Colorado Mule Deer

Hi everyone,

My father, brother, and I are looking to go Mule Deer hunting in Colorado this fall and could use any help we can get. We have hunted whitetail in southern Iowa for 20 years so we are not new to hunting, just failry new to mule deer hunting in Colorado. My father and I have only 1 preference point a piece built up, and my brother doesn't have any. Any tips on GMUs to hit. 2 years ago we hunting the White River National Forest and found that we were part of several hundred hunters in the area. We are not afraid to get off the beaten path and would like to get to an area that we don't run into several hunters. We know that our selection will be limited due to the low number of points. Can anyone give me a good GMU that would be an easy draw and not have extreme hunting pressure? We would definitely be willing to help anyone that would like to hunt whitetails in Iowa.

Thanks
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Are u looking for rifle or archery access?
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We were thinking 2nd rifle season
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I know a couple really good outfitters in Colorado or you can go at it alone. I know some areas, I lived in colorado for 15 years...
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This time we are wanting to do a "do it yourself hunt". Any suggestions on units to apply for?
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With only one preference point it is going to be a couple of years to get enough preference points to draw a buck tag in your prefered area. Nearly anything in eastern colorado has some good opportunities for some nice deer easily capable of 160+. If you are wanting to do a complete "do it yourself" the big game access program is starting to get some really nice ground tied up that you could hunt on. The only draw back on that is that the locals might try to run you off which would make for a very unpleasant experience. It is best to try and find a land owner or local to "guide" you around. Plus they know where the deer are to begin with.
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My father has elk hunted south of Saguache and seen some nice deer there, but like you said, not enough points to draw. We are leaning towards the area south of Glenwood Springs in GMU 43, but we are still in the process of figuring things out. Thanks for all the info, I will check out that big game access program. Don't want to cause a scene with the locals though. Thanks again.
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Does anyone have any thoughts or tips on units 35 and 36 in Colorado? We've been doing some research and know that we will have to burn a lot of shoe leather to get the better hunting, but would live to have some first hand knowledge or even some specific areas to try if someone is willing to share. In return I would be more than willing to put you on some big whitetail in southern Iowa.

Thanks
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Big Moose
Area 35 and 36 can be good hunting if you get weather. Much of the best deer country in 35 is private and it takes snow to move them down. Area 36 also has some private land. Some years there are lots of deer hunters and other years few. Both units are good elk hunting too. Do not let other hunters discourage you. Most do not get off the road. That is the key to success....get off the roads and hunt where no one else is going.
Deer herd numbers are down in most if not all the units in Western Colorado and the hard part is getting the tag. With one point you should be able to get 35 third season if you list it as first choice.
Good luck in the draw.

Moose :thumb
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Turokman123
"Big Moose" wrote:Area 35 and 36 can be good hunting if you get weather. Much of the best deer country in 35 is private and it takes snow to move them down. Area 36 also has some private land. Some years there are lots of deer hunters and other years few. Both units are good elk hunting too. Do not let other hunters discourage you. Most do not get off the road. That is the key to success....get off the roads and hunt where no one else is going.
Deer herd numbers are down in most if not all the units in Western Colorado and the hard part is getting the tag. With one point you should be able to get 35 third season if you list it as first choice.
Good luck in the draw.

Moose :thumb
 i agree with Big Moose, and also area 2
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Thank you both for the info. It will definitely make our decision a little easier. If either of you are in Iowa and need some help with whitetails, let me know.
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Unit 3/301 have great success rates for buck in rifle. Easy hunting too. Bunch of rolling sage brush hills and washes.
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About unit 43. I hunted it about 6 years ago. Saw a lot of deer early and then it turned cold and stared snowing and we could not find anything. We hunted up near the Geneva lake area. It was about a 3 hour hike to get in there but we never saw another hunter. Could be good if the weather holds. Good luck.
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