Trophy Muleys on Public Land??????

I need some guidance. I'm 32, live in upstate NY and have been traveling out west for the the past 8 years to hunt mostly whitetails on DIY hunts. (Yes I'm a Whitetail Addict) But now I want to spot and stalk Big Muleys with a Bow or Muzzleloader. I have been researching this online for the past year and seem to be getting more and more confused. The things that I am most interested in, and in order are public access, trophy potential, spot and stalk terrain, tag availability. Some thoughts I had were western North Dakota, Wyoming, Eastern Colorado. I'm not looking to steal anybodys favorite hot spot. But maybe somebody would give up a great spot that they don't hunt anymore. No guided hunts for me. The tougher the hunt the better the reward. I am open to any state out west. Help me Narrow down the Western States................

Feel free to email me with any suggestions. magnum72576@yahoo.com
Thanks Tony Pelizza
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Magnum, welcome to the site!

I've never hunted the areas you listed in your request but there are quite a few folks here that have at one time or another. I can tell you that most mule deer country in the west is spot and stalk type terrain so good optics and durable, comfortable hiking boots are a must. If you are looking for an area that has the potential to produce a buck of 180+ you need to get away from the roads and any other areas that are accessable by ATV. Although there are bucks taken in the areas mentioned above that top out at 180+ every now and again, the chances are much better if you get away from the crowds and hunters that don't have the wherewithall to get off of the ATV.

I do know that the CO high country offers all of the above. However, tag availability is another thing. I am not overly familiar with the numbers for CO but I am sure that someone here on the site can help you out as far as that goes.

IMO, doing your research, whether online or otherwise, is the key. Most states post hunter success numbers, tag availability numbers, drawing odds, etc on thier various DNR or DFG websites. Check these out...they will help out a lot when planning a hunt. Also, going through the various threads on this and other hunting sites will also help point you in the right direction. Lastly, ask more "direct" questions. This way we can give you more or more accurate information. (i.e. Anyone here hunt unit or GMU XXX during the XXX season? If so, what kind of activity or how many quality bucks did you come across).

Good luck and keep us posted. Posting a few pics of your successful whitetail hunts will help too (some of us here at MM hunt both muleys and whitetail). We ALWAYS enjoy seeing pics of successful hunts!
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I don't know about the areas you listed, but all of Utah and most of Arizona can be hunted with an otc archery tag. Granted the best areas in Arizona are draw only but, there are some good bucks killed south of the Grand Canyon every year.
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One thing most people overlook is the local biologist.
To get started research or call and find out areas with good numbers of animals. Then call the local bio and asked them to narrow it down for you. Did this on DIY antelope hunt. Guy put me right on top of some.
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IM CONFUSED.. your right in the most prime whitetail hunting area in the entire usa, and you want to go eleswhere ? There are so many deer in NY that they are worse than flies.. and they are BIG ... THEN YOU HAVE CANADA JUST A SHORT DRIVE AWAY... ????? giant whitetails there..
and you want to hunt our scrawney western critters..? IF you insist on hunting out here...
colorado is 60% public land, get yourself that big red atlas that has the blm lands in it... the darn deer are so thick here they wonder the darn streets and yards relentlessly....its worse than a darn ZOO HERE... and I GOT PICS... my backyard is a friggin deer condo... the elk are
thick as fleas 30 min drive from here, but you gotta hunt the unit with a valid tag or hunt the
national forest with a tag for that area, thats the hard part, getting the dep of wildlife tag for
a certian area... there are some oddball over the counter areas where there are a few leftover tags..... but their in no mans land...you'd have to chopper in or parachute into it...

so the trick here is you can hunt most anywhere an there are deer, but getting the tag for the area you want is a year before the hunt thing nearly... heck they haul off 5 bears a week from
my neighborhood... i turned the garden hose on them suckers the other day, caught em nappin on my deck... on my stretch garden chair !!! i dont think they will be back after gettin the
hose in the face at 6 ft....

well..like i said, you could hunt downtown here if you coudl get a tag for it..LOL .. be glad to
sort out any area info your interested in, but get that big red atlas...ill chek the name of it for ya... blm land is the ticket !
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