quote:

Originally posted by graybird:
First person I’d contact is Aaron Neilson and consider the Eastern Plains of Colorado.

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Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
Eastern Colorado or Sonora would be where I’d look; probably Sonora as my first choice as I’ve spent some time down there and really enjoyed it.

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Just be aware that, overall, success in Sonora runs about 20% or less. Most hunters going to Sonora come home without a buck. However, if you get on the right ranch with the right outfitter, you might come home with a ‘Macho May Grande’!

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

Just be aware that, overall, success in Sonora runs about 20% or less. Most hunters going to Sonora come home without a buck. However, if you get on the right ranch with the right outfitter, you might come home with a ‘Macho May Grande’!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
IMO most guys going to Sonora with top end outfits are not going to settle for a 160-170 buck that would be a pretty nice buck in most of the Western US. They're looking for a very big buck. I think that may contribute to the lower success rate. They don't care about just shooting a buck because they may have killed several good bucks before.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:
Don't overlook public lands hunting in Arizona. We have the Kaibab Plateau or Strip. You can draw a tag for a couple hundred bucks and either DIY or hire a specialist. That deer population and the Utah, Paunsaugunt herd are amazing.

No private land, no trespass fee's. I killed a 191" in 2011 I think in 12A West. I saw many deer in that range during my hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Thanks for the information guys.

Strangely enough none of the Mexican outfitters have answered my question about how many large bucks they take every year and how many that they see on a typical hunt. Also none have provided me with any list of references, and I specifically asked for unsuccessful hunters.

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Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:
Don't overlook public lands hunting in Arizona. We have the Kaibab Plateau or Strip. You can draw a tag for a couple hundred bucks and either DIY or hire a specialist. That deer population and the Utah, Paunsaugunt herd are amazing.

No private land, no trespass fee's. I killed a 191" in 2011 I think in 12A West. I saw many deer in that range during my hunt.

Yeah, but...

You didn’t mention how tough it is for a non-resident to draw a premium tag unless they have tons of points. But,when you finally draw - OH BOY!!!

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Originally posted by boarkiller:
You tell us...

That’s the problem with Mexican muleys
You pay exorbitant amount for hunt you could do that a lot cheaper in US, it’s safer and you have good chance in many states in the west to find 180” plus Muley and honestly, they look just as good as 200” ones
Honestly, old buck with mass is hell of a lot better trophy than thos big spindly 3-4 years old
Couldn’t pay me to hunt in Mexico

quote:

Originally posted by drummondlindsey:
I wouldn’t hunt eastern Colorado this year. The drought is as bad as it’s been in years and it was just as bad last year. Even is we get the rain here this year the deer are just in bad shape. They went into winter bad and no matter the rainfall we get this spring I just don’t see us having a good antler growth year here this next season. Add to that Colorado Parks and Wildlife are adding tags to cut deer numbers due to CWD the future doesn’t look too bright unless you have the right patch of ground locked up and you can manage it.

The western slope isn’t much better right now BUT if you have preference points I’d burn them this year. CPW pushed the dates back and it’s going to be a bloodbath this year. Between this and the wolves that are right around the corner this may be the year to burn points west of 25. I anticipate a point creep

If you’re a non resident Kansas is a damn tough draw.

Anymore Sonora is probably your best bet for a big deer. Any operation that has a 20% success rate should be avoided. I don’t have any spots as the same guys book them year in and year out. There are a few good outfitters down there and I’m happy to give names and numbers

Hopefully we get rain here in Colorado. The snows we had last week weren’t going to be enough to break the drought. Hell, it bumped our snowpack to just average. We need more and we need more fast

There are places in the Dakota’s that have good deer at reasonable cost but I haven’t been on this hunts. I have friends that have and they really enjoy it. They’ve killed 180” deer and I can get names and number for you if you like

Lastly, there’s a huge difference between a 180” deer and a 200” deer. Anything that’s 10% larger is significant. Most guys that haven’t been around big deer can’t tell the difference on the hoof but in your hands it’s very noticeable. You’ll want to book with somebody that can tell the difference. No matter who you book with just make sure you aren’t taking advice from people that don’t have a clue as to what they’re talking about. Thats the best way to F it all up from the very beginning

Hope you find a hell of a hunt and kill a giant

quote:

Originally posted by drummondlindsey:
Some of y’all sure seem to have Sonora figured out. How many hunts have y’all done there?

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Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by drummondlindsey:
I wouldn’t hunt eastern Colorado this year. The drought is as bad as it’s been in years and it was just as bad last year. Even is we get the rain here this year the deer are just in bad shape. They went into winter bad and no matter the rainfall we get this spring I just don’t see us having a good antler growth year here this next season. Add to that Colorado Parks and Wildlife are adding tags to cut deer numbers due to CWD the future doesn’t look too bright unless you have the right patch of ground locked up and you can manage it.

The western slope isn’t much better right now BUT if you have preference points I’d burn them this year. CPW pushed the dates back and it’s going to be a bloodbath this year. Between this and the wolves that are right around the corner this may be the year to burn points west of 25. I anticipate a point creep

If you’re a non resident Kansas is a damn tough draw.

