I started collecting deer preference points in Colorado some time back (14 years ago, in fact) and now have 14 points. A couple of questions: Any suggestions on where and when to use them? Third rifle season in Unit 21 is one option, but I would like to avoid CWD areas. Also - anyone else out there with 14 points that wants to join me?

Do you want a mulie or a whitetail? Different deer require different locations.

quote:

Originally posted by Corax:
I started collecting deer preference points in Colorado some time back (14 years ago, in fact) and now have 14 points.

Now THAT is amazing. I have to commend you on your patience. Best of luck! You deserve to kill a good one after such a long wait.

-MDL

Why avoid CWD areas? If the area is producing trophies that are worth waiting 14 points for you aren't going to shoot a skinny sick chronic wasted deer are you? Hold out for a big one.
If I had 14 points I'd go to the DOW website or the draw information link thru monster muleys.com and look at all the areas that take 14 points to draw or more and start calling wildlife biologists in those areas as well as work the guides and outfitters for info (act like you are going to book a hunt or do book a hunt)and narrow it down like that. Old information that was pertinent when you started collecting points may not be good info today so update your information with an open mind. For instance I know people that started collecting Elk points for units 2 and 201 eighteen years ago that are stuck on those areas as the best trophy elk areas in the state but things change in 18 years and they "may" not be the best right now to hold out for.
You post doesn't say if you are a Colorado resident but if you were then I'd put in for a ranching for wildlife area but they are reserved for residents only.
I've got 10 Deer points and I still don't know what I'm doing from year to year. Every year I re think my plan and re evaluate the stats and adjust accordingly.
Good luck with your hunts.

Eastern plains ranching for wildlife ranches can produce some super deer. You have to pick the right ranch though; some are pretty restrictive on access. Look at the drawing stats, contact the ranch owner and see what they offer. The best may take more than 14 points and I would try to talk to some of the successful hunters.
C.G.B.

quote:

Originally posted by cgbach:
Eastern plains ranching for wildlife ranches can produce some super deer. You have to pick the right ranch though; some are pretty restrictive on access. Look at the drawing stats, contact the ranch owner and see what they offer. The best may take more than 14 points and I would try to talk to some of the successful hunters.
C.G.B.

RFW is only for Colorado Residents assuming the OP is one. If the OP isn't a resident of CO then he would have to purchase a voucher to hunt on a RFW property. Then 14 prefrence points wouldn't be necessary.

Corax, guys don't accumlate that many points to worry about whether a buck has CWD or not. Pick the best area and season to give you a chance at the type of buck you want, then have him CWD tested after you take him. CWD would be the least of my concerns if I saved up 14 points.

Hey Corax,

Congrats on all the points. I've got an '08 Huntin' Fool and they concur with Unit 21--Best in State. Looks like units 61 & 66 are great also. It appears that you could draw a 3rd season tag in any of these units. I see it would take 15 (unit 66) for a 4th season tag.

I would be willing to throw my 2 points into a group hunt. Shouldn't dilute your 14 by toooo much.........

Good Luck!

Buff it don't work that way!
A group application is prioritized by the applicant with the least points in the group.

I would reccommend talking to Aaron Neilsen that posts here regularly. He has a track record of producing a lot of 200 inch deer in CO, and with your points, you can hunt on any of the places he has.

I assumed they averaged the points. Ah well, in 12 more years I'll have 14 of my own.

I would also consider speaking with Aaron Neilson who posts here. Many of his hunting areas are on the plains, which is primarily private property. Plus, you never mentioned if you were willing to hire a guide/outfitter.

A few years ago I would have suggested unit 54 for the 4th season. HOwever, with the severe winter weather in that general area about 2 years ago, that area would be suspect now. However, I've seen some monsters in those hill during the 3rd and 4th seasons. The last monster I saw was 2 years ago and somewhere in the neighborhood of 28-30 inches wide with a drop tine on his left antler that was about 8-9 inches long. I would have gladly traded my elk tag for a muley tag that day!!

Good luck with you decision.

Thanks for the input, including the reality check on CWD. (Non-resident in CO, btw).

