Finding a new public Whitetail spot-where to start

TG78 · 07-09-2008, 11:37 AM

I have been hunting my fathers private land out in Eastern CO for a few years now and I want to find a new or additional spot to hunt whitetails but he task seems daunting and I don't know where to start. I don't have many reliable hunting buddies that I can consult as they are 1-unreliable and 2-they usually consult me. I purchased the CO Big game CD put out by the division of wildlife that shows many things like average success rate etc. but I am looking for additional ways to find a new area. Not to mention the CD is kind of depressing as many of the successful areas take so long to get a liscense. I have only seentwo bucks in the 6 years I have been hunting my fathers ranch and neither presented an ethical shot (with a rifle) and I feel like I need to expand my range. Any helpful thoughts?

txjourneyman · 07-09-2008, 11:39 AM

Check the US Army Corps of Engineers site to find out if they have land near you. Also in Co. there should be BLM lands and national forests. Also check your states DNR site.
EDIT: Start here http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/PlanYourHunt/

AF Hunter · 07-09-2008, 11:56 AM

Then if all else fails, approach crop farmers in the area and ask "Got any deer need killin?" Back before we bought this place a buddy of mine introduced me to this approach. Where "Excuse me sir, I am a bow hunter and wondered if I might be able to hunt your property?" failed on numerous occasions, his approach worked (and a few times with farmers that had previously turned me down). Prior to buying my own property, I had 360+ acres to hunt. Now its too far away with the price of gas (and the fact I can walk down the lane to my stands). Good Luck.

shed33 · 07-09-2008, 01:12 PM

Once you locate public lands near you use google earth to dissect it. Its amazing what you can see and determine from satellite imagery. I use Google E all the time ...for hunting and shed hunting purposes. Good luck.

brucelanthier · 07-09-2008, 01:29 PM

Some links I found:

http://www.ourpubliclands.org/about/colorado/hunting-fishing
http://wildlife.state.co.us/apps/gmumaps/general_gmumap.pdf
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/
http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/recreation/hunting.html
http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/faqs/access.html

GMMAT · 07-09-2008, 01:33 PM

Buy Joe Brooks book "Year round trophy whitetails". He describes a method that's worked well for me.