Anymore Sonora is probably your best bet for a big deer. Any operation that has a 20% success rate should be avoided. I don’t have any spots as the same guys book them year in and year out. There are a few good outfitters down there and I’m happy to give names and numbers

Hopefully we get rain here in Colorado. The snows we had last week weren’t going to be enough to break the drought. Hell, it bumped our snowpack to just average. We need more and we need more fast

There are places in the Dakota’s that have good deer at reasonable cost but I haven’t been on this hunts. I have friends that have and they really enjoy it. They’ve killed 180” deer and I can get names and number for you if you like

Lastly, there’s a huge difference between a 180” deer and a 200” deer. Anything that’s 10% larger is significant. Most guys that haven’t been around big deer can’t tell the difference on the hoof but in your hands it’s very noticeable. You’ll want to book with somebody that can tell the difference. No matter who you book with just make sure you aren’t taking advice from people that don’t have a clue as to what they’re talking about. Thats the best way to F it all up from the very beginning

Hope you find a hell of a hunt and kill a giant

OK... best post BY FAR! Just read what Drummond said here and follow his advice. You need not read further.

quote:

These days, in my opinion, a 180" buck is just a hell of a trophy & a very good goal for someone who's serious about taking a big deer. A 200" is the Holy Grail, I think you need multiple hunts in a great area, combined with two tons of luck on the right day

quote:

Originally posted by Baker458:
The trophy expectation (or hope) makes a huge difference in this conversation. It's one thing to say "I'm looking for a 180-class mulie" and completely another to say "I'm looking for a 200-class mulie."

A 200" mule deer is kinda like looking for a 7 foot tall man. They definitely exist, but you damn well better be in the place where they are MOST LIKELY to exist, and even then there aren't very damn many. You're looking for a deer with superior genetics, who also made it to 6, 7, 8 years old.

These days, in my opinion, a 180" buck is just a hell of a trophy & a very good goal for someone who's serious about taking a big deer. A 200" is the Holy Grail, I think you need multiple hunts in a great area, combined with two tons of luck on the right day.

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by Baker458:
The trophy expectation (or hope) makes a huge difference in this conversation. It's one thing to say "I'm looking for a 180-class mulie" and completely another to say "I'm looking for a 200-class mulie."

A 200" mule deer is kinda like looking for a 7 foot tall man. They definitely exist, but you damn well better be in the place where they are MOST LIKELY to exist, and even then there aren't very damn many. You're looking for a deer with superior genetics, who also made it to 6, 7, 8 years old.

These days, in my opinion, a 180" buck is just a hell of a trophy & a very good goal for someone who's serious about taking a big deer. A 200" is the Holy Grail, I think you need multiple hunts in a great area, combined with two tons of luck on the right day.

Good perspective, and one I can attest you’re right. In 2015, I drew one of the coveted ‘Strip’ tags in unit 13A, northern Arizona. I hired whom I consider to be one of the best outfitters for that area, A3 outfitters. I had my mind made up to shoot a 200” buck and not smaller. I arrived 3 days before the season to help with scouting, and we found several interesting bucks. Opening day arrives, we cannot find our #1 target buck, so we head for another area where we knew of a good buck. On our way, I spot some deer and we stop the truck and start glassing.

There he is, a gorgeous buck, standing broadside at just over 400 yards, watching us. My guide got his big binos on tripod set up while I was laying a sandbag on the hood and getting my 264 on the buck. Mind you, this buck simply fell into our lap, so we were not of the mind to look a gift horse in the mouth. My guide, Casey, tells me “You need to shoot this deer”. I reply that I don’t think he’s what I’m looking for and we start comparing notes while the rut dumb buck stands statue still. Casey thinks he’ll go maybe 195, and I think 190 tops. Casey thinks he’s just over 30” wide and I agree. Casey says “Kill that buck now”. And I say I’m looking for a bigger buck. This discussion goes on for about 5 minutes while our big 4x4 friend patiently waits. Finally, I convince Casey I’m not going to shoot this buck, even though my crosshairs had been settled solidly on his shoulder and all I’d have to do is squeeze the trigger. We finally drive away and Casey reminds me we can go days on the strip without seeing a deer, let alone a 190’s buck. He hopes I don’t come to regret my decision. So do I.

3 days later, we find the buck I want, a big 4x5 with a nice long inline on one side. We both think he’ll go somewhere around 205” +/- Only problem is, we spend a week trying to kill this buck and never can get a shot. We saw him several times but he was in a tough spot and living a charmed life. Finally, on the 11th or 12th day, I shot a very old “downhill” buck that wasn’t nearly as big as the opening day buck I’d passed up. He was very old and a good buck to kill, though certainly not the buck I’d come for. Our group of 6 hunters all filled our tags in a tough area, with the 3 best bucks going 190, 207, 214. To this day I think about the buck I passed, but also the bigger buck we found 3 days later. Yeah, sometimes I wish I’d shot that 190’s buck. Other times I remind myself I’ll never kill a giant buck just shooting good bucks instead of passing them up. I still haven’t figured out the best answer.