Deer per sq mile

[muleyapprentice]

Great time of year to be researching. I’m trying to plan a hunt in Colorado for my sister(youth, passes on yearling forkies and never killed an animal) and I think it’s important for kids to be seeing deer often to stay motivated. Especially since a 140”er was the same as a 180”er when I was 14. I’m taking DAU populations and dividing it over sq miles of encompassed units. It gives me an idea of the deer in the area but it’s flawed due to private, unit by unit variance and terrain types. Not to mention time consuming. Is there a better way to predict the overall amount of deer in an area? What are some considerations when trying to get youth hooked?

 

[robby denning]

Hi, ya per sq/mile is tough in the west and plus add in that a buncha sq mi doesn't contain any deer (no habitat).
I'd look for higher success rates and the ability to get a tag.

and ya, sadly the 140 is the new 180. Hoping better days ahead with Co's new earlier season shift.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

How far are you from being able to spend time in the area? I always tell folks that the best unit to hunt is the unit you're able to spend the most amount of time in year round.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Hoping better days ahead with Co's new earlier season shift.

Last I checked dates weren't changing?

 

[TaperPin]

What are some considerations when trying to get youth hooked?

Sounds like a fun trip.

We’ve had good luck picking really nice looking areas that a kid would enjoy hiking or backpacking even without the hunting. Early seasons are always better than colder ones - and keeping them relatively comfortable is more important than grinding out a death march to nicer terrain. By having them give input into meals and camp sites they feel more invested. The more fun she has the more she’ll want to do it again.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees and no telling if someone will get hooked.

 

[S.Clancy]

Last I checked dates weren't changing?

They are, slowly. I think basically a day earlier each yr for the next 5.

 

[WeiserBucks]

They are, slowly.

You're correct.

 

[muleyapprentice]

Hi, ya per sq/mile is tough in the west and plus add in that a buncha sq mi doesn't contain any deer (no habitat).
I'd look for higher success rates and the ability to get a tag.

and ya, sadly the 140 is the new 180. Hoping better days ahead with Co's new earlier season shift.

Being young and self taught in the big buck game I can’t speak on what it used to be. I’m referring to my first years in the field when I saw any 4 point and thought it was the biggest buck to walk haha. I believe she’d be over the moon seeing a 4 point like I once was.

 

[muleyapprentice]

How far are you from being able to spend time in the area? I always tell folks that the best unit to hunt is the unit you're able to spend the most amount of time in year round.

I guess my concern is I can scout, but how many days in the field can a youth take? Do you guys take your kids as many times as they would like? Up until the kids asks not to go?

 

[muleyapprentice]

Sounds like a fun trip.

We’ve had good luck picking really nice looking areas that a kid would enjoy hiking or backpacking even without the hunting. Early seasons are always better than colder ones - and keeping them relatively comfortable is more important than grinding out a death march to nicer terrain. By having them give input into meals and camp sites they feel more invested. The more fun she has the more she’ll want to do it again.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees and no telling if someone will get hooked.

Gosh taper pin, this one actually left me thinking. I’ve always tried to be more of a “guide” role. Where I have everything planned so my sisters can just get in the truck and simply be there. I agree with your thoughts, I’ve never tried it or given that a thought. Huh I think I’ve played my cards wrong

 

[Jtb.kfd]

I have three kids (son 22, daughter 20, daughter 17) and all three are hooked on hunting. Started them at a young age and what really hooked them was off season scouting. Getting them in the field in spring and summer when deer will be in bachelor groups was great. There was no pressure and they really enjoyed spending time in the field. Watching those animals in the off season and watching them grow in velvet got them thinking about hunting more than a week during season. As others mentioned, keeping them comfortable and getting them their own gear also helps. I would add something to their kit each year.

 

[InkedElkSlayer]

This is a generalization and may not describe every kid.

What is success? Many times dads (or older brothers) define success as punching a tag. For the most part, girls define hunting success much differently than boys. If you two plan a hunt together, pre make meals, pack gear together, scout like Jtb said above, then you go on the trip… you will see something cool and unique no matter how much shooting you get into. MOST girls are happy to experience it with you and they appreciate some of the small things more than boys. If they kill something that’s good too, but killing alone doesn’t define success for them.

It was said above. Involve her in as much as the process as possible. It’s more skin in the game.

 

[TaperPin]

Gosh taper pin, this one actually left me thinking. I’ve always tried to be more of a “guide” role. Where I have everything planned so my sisters can just get in the truck and simply be there. I agree with your thoughts, I’ve never tried it or given that a thought. Huh I think I’ve played my cards wrong

Of course everyone has a different personality and she may not care one way or the other, but kids are funny and some of the simplest things can stick with them. It’s like a skill building trip and you’re the leader and keep the train on the rails, but when possible give them opportunities to use their judgement. I let them know I’m there for advice, or bail them out if something is going horribly wrong, but a lot of learning is doing things sub optimally. Maybe it’s giving them two good options to choose from, and sometimes maybe it’s all their choice.

I naturally want to charge up the hill any anyone along for the ride simply follows, but that can be as interesting as the rear seat on a tandem bike, so if it doesn’t negatively impact anything too badly, letting them do some route finding, or just being first in line heading up game trails might light up their face. In deer country, slowly working along ridges for bedded deer is exciting - I want to be first in line to show how fast to move and what to look for, but when they can take the lead it activates a different part of the brain. I have been known to walk ridges with zero chance for a shot when one gets kicked up, just to give them an adrenaline rush - and to show how it’s important to hunt in a way to be able to get a shot.

Kids always enjoy interacting with animals - like if you run across a small buck or doe that is walking away - having her softly blow a cow elk call, or just making a soft whistle and stopping the deer as it turns to see what made the noise is fun for anyone who hasn’t done it. Same for seeing how close you sneak up on a bedded deer you aren’t trying to shoot - just fun teenager stuff, but it also teaches skills.

Sounds like you guys will have fun hunting together - she wouldn’t volunteer for it if you didn’t get long really well.