4 CO deer points

[Mdfowlman2]

So we had initially planned on burning antelope points in Wyoming this year but had to put that hunt on that back burner this year. Buddy and I are both sitting on 4 Colorado deer points and considering putting in for deer this year.
Initially we started to build the points for a high country archery hunt, however I also like the idea of a late rifle hunt. Which would be the best use of 4 points?
Unfortunately I have done very little digging so far as we were pretty well locked in for an antelope hunt, and I now feel slightly behind the 8 ball.

 

[archeryisking]

Go hunt would be my recommendation. The points game in CO is changing rapidly. I killed my biggest muley in CO after drawing with a single point. Early archery versus late rifle...that's all up to you.

 

[sndmn11]

Which would be the best use of 4 points?

The best use is the option that you have scouted the most. Even if that is a hunt code drawing at less points than you have.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Early archery vs late rifle is a vastly different hunt and experience. You’d be able to draw a “better” unit with early archery, but have a better chance of harvesting on late rifle, especially if you aren’t summer scouting. I’d decide on what experience y’all want first and then worry about unit.

 

[LongWayAround]

I assume you are nonresidents?

The pool of late rifle tags that you can draw will be fairly limited. You should be able to draw almost any archery tag though.

Archery hunting gives you more options for camp locations and backpacking, but with a much lower success rate.

Late rifle hunts are basically truck based.

 

[Mdfowlman2]

I assume you are nonresidents?

The pool of late rifle tags that you can draw will be fairly limited. You should be able to draw almost any archery tag though.

Archery hunting gives you more options for camp locations and backpacking, but with a much lower success rate.

Late rifle hunts are basically truck based.

almost positive we will end up going early archery. We can draw most units which is a blessing and a curse

 

[Mdfowlman2]

The best use is the option that you have scouted the most. Even if that is a hunt code drawing at less points than you have.

Unfortunately I live 26-28hrs away and might be able to make it out and scout in July but that doesn’t much help me now

 

[sndmn11]

Unfortunately I live 26-28hrs away and might be able to make it out and scout in July but that doesn’t much help me now

So hunt 2026.

Scout summer, scout in each season, make your knowledge based decision based on your criteria in 2026 with one more point to boot.

 

[Mdfowlman2]

So hunt 2026.

Scout summer, scout in each season, make your knowledge based decision based on your criteria in 2026 with one more point to boot.

Yea that sounds good but not quite feasible, as I said I live 24-26hrs way. Going out there 5 times in a year to scout isn’t going to happen. 8hrs away…absolutely. A full days drive both ways 3 days of scouting is 5 days minimum per trip, 25days isn’t happening!

 

[wind gypsy]

When all of my weekends and vacation belonged to me I used to fly to places for long weekends and do 2-3 day backpacking trips to get the feel for areas i planned to have tags for. Family life doesn't allow anymore but certainly a lot more doable than driving across the country.

 

[10ringer]

Yea that sounds good but not quite feasible, as I said I live 24-26hrs way. Going out there 5 times in a year to scout isn’t going to happen. 8hrs away…absolutely. A full days drive both ways 3 days of scouting is 5 days minimum per trip, 25days isn’t happening!

sndmn11’s plan only has you going out there twice this year. By far the best advice, increasing your odds at tipping an animal over in 2026.
A buddy of mine joined me on an eight point unit this year and was so happy with what he saw, he’s burning 14 points on it next year. You really need to put boots on the ground so you can make an informed decision.

 

[Mdfowlman2]

sndmn11’s plan only has you going out there twice this year. By far the best advice, increasing your odds at tipping an animal over in 2026.
A buddy of mine joined me on an eight point unit this year and was so happy with what he saw, he’s burning 14 points on it next year. You really need to put boots on the ground so you can make an informed decision.

How only twice?

 

[cnelk]

I’m not so sure a 4 PP unit requires as much scouting as a 8+ point unit.

Maybe once if at all.

 

[sndmn11]

How only twice?

I'd fly out in August and drive two archery choices and two rifle choices. Come back in September and set cameras up in the archery units while investing time in the field. Come back in whatever rifle season you anticipate drawing and do the same thing.

Pull cameras end of March if possible, otherwise do so in August '26. Use the first person in season scouting to make a hunt code choice, and the camera info to narrow down the X.

Or just show up in any rifle season and be done on day one with an anybuck.

 

[Mdfowlman2]

I’m not so sure a 4 PP unit requires as much scouting as a 8+ point unit.

Maybe once if at all.

I’m not so sure a 4 PP unit requires as much scouting as a 8+ point unit.

Maybe once if at all.

We will definitely get out for a July scouting trip. Pretty much set on going early archery, going to get in town couple days early to allow for a little more scouting before opener

 

[IrkedCitizen]

I wish we still had early archery deer. September 2nd isn't that early. You only have about a week before they big bucks start stripping their velvet.

I would hunt rifle season and learn the unit first. Next time go with archery gear. Spot and stalk archery muley hunting is on a completely different level than sitting in a tree stand hunting whitetails.

 

[Mdfowlman2]

I wish we still had early archery deer. September 2nd isn't that early. You only have about a week before they big bucks start stripping their velvet.

I would hunt rifle season and learn the unit first. Next time go with archery gear. Spot and stalk archery muley hunting is on a completely different level than sitting in a tree stand hunting whitetails.

I appreciate the advice, we started building these points for high country archery and that’s what they’ll be used for. Not new to hunting out west or to spot and stalk, just new to Colorado high country.
If we fail which is more likely than not, we will
Learn from it. With a July scouting trip and a few days before opener to scout I think we will learn enough to have a good time!

 

[hoosierhunter11]

Also sitting on 4 deer points with my dad. We are considering high country muzzy or archery this year but man those early rifle and muzzy seasons look nice in a few years. Everything is moving up to earlier dates.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

I appreciate the advice, we started building these points for high country archery and that’s what they’ll be used for. Not new to hunting out west or to spot and stalk, just new to Colorado high country.
If we fail which is more likely than not, we will
Learn from it. With a July scouting trip and a few days before opener to scout I think we will learn enough to have a good time!

Give it hell

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I've gone in blind in CO archery high country three different times. Biggest buck I ever got on was no monster. Maybe 170-175" if I stretch my hopes to their max while gazing through a spotter. That said, I was able to get within 30 yards of solid bucks in their beds two out of three years, and within 40 yards another trip. Longbows make it a lot harder to seal the deal. If you are drawing a 4 pt unit it's probably going to be better than you could imagine.

Doesn't mean the herd isn't in decline, just that easterners expectations are lower than guys that have lived in the area their whole life.