CO high country

[michiganmoron]

Looking to finally deer hunt Colorado for the first time. I’d really love a high country (or at least open country-not super timbered) hunt experience. I *can* do archery, but would prefer rifle as this will be my first time and I may be solo. Will deer still be in HC during second season? Being alone is like to also avoid as much snow as possible…..Already have a few units picked to apply for, now just trying to decide on which season

 

[WeiserBucks]

Do you have any points?

 

[michiganmoron]

Do you have any points?

Nope. I’ve sifted through draw results to find several units I’d have good odds at drawing. Not looking for a monster at all, mostly looking for the experience.

 

[WeiserBucks]

With no points, not wanting to do archery and not wanting to deal with snow kinda puts you in a tough spot. Draw what you can and make the most of it.

 

[Poser]

Want to hunt second season in the high country AND avoid snow? That combination sometimes happens, but its the exception. Some years, the high country is completely snowed out by second season. At a minimum, I would plan on snow holding on North facing aspects from previous storms.

As for the deer, they have, for the most part, vacated the alpine by second season (and often a ~month or more before 2nd season). You may turn up some bucks holding at upper mid elevations, but once snow pushes deer down, they do not tend to reclaim those higher elevations.

I think you have some more research to do.

 

[robby denning]

OP, you're looking for an archery or muzz hunt if HC, or a low hunt on BLM sage country.

I'm with previous posts. Very little rifle hunting in HC in Colorado in 2nd season and later

 

[michiganmoron]

Want to hunt second season in the high country AND avoid snow? That combination sometimes happens, but its the exception. Some years, the high country is completely snowed out by second season. At a minimum, I would plan on snow holding on North facing aspects from previous storms.

As for the deer, they have, for the most part, vacated the alpine by second season (and often a ~month or more before 2nd season). You may turn up some bucks holding at upper mid elevations, but once snow pushes deer down, they do not tend to reclaim those higher elevations.

I think you have some more research to do.

Posting on the forum is part of my research lol. Totally open to archery and can hunt in the snow, mostly wanted to still be able to drive. But you answered my question so thanks much!

 

[michiganmoron]

OP, you're looking for an archery or muzz hunt if HC, or a low hunt on BLM sage country.

I'm with previous posts. Very little rifle hunting in HC in Colorado in 2nd season and later

Thanks. Love archery and totally open to sage hunts, honestly open to hunting snow too, just trying to get a handle on what to prepare for and what the best course of action is

With no points, not wanting to do archery and not wanting to deal with snow kinda puts you in a tough spot. Draw what you can and make the most of it.

 

[cnelk]

Does a ML hunt interest you?

 

[dirtytough]

Colorado high country hunting is definitely worth doing once. Even if unsuccessful. I would find a GMU or two you could draw during archery or muzzy and apply there.

 

[Beagle001]

Just to reiterate, one Great Lakes guy to another, if you want to get into the high country, you’ve gotta go early. I hunted there in ‘22 and by Sept 12, a lot of deer were pressured out of the open and down in elevation into the cover. I imagine in the right areas you could find some deer high later on, but I’d wager they’ll be few and far between.

 

[RS_Non-Res]

Snow may not be a problem for you but it is for the deer. They’re not sticking around in the snow. They go to where the food and water are not frozen.

 

[Poser]

Just to reiterate, one Great Lakes guy to another, if you want to get into the high country, you’ve gotta go early. I hunted there in ‘22 and by Sept 12, a lot of deer were pressured out of the open and down in elevation into the cover. I imagine in the right areas you could find some deer high later on, but I’d wager they’ll be few and far between.

This has been my observation as well. In July and August, you'll see deer out and about and even bedded down as high as 13,000 feet, but they drop into the timber come early to mid Sept.

 

[michiganmoron]

Thanks. Love archery and totally open to sage hunts, honestly open to hunting snow too, just trying to get a handle on what to prepare for and what the best course of action is

Does a ML hunt interest you?

Honestly I’m open to literally anything. Originally I figured 2nd rifle, but it sounds like archery or ML may be the way to go. Otherwise, I may just go 2nd rifle and abandon the idea of high country all together. More than anything I want to hunt in new places and kill a new animal.

 

[cnelk]

Honestly I’m open to literally anything. Originally I figured 2nd rifle, but it sounds like archery or ML may be the way to go. Otherwise, I may just go 2nd rifle and abandon the idea of high country all together. More than anything I want to hunt in new places and kill a new animal.

Just do a little research on ML and you should find a hunt that is 100% draw on 1st Choice because it went into the 2nd Choice last year

 

[sodaksooner]

Yeah, muzzleloader might be your best bet. Colorado does have a very limited early rifle season, during muzzy season but it's a tough ticket. We did that hunt in 2023 and had a good time. Might look at some of the units with lower points required and start looking to acquire some. Won't tell you the units but ours took 7 points to draw, and the one right over the ridge took 1. We literally parked in the same spot as the guys hunting the other unit and just hiked the other way.

They are fun hunts above timberline for sure. I don't recommend often as we typically hunt elk in the dark timber but beg, borrow, or steal a good spotter. You will use it a lot!

 

[robby denning]

Just do a little research on ML and you should find a hunt that is 100% draw on 1st Choice because it went into the 2nd Choice last year

this tip is so good it is borderline hotspotting lol

 

[cnelk]

I will mention that it’s probably not ‘high country’ to some, but it is to hunters from Michigan