One more thing - I am interested in Mule deer rather than whitetails. Nothing against whitetails, but this time I want to go after a mulie.

If I was a non-resident and I had 14 points and wanted a good mulie, I'd have to look at areas 2, 10 or 201. All three units are managed as quality units and have some absolutely huge bucks and bulls.

Tags are seriously limited for bucks and bulls and success rates run really high. As a plus, the areas are fairly easy terrain. Not a whole lot of really steep and nasty country. Mostly they consist of rolling sagebrush, cedar ridges and some canyons.

I've been hunting area 2 for cow elk for over a decade while I gather the required number of points (17 or 18) for a bull tag. Every time I've been in that country I've seen at least a couple bucks over 28" wide and have seen several over 30". A couple years ago I had a big 4x4 about 100 yards from me. He was well over 30" wide and looked to be almost as high as he was wide. He was easily the biggest buck I've ever seen on the hoof, but all I had in my pocket was a cow tag.

If I was you, I'd call the Division of Wildlife office in Craig Colorado and talk to the big game biologist for the northwest corner of the state. Once I had him/her on the phone, I'd pick their brain and hope for a mild winter so I could put in the application in Apr.

Good Luck.

Mac

Corax - If I had 14 points in my pocket, I would consider two options for sure, and maybe a couple others as well.

OPTION 1:
If I was willing to pay for a guided hunt, eastern Colorado hands down would be my first option. Odds of killing a 200" plus buck are of course still low, but odds of that are going to be low no matter where you go. I am no longer outfitting these hunts, but still sell hunts for one of my former guide's who took over the operation. In 2008 we shot 3 bucks over 200", just as an example. I just returned last night from guiding two muzzleloader hunters on the plains, we shot a 187" typical, the other guy missed a solid 180" buck at 55 yards. We tried to find a big 7x9 non-typical that I had found about 2 weeks ago, easily 212" - 215", but with a lot of moisture this year, and some late storms, alot of the corn is still standing, and the big bucks love to use it to hide! Our neighbor's daughter shot a low 190's whitetail with her muzzleloader, and I missed a mid 160's 8 pointer with my muzzleloader!!! I saw at least one other 190" muley, but again he used the corn fields to his advantage and we just couldn't get a chance at him. No doubt in the next few weeks as the corn gets cut, either our rifle hunters or the bow hunters will have a good opportunity at some big bucks. Rifle hunts for example are Oct 24 - Nov 3 or Dec 1-14. If your choice is a mule deer that's fine, its just nice to have a tag that gives you the option at a whitetail if you happen to see a 180" plus monster.

OPTION 2:
If public land was my option, I would undoubtedly use 14 points to draw a 4th season unit 44 tag. I have hunted this myself, plus been with a couple other buddies over the past few years that have drawn the tag, AWESOME to say the least. In fact when I hunted it several years ago, out of 4 guys I knew that had tags, I was the only one that shot a buck under 190". Just got unlucky and didn't find one of those stopmers, but I did shot a 180" buck on the last day. Excellent chance at a 190" plus buck, but if the normal mountain snow doesn't come, the hunting will be tough. I have only seen that happen once, in 2007 another friend had a tag, in 5 days the best buck we found was in the 170's. Normal weather, and the hunt will be VERY GOOD!!

Units 2, 10 and 201 for Deer, NO DEFINITELY NOT! Elk yes, but not deer. Unit 21 I have not hunted personally, but have heard both good and bad, so can't give alot of info as I have heard conflicting stories from guys I know. Either way, just the fact that the unit 44 hunt is the 4th season, in my opinion makes all the difference. Past that, lots of options are available but they will require either Private-land guided hunts in the mountains, early season muzzleloader hunts in the high country, or a whole lotta luck.

If I can help, feel free to contact me.

Aaron Neilson
Global Hunting Resources
www.globalhuntingresources.com
303-932-0550
globalhunts@aol.com

4th rifle season for sure.

Best unit you can find. Probably along the Utah border north of Grand Junction or Unit 61.

You could also draw some outstanding early high country rifle hunts is you dont mind high altitudes, steep country and velvet bucks