Newbie looking for a alpine hunt DIY archery

[Kebler]

Hello folks,

My name is Adam, I go by Kebler like the Kebler elf, I love me some cookies. Anyway been doing some research on a colorado DIY high country mule archery hunt. The draw odds and stats are like Algerba. I'm looking at few units in the sw but I have no points.

What other regions should a guy look at? I'm from the Midwest and have only hunted deer in turkey in iowa,Missouri and kansas. I'm a traditional bow hunter.

You western guys are animals, I thought a mile hump to a stand was getting of the path, which in most places eliminates 80 percent of the folks.

Just looking for some guidance, don't want hot spots, just general info on possible regions with a chances get a tag and hunt.

 

[ScottP]

Since you've missed this year's draw, I'd start looking at the CPW website and look for the units that had leftover tags last year. Might be a good way to narrow down areas. Download the hunting brochure, and find the hunt codes that have a '*' next to it, which means leftover tags were available last year. They go on sale in August.

 

[robby denning]

Kebler,
there is an article by Kevin Clerkin on our Research page about deciphering those Colorado draw tables.
http://www.rokslide.com/research

There will be leftover licenses for archery in various units soon now that the deer draw is done. Call CDOW and find out when the leftover list comes out (usually late June I think) and you should be able to find a tag. If you want high country, then look at the units along the continental divide- there's lots of them.

 

[Kebler]

Been reading tough to decipher the numbers.

 

[Racethesunset]

Throw a dart on a map of mountains and take a chance!

Seriously though, this is a Google crawled forum. I don't know if posting a gem of a unit or even a favorite backup unit in the event you are tagless is respectable.

I mean sharing stories and love of hunting is one thing, popularizing remote wilderness locations, especially alpine locations is another.

 

[bohntr]

Kebler:

There's a lot of information you can attain to prepare for an above timberline hunt. With most of the draws and deadlines already completed, I would begin my research for next year (2014). I agree with racethesunset, most folks are not going to mention units, etc., on an open board, especially with a poster who they do not know or is not a frequent member of a particular site. However, I can understand your situation and the need to experience such a high-country adventure. The next edition of Western Hunter Magazine (out next month) will have an article on bowhunting above timberline mule deer. Within that article, there's a section on specifically how to research areas before you actually set foot in them and scout. You may find this article extremely beneficial as a non-resident hunter from the East.

If you research an area correctly, you can often locate potentially good summer range habitat where mule deer will be. If you can not make a bonsai scouting trip prior to the hunt, I would encourage you to arrive in the high-country 4 days prior to opening day and be ready to move to different basins if need be to locate pockets of deer. I would rather give up four days scouting and locate some good deer than hoping I find them when the hunting season is open. Good luck and I hope it helps.

 

[Kebler]

Copy that I would not expect anyone to post up units. I respect that. I have found out about some tools to help me research.

 

[drthornton]

I have the CO leftover lists from the last couple years. Send me an email if you want them.

[email protected]

 

[Kebler]

Learning a lot Thanx to all that have helped me figure out, a few things.

 

[rhendrix]

DR, that offer extend to a fellow Texan?

 

[drthornton]

Sure...be happy to send to anyone

 

[rhendrix]

Thanks, buddy.

 

[Kebler]

Well after much research, I have a few spots narrowed down. My priorities have changed a bunch. It looks like living at 12,000 feet ain't no joke. My goals have changed from big fuzzy antlers to this.

Survive in the mnt alpine during the full duration of my hunt.
Learn about the mnts and myself.
Look for deer sign
Find deer
Watch deer
Stay alive
Stay on the mnt
Find away to get close to the deer

If I harvest buck of average size with my stick bow icing on the cake.

 

[Kebler]

Well I have been researching since I made this post, learned allot. Got it narrowed down to 2 units I can get a tag in. Can't wait till 2014. Gonna give up whitetail mania in the Midwest to come spend 14 days in colorado.

 

[Nick Muche]

Awesome! Good luck!

 

[Kebler]

Well my trip was a disaster, by my own making to a degree, never did I over look how big the country is, boy a wilderness and the mnt can sure play tricks on your mind.

but lessons learned, never will I put so much time on gear and over look the lonlniess of a solo hunt,

lessones learned and and going back in 2016 to try and ride this pony again.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Mental preparation is sure a big part of the hunt. Any pictures?

 

[sneaky]

Coming from back east a LOT of guys underestimate the size, and loneliness of hunting out here. I'm from the mountains of East Tennessee and this country still amazes me sometimes. I'm fortunate to where I get to drive through a good bit of it. Probably driven by most of the Roksliders from on here lol.

 

[bohntr]

Alpine hunting solo can be a challenge. The last two alpine mule deer bowhunts I've done have been solo......10 days each. It is definitely not as fun as hunting it with a partner, but selecting a camp where I could build a fire at night without alarming bucks was a HUGE benefit, IMO. Just something about sitting around a fire puts your mind at ease and subsides the loneliness. Just remember, it's okay to talk to yourself......however, when you start beginning to interrupt yourself, time to get back to civilization.

 

[Kebler]

This is my hunt in a nutshell

i got burnt in the draw in Colorado trying to play the point game, so that year I got a left over tag in Nevada, I live in Missouri. this was a bow hunt

1. Drive was 2 long, 2, 12 hour days
2. Stuff was not right at home
3. It's pretty boring if u don't find deer
4. U don't have to go 8 miles to find deer and bivy, u can truck camp, the best deer I found where 1/2 mile from road.
5. The wilderness is big and quiet

my advice would make sure home life is squared away, get tough mentally, and have decent gear