and tourists traps in Utah were shot in late November.
When I first started hunting you could hunt certain areas all the way into December when most of the big boys were hanging around haystacks or out in the open where they could be found.

If you look at the dates that a lot of the bigger bucks that were taken in Colorado back in the 70's and before you will find the same thing.

There are still great places to find these bucks but you are going to work for them. I have chanced upon a few great bucks but have never been able to get close enough for a shot. But I do have some that are better than average that were taken on public lands where it takes very few points to draw, but I got them back when it was a general hunt with no draws needed.
 

ColoradoV

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South west colorado now holds both the wr typical (Burris buck posted above) and the wr velvet typical mule deer. While the velvet typical was taken a just a few miles to the south and east of the Burris buck it sure shows that there are some good genetics down in the south west to produce 2 of the current world records.

Something to think about is that these 2 bucks are bigger than all the bucks taken off Henries or every where in UT for that matter, the strip or anywhere in AZ, carbon county or well I guess anywhere up in Wyoming, even the hammers coming out of Canada and Mexico.. None of these places has produced the bucks that good old public land in South West Colorado has.. Yea something to think about.
 
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RICMIC

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Feb 21, 2012
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Two Harbors, Minnesota
That's my dream critter for sure, but not likely to ever happen. It was interesting to read the story in Eastman's a couple issues ago about the deer in Wyoming back in the 50's and 60's and why they were so abundant then, and are continuing to struggle now. I saw a buck in the approach road to Mesa Verde NP in November of 1976 that was easily over 200". That's not too far SW of where C.C. lives.
 
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Colorado Cowboy

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About 10 miles from my place. I can see MV from my deck.

Don't be so sure it won't ever happen. In the last 10 years I've seen a handful of bucks in both Wyoming and Colorado that would go close to 200" . They are out there, very smart and tough to hunt. I've only taken one that big in over 60 years of trying. One reason is when I was younger, I was only interested in filling my freezer and shot a lot of smaller bucks that I wouldn't do today.
 
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JimP

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South west colorado now holds both the wr typical (Burris buck posted above) and the wr velvet typical mule deer. While the velvet typical was taken a just a few miles to the south and east of the Burris buck it sure shows that there are some good genetics down in the south west to produce 2 of the current world records.

Something to think about is that these 2 bucks are bigger than all the bucks taken off Henries or every where in UT for that matter, the strip or anywhere in AZ, carbon county or well I guess anywhere up in Wyoming, even the hammers coming out of Canada and Mexico.. None of these places has produced the bucks that good old public land in South West Colorado has.. Yea something to think about.
You also have to look at the other bucks that don't get officially measured. I know of two that go around 210" that are just hanging on the inside of a barn. The owners could care less of how big that they are it is just that they like the memories of them.
 

ColoradoV

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I am not sure if the Burris buck will ever be beaten. Today we follow these bucks year in and year out and if you have ever seen that buck in person it is just crazy how deep and big the forks are. When it gets to that level it almost comes down to kickers and deductions as there have been a ton close to the Burris buck. Who knows that typical out of wyo this year was a hell of a buck not sure how high we will finally score. Also have to mention the buck who knows how it went with Darner - it is said to be bigger than the Burris buck but I have never seen the Darner buck.

I agree that there are a ton hanging in barns and cabins especially there around you Jim that are just phenomenal. You can put me in the category of never having a buck officially scored and most guys I know are the same way while some hit the books I would say 70% or more of the ones I know about are not in that book and as Jim said hanging in a garage or barn..

FEF35E33-3712-41DE-B828-3961A5703124.jpeg

Also since we were talking bucks hanging in garages = here is my grandma w one taken around you Jim. Just over 220” and 32.5” wide. Never even measured until a couple years ago..
 
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Colorado Cowboy

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For those of you who like to look at big bucks, there is a great book on Colorado's biggest deer. It is:
Colorado's Biggest Bucks and Bulls...and other Great Colorado Big Game. It is really a great book. It is hard to judge just how big trophies are when they are on the wall. The Burris buck is shown with a man holding it and it is huge!. There are tons of old pictures in the book, well worth the money for me. I think it was $39.95.
 
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JimP

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I have the second edition of the book, it would be interesting to compare it with the third one. A friend has the first and we always looked at both to see the old and new heads.
 

Colorado Cowboy

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Our shooting club has an old mount (circa 1909) in our club room. It was shot locally and given to the club several years ago. It has tremendous mass and great eye guards. We even have the tag , it is metal, but most of the writing/printing is illegible.
3282232823
 

RICMIC

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Feb 21, 2012
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Two Harbors, Minnesota
Our shooting club has an old mount (circa 1909) in our club room. It was shot locally and given to the club several years ago. It has tremendous mass and great eye guards. We even have the tag , it is metal, but most of the writing/printing is illegible.
View attachment 32822View attachment 32823
Beautiful rack, but it is in serious need of a remount. I'd help if I could, but the mule deer gods have turned against me.