CO 3rd Rifle Thread

[BigThig09]

Little brother tagged a pretty good one near Meeker. Good start to the trip. Protecting does from two smaller bucks. 26” wide… Lots of pretty nice bucks seen from the road yesterday.

 

[TheGreek]

Saw a lot of small bucks today with a few decent bucks mixed in. Definitely some rut action going on, bucks chasing does, lip curling, noses up does butts. My buddy killed his first deer, small buck. Tons of guys out in NW CO.

 

[Sierra Hunter]

Saw an elk mangled on three legs out there today. Bummer. deer up high mostly

 

[crosey5]

What elevations is everyone seeing deer ? I’m in Central Western CO around 7000 feet. Haven’t seen many bucks. Plenty of does.

 

[Hnthrdr]

What elevations is everyone seeing deer ? I’m in Central Western CO around 7000 feet. Haven’t seen many bucks. Plenty of does.

Bucks will be showing up, stay on the does. Likely bedded near them in some less obvious spots

 

[2Stamp]

Most of the bucks in my area are still bachelored up. Very little visible rut activity.

 

[elkhunter505]

Got a 4th season tag around GJ, how’s the activity around there right now? Hope everyone is in em today!

 

[TheGreek]

Killed a buck I was happy with in NW CO this morning. Rut activity was going pretty good these past two days, even saw some decent shooter bucks rutting hard. Good luck to everyone who still had a tag.

 

[justinspicher]

I went up north of the house, just to check it out. Didn’t even see a chipmunk.

 

[huntsd]

Question about checking does right now. I found a group of 10 does today with 2 130-140 bucks that were rutting hard. How often would you check that group of does with hopes something bigger shows up? Everyday? Every other?

 

[Hnthrdr]

Question about checking does right now. I found a group of 10 does today with 2 130-140 bucks that were rutting hard. How often would you check that group of does with hopes something bigger shows up? Everyday? Every other?

Every day

 

[BruinPoint]

Had a tough first weekend in the west-central part of the state. We only saw one doe on public and didn't hear any shooting, but saw lots of deer and solid rutting activity on private land down low. I don't have a ton of experience with these units, but in other recent years' 3rd season, we were seeing good numbers of deer up high in these spots, even with a lot of snow on the ground. We won't get back out until Thursday. Congrats to those who pulled it off this weekend, and good luck to those still trying!

 

[BigThig09]

We’ve been waxing them the past two days in NW Colorado. 4 bulls and 4 mule deer so far. My buddy shot his personal best mulie this morning. My brother and I doubled up on 6x5 and 6x6 bulls this morning. And I capped the day with my possible best mulie right at last light. He chased a doe right to me after breaking her from the herd in a large field. I LOVE mule deer hunting!

 

[ColoradoV]

Been out w friends w tags..

Seems some of you boys are looking for rutting bucks and not a hot doe…. Right now if ya find the latter the first will be there..

 

[crosey5]

Still seeing 30-40 does a day in Central Western CO at about 7000 elevation. No bucks around. Even on private. Gonna move up higher to 9000 hoping bucks are there.

 

[WashCycle]

Well opening weekend turned up lots of bulls and a dozen or so does along with 3 fork & horn bucks. Bulls were all in groups. Didn’t locate any shooter bucks or a cow so I might adjust my elevation to go higher for some mid-week hunts.

Did get to watch a group of bulls spar all
morning on opening day at less than 150 yards, that was super cool. Also found 23 moose rubs in about an acre of wood lot. Buck tag/b list cow tag. Might need to get the wife a OTC bull tag for The Weeknd

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Lots of rutting way earlier than last year. Zero snow on the ground and dry as can be, temps in the 50s mid day. Its feeling like a 4th rifle hunt with the amount of rutting I am seeing.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

All the bigger bucks have disappeared down here in the SW part of Co. Even the small forkies are ignoring the does, looks like the rut is over.

Supposed to get a storm this weekend, make kick thing in the butt. Hope for an inch or two of snow, that way all the tracks will be fresh.

 

[lak2004]

It's a trip right now in the SW! Had a buck walk through my yard trailing does. Spent the last 3 days looking for a shooter. Found one on his own, saw a toad with a a bunch of does but just chilling and had a forky in my sights but let him go. Hoping the weather gets the bigger bucks moving again, it's been hot!

 

[Poser]

I was out for the last 3 days in the 11k elevation range hunting elk. Didn't see anything except for 2 elk crossing the highway at 11k, but fresh tracks and sign still up high. Even a few deer tracks still at that elevation. Haven't heard a single gunshot either, which is odd for 3rd rifle. Seems as if the animals are pocketed up and locked down hard. Of course, the deer in town are still out and about doing their thing, but no sign of rutting.