Mule Deer Hunts
Eastern
Colorado Trophy Mule Deer Hunts
Archery
landowner deer permits are available from
our outfitter for free!
Nationally known
bowhunter Bob Fromme of Performance Archery
with his huge 200+ gross muley buck.
Introduction
Many hunters are
beginning to realize that eastern Colorado
holds some of the largest whitetail and mule
deer bucks in the country. This is because
the vast majority of the land is private,
rifle licenses are very limited, the winters
are mild, and there is an abundance of crops
for growing huge racks. And our outfitter
leases several of the best ranches the area
has to offer. He has exclusive outfitting
rights to approximately 65,000 acres of private ranch
land which includes over 25 miles of
creek bottom inhabited by both muleys and
whitetails. All of our outfitter's leases
are hand-picked and provide the habitat to
produce trophy class bucks. These ranches
are spread over several game management
units and offer a diverse selection of
habitats for our clients. His leases are
managed for both trophy class animals and a
quality hunting experience.
Trophy Quality
Without exaggerating, eastern Colorado
rivals any place in North America for trophy
mule deer and whitetails. Hunters come from
all over the country to hunt eastern
Colorado. Trophy quality is just
unbelievable! Mature muley bucks generally
range from an incredible 160 to 200 inches gross,
with a 180 inch gross average over the last 20 years. Several bucks grossing over 200 have been taken.
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A
super wide typical muley buck.
Hunting Method
Hunting is generally by treestand hunting along the creek bottoms during the rut which can be a very productive hunting method for the big bucks. I harvested the buck below several years ago in eastern Colorado from a treestand the day after Thanksgiving. He was with a big group of does and there was no way I could have shot him if I wasn't in a treestand.
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Matt Burrows with my
205" nontypical eastern Colorado mule deer.
License
Availability
All deer licenses in Colorado are issued
by a lottery drawing and the application
deadline is usually at the beginning of
April. But we have many hunts that only
require 0-1 preference points and the
outfitter takes care of all application
procedures. But if you don't draw a license
or happen to book your hunt after the
application deadline, our outfitter can
generally get you transferrable landowner permit for
free! Most outfitters charge their clients between
$500 and $1000 for a landowner permit but our outfitter doesn't charge anything extra. The
outfitter leases property in several different
game management units in eastern Colorado
and can assist you in applying for the
correct group of units. Archery licenses
are generally valid for a group of game management
units.
With the exception of whitetail only licenses, your license will be
valid for either a whitetail or mule deer.
This is important because on our hunts, you
never know whether a trophy whitetail buck
or mule deer buck might stroll by. All of
our leases have both whitetails and mule
deer but some units are better for mule deer and some better for whitetails.
Hunting Dates
Archery deer season in eastern Colorado
is very generous and goes from October 1
to December 31, excluding the short
rifle season(s). However, for big mule deer we recommend hunting during the rut in November. However, the early season towards the beginning of October can also be good as the bucks are still in bachelor groups and more predictable than the rut.
All archery deer hunts begin at noon the
first day and end at noon the last day.
Food and Lodging
Food and lodging are extra but our
outfitter can assist you in locating an
inexpensive, yet comfortable place to stay.
Archery Hunt Duration and Price - $2,750 for 6 days (Self Guided)
These hunts are self guided. However, the outfitter will meet you at the property prior to your first hunt and show you around the property and make hunting recommendations. Many treestands have already been placed at the best spots or you can add your own. A pop-up ground blind wouldn't hurt either. As these hunts are treestand hunts and the outfitter has been guiding hunts on the properties for over 20 years, going self guided is really not a detriment as all the guide would do is take you to your treestand and our hunters have been extremely successful.
The outfitter only takes a very limited number of hunters on each property.
Food and lodging extra.
Rifle Hunts
Our outfitter takes a very limited number of rifle hunters. As eastern Colorado's rifle seasons are in late Oct. and early Dec. and the archery hunts are conducted in early Oct. and Nov. during the rut and our outfitter takes such a low number of hunters, it really doesn't negatively affect archery hunting.
Rifle Hunt Price
Early Season (opens in late Oct.) - 5 days 2x1 for $5000
Late Season (opens Dec.1) - 5 days 2x1 for $5500
Food and lodging extra.
A 50% nonrefundable deposit is required to book the hunt.
South Dakota Spot and Stalk Mule Deer Hunting
The mule deer shown above was harvested with our outfitter by Jeff Miller on September 28th, 2009. This incredible mule deer,
along with five other big mule deer bucks were located in a brushy draw between an alfalfa field and a small pond. Jeff and his
cameraman positioned themselves in between the feild and small pond. After a long chess match with this monarch, Jeff was able to
draw on him and make a well placed shot. The deer went approximately 100 yards and tipped over. This monster mule deer scores 203
4/8" gross!
