help plan a ml hunt out west

jt_6 · 12-01-2006, 05:48 PM

Well, I hope everyone has had a great 2006 hunting season. While I passionately wait for our NYlate season to start in 2 weeks I have been researching westernstate regions for a possible trip next fall. I have eliminated Colorado due to their antiquated regs. Any suggestions on states or regions in states to look at.I would like to first try for elk but I understand the difficulty in getting tags. A mule deer hunt would be second. Thanks in advance. Shoot straight.

frontier gander · 12-01-2006, 06:48 PM

colorado is one of the best and easiest places to get mule deer and elk tags. What about the regs? If you are whining about not being able to use a scope,sabot or pellet powder then you should throw down that ML'er, pick up a centerfire and then claim to be a hunter. If i can take a decent mule deer with a flintlock, you can easily take one with an inline. Ive taken many mule deer with my inline. If i can do it, so can you!

HEAD0001 · 12-02-2006, 01:24 AM

Can you say New Mexico. I am not sure what you have against Colorado, but you might want to reconsider. You left out the most important fact. HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO SPEND? Please do not say as little as possible. You need to be realistic as to how much you want to spend. Then find the best hunt for your budget. Tom.

Redclub · 12-04-2006, 11:38 AM

I go to Colo.almost every year during the ML season,The regs are the best part, They give ML's 5% of the take and you can hunt early in the year.
Cow tag one year bull tag following year. Lots of public land.
Redclub

Roskoe · 12-04-2006, 07:16 PM

Go to Colorado. Get some 338 gr. Platinum Powerbelts and use 120 grain of Jim Shockey Gold 2F. Use a peep sight with a green fiber optic front. They let us hunt at the peak of the elk rut, which more than makes up for the restrictions. You may or may not get a MZ bull tag with no preference points. Abouta 50% chance. 100% with one preference point. A MZ cow tag is 100% with no points - so put in for that as a second choice.

jt_6 · 12-04-2006, 08:03 PM

OK Colorado crew- it sounds like this is a do it on your own trip with out guides. What do you recommend for the best time frame andwhat part of the state should I look at for the best opportunity for a tag. I am familiar with the south central section of the state. Lived there in the late 70's,north of Colorado Springs. Any other thoughts would be great.By the way the rut sounds like the best timeand the point about not needing the scope makes sense. Thanks again for the help.

HEAD0001 · 12-04-2006, 08:15 PM

Some where between Paonia and White River NF. Definitely early season. Usually right around Sept. 15, which when I was there(twice), was the peak of the rut. I think it is one of the greatest hunts in NA. I like the BLM lands around Paonia. Plenty of access,and lots of elk. Maybe not the largest elk, but as I said alot of elk. We usually went for 2 weeks. There is normally three ofus. We split everything. Usually spend around $1200-$1400 each. This includes, gas, lodging(hotel), and food.

I have been on nicer hunts in a couple of other states, including NM. They were better hunts than CO hunts, but were much more expensive. $5000 to $7000 range. I ML hunted NM once during rut and saw 10 legal bulls in one day. But as I said it was a $6000 hunt on private land. Tom.

jt_6 · 12-06-2006, 06:51 PM

I just got a call from a friendabout hunting theAlamosa area south of Colorado springs. Any one ever ml hunted in the area. I know the duck hunting was incredible in the 70's and would assume that it still is. Oh by the way for those Chevy guys out there, that F-150 in my garage is Ford tuff and the 120 lb doe it harvested tonight did little damage and will taste just fine.