2nd Season CO Deer Movement

[eamyrick]

Finally we can talk about hunting again after months of memes and rifle stocks.

Hunted 2nd season CO in 2023. In 8 days between 3 guys we saw one shooter buck at 9200ft. Watched groups of does everyday but bucks never seemed to come around except the one group. The unit peaks out at 12k with fairly thick timber mixed with burns from 8-11k.

In 2023 we set up a wall tent at 7500 and hiked in daily. Temps hit 0 with snow so I was sure it would push bucks down but weather seemed to have no impact. I’m the only one in our group who drew a Buck tag this year but fingers crossed we will have some cow elk tags also.

Current plan is to get higher near some water and hunt from closer to the top. Thoughts?

 

[Jstumbaugh]

Following. My group drew 2nd season deer tags this year. Our units range from 7k-12k. I am planning to focus on the 9-10k migration corridors but would welcome insight if that might be too low to start for 2nd season.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Super variable. Bucks should be staging for the rut, but will tend to stick to the timber for 90% of the day. If you are finding does look 500-1000 ft higher, if there is heavy timber, likely the bucks are in it

 

[eamyrick]

Super variable. Bucks should be staging for the rut, but will tend to stick to the timber for 90% of the day. If you are finding does look 500-1000 ft higher, if there is heavy timber, likely the bucks are in it

I think based on our experience this is gonna be spot on.

 

[svivian]

Depends on weather and where, If hunting near high alpine with thick timber hope for a big snow storm opening weekend.

 

[crazygrizz]

Following this as well. Wondering what to expect for the different types of weather CO throws at us.

 

[street]

My experience it depends on unit. It's worth a shot

 

[Marble]

Finally we can talk about hunting again after months of memes and rifle stocks.

Hunted 2nd season CO in 2023. In 8 days between 3 guys we saw one shooter buck at 9200ft. Watched groups of does everyday but bucks never seemed to come around except the one group. The unit peaks out at 12k with fairly thick timber mixed with burns from 8-11k.

In 2023 we set up a wall tent at 7500 and hiked in daily. Temps hit 0 with snow so I was sure it would push bucks down but weather seemed to have no impact. I’m the only one in our group who drew a Buck tag this year but fingers crossed we will have some cow elk tags also.

Current plan is to get higher near some water and hunt from closer to the top. Thoughts?

Where I hunt, I like to target the higher elevations in CO. I like to find them in their summer range area, which they will be in if feed is still exposed. But last year there was a decent amount of snow and deer primarily pushed down into timber, making it it hard to target a particular buck.

This year the season is earlier. I would suggest finding and area with big open south facing slopes and glassing early morning. I like to get there 45-60 minutes prior to sun up. Those big bucks will disappear really early in the morning. But sometimes stay until the sun hits them. As long as the snow doesn't pile up, they will hang out there and you'll be able to spot them before they disappear.

Each year the weather has cooperated I have been able to kill a really good buck doing this in 0-1 point draw unit. We've killed several bucks in the 180s and bigger.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

Are you guys seeing elk in the same areas usually?

 

[MallardSX2]

Those big bucks are on top and they stay there until the rut....most of the time, by themselves.

 

[The_Jim]

I 2nd season elk hunt one of Colorado's better Mule deer units. I'm not targeting mule deer but just from observation we just don't see bucks with the does in 2nd season. Every year we see a few good bucks, but I don't remember them ever being with does - and they are almost always alone.

Even in one of Colorado's better mule deer units we aren't seeing multiple bucks everyday during 2nd season.

 

[Marble]

Are you guys seeing elk in the same areas usually?

Sort of. They don't typically feed on the same hill at the same time. But I do see them in the same drainage vicinity and have killed bucks and bulls on the same hillside.

The terrain and feed of elk and Mule deer typically have them in different areas.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[IrkedCitizen]

The seasons are not earlier this year. The only season that had any significant changes was 1st season and it was actually pushed back and now opens on Wednesday versus Saturday. 3rd season went back to 9 day duration. No other changes to season dates.

2nd season opened October 28th in 2023 and October 26th in 2024 and it opens October 25th this year. The reason it wasn't October 27th in 2024 and October 26th in 2025 was due to Leap Year in 2024. Animals have no concept of dates and time.

Problem with 2nd season is if it's warm. Got to catch them moving early or late. Otherwise push through the timber and try to stir one up. They will be on the lower peaks not just limited to the high peaks.

Congrats on your tag. Give it hell!

 

[ColoradoV]

Something to think about is almost every single high country buck is found these days…. So much so it’s hard for em to get big.

The biggest deer are gettin to be resident bucks that don’t move that far off or live in private most of their days. Once the rut starts they move more than ya think….

Folks will start to figure out that most if not all big bucks here in Co at least are not migrating from the high country every year but rather resident bucks that are exposed in the rut.

Good luck.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Something to think about is almost every single high country buck is found these days…. So much so it’s hard for em to get big.

The biggest deer are gettin to be resident bucks that don’t move that far off or live in private most of their days. Once the rut starts they move more than ya think….

Folks will start to figure out that most if not all big bucks here in Co at least are not migrating from the high country every year but rather resident bucks that are exposed in the rut.

Good luck.

Very very true, good insight