Jeff Miller's 2009 203-inch gross buck!
In my opinion, spot and stalking mule deer is some of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding bowhunting available. Nothing
thrills me more than trying to get in bow range of a bedded group of bachelor mule deer bucks. An advantage of spot and stalk
hunting is that can pick the buck you want to hunt. Also, rather than just hunting early in the morning and late in the evening,
you can hunt all day. Once you spot a bedded buck or group of bucks, your hunt begins and it may take all day to stalk within bow
range and get a shot. You have the opportunity to make things happen rather than relying upon the animal to move into your
range. I've personally hunted mule deer in South Dakota by spot and stalking several times. I shot this buck
there a few years ago.
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My 2007 buck taken spot & stalk
South Dakota has some prime spot and stalk hunting due to the broken, open terrain. Our outfitter has access to approximately
100,000 acres of private hunting ground in southwestern South Dakota. All of the hunts are conducted on private ranches that were
selected because of the trophy quality animals they hold. Our outfitter believes in wildlife management and that is why they try
to harvest only mature bucks or cull bucks. They also harvest several does per year to keep the buck to doe ratio in check.
Trophy Quality and Population
Trophy quality is excellent. Mature bucks geneally range from 150-180 inches and the average sized buck harvested is in the mid
160's. Our outfitter's goal is not to harvest anything smaller than 160 which is a great buck with a bow. The opportunity rate
with a bow is also very high generally 100%. It will be up to you whether you harvest the big one. While you are hunting, it is
not uncommon for the hunter to see 50 to 100 animals a day. You will see a variety of different country to include: badlands,
river bottoms, brushy river breaks, crop fields and food plots.
A huge typical muley
License Availability and Season
Archery licenses in South Dakota are guaranteed and the nonresident license fee is only $195. The best times to hunt mule deer
are mid to late October and early November.
Food and Lodging
All of our hunts are fully guided and include room and board, food and guide. The hunts we provide are conducted either from a
motel or a ranch house with all of the modern coveniences. Once a hunter has booked a hunt with us, they would then make
arrangements to fly into Rapid City, SD. From there, you would rent a car and then it is a short drive to the hunting location.
Or airport pickup can be arranged for a fee of $200 per round trip (not per hunter).
Hunt Price and Duration
5 day 1x1 hunt for $3950
Airport pickup - $200 per round trip (not per hunter)
A 50% nonrefundable deposit is required to book a hunt. The balance is due prior to start of hunt payable in cash, cashiers check
or travelers check. 5.5% sales tax not included in price of hunt.
New Mexico Mule
Deer Hunts
Mule deer are hunted on
private ranches. Our outfitter leases over
15,000 acres in Southeast, New Mexico. It
has taken him many years to put together the
quality private land hunts he now offers. He
offers late season mule deer hunts for the bowhunter. The archery
season is a late-season hunt running from
January 1-15. All deer licenses are
available over the counter. This
private-land deer hunt is priced at an
incredible price of $2500.
Ted Nugent with his 2008 buck with our outfitter
Location, Terrain, and
Trophy Quality
Elevations in our hunt areas
range from 6500 to more than 9000 feet, with
the terrain being rugged so it is helpful to
be in good physical condition. The terrain
consists of cedar trees, pinion and juniper
trees, and canyons. We take bucks 25" and
larger every year and mule deer bucks
generally range from 140" to 190".
Late Season Archery Deer
Hunts
The late archery season in
this area of New Mexico runs from January 1
- 15 which is a great time to hunt because
the deer are usually still rutting and there
is not much else to hunt this time of year.
Hunting is generally conducted by sitting
waterholes, blinds along trails, and spot
and stalking. There is a good number of deer
on the ranch and it would not be uncommon to
see 25 bucks per day.
Food and Lodging
Food and lodging is included
in the price of the hunt and you will stay
at a ranch house located on the hunting
ranch.
Licensing
Deer licenses can be
purchased over the counter after you arrive
and the cost of the license is $310 (high
demand unit).
Seasons, Prices, and Hunt
Length
Hunting
Method |
Season |
Price |
Hunt Length |
Hunting Method |
| Archery Season |
January 1 - 15 |
$2,500 |
6 days |
Water holes, blinds on trails,
spotting and stalking |
Prices do not include license fees, 5%
state tax or gratuities. Guided hunts are 2
on 1 hunter to guide ratio and 1 on 1 is
$500 additional.
A 50% nonrefundable deposit is required to book the hunt.
