OTC Elk with Mule Deer in mind

[Warren1726]

I was listening to the MeatEater podcast with the guys from Western Hunter magazine. They made the point that it is much better to hunt than wait for PP to build for a great unit. Basically they said, hunt OTC elk in Colorado in a unit that you can draw easily for Mule deer (every other year or so) because there are good deer in most units of Colorado.
So, I'm looking for a little guidance on what areas to look at. I'm looking a wilderness areas. I want to hunt OTC elk and some years have a tag for both. Also, is CO the best option for this?

 

[chippewawarrior]

I will say this, I agree. The last 2 seasons I've hunted CO elk (1st rifle) in an easily drawn unit, and I've seen several huge mule deer bucks that I could've shot had I bought a tag. The problem is, an out-of-state tag gets a bit pricey when you add in an elk tag as well...

 

[Shrek]

Montana has a combo tag with elk and mule deer thats good for archery and rifle and gives you two forevers to get it done and Idaho has a bunch of places that you could have two elk and two deer tags along with two bear tags in pocket at the same time ! Imo , Colorado , with its short seasons and draw only mule deer tags and draw only first rifle elk tags provides the least value. By the time you get to second rifle otc elk tags everything has been chased around for archery , muzzle loader , and first rifle elk. Archery in Colorado isn't bad but OTC elk and easy draw mule deer isn't anything to write home about as far as value imo.

 

[AZ Vince]

Montana has a combo tag with elk and mule deer thats good for archery and rifle and gives you two forevers to get it done and Idaho has a bunch of places that you could have two elk and two deer tags along with two bear tags in pocket at the same time ! Imo , Colorado , with its short seasons and draw only mule deer tags and draw only first rifle elk tags provides the least value. By the time you get to second rifle otc elk tags everything has been chased around for archery , muzzle loader , and first rifle elk. Archery in Colorado isn't bad but OTC elk and easy draw mule deer isn't anything to write home about as far as value imo.

I agree with Shrek.

 

[Warren1726]

Thanks guys. That's what I was looking for. I new MT had some good options. Shrek, what do you mean by value, numbers or trophy potential? Because I've never even seen a Mule deer in person, so value is subjective.

 

[Shrek]

It's all of it. In Montana the price isn't cheap but you get a long time to get it done and your tag is good for both the archery season and the rifle season. I don't archery hunt but the general rifle runs from the last week of October to the end of November. A general combo is good for any general HD and most of the state is general. There is everything from trophy potential to high population good chance areas for both species. The seasons beat the heck out of Colorado's 5 and 10 day seasons where there is tremendous pressure both to get it done and everyone in the field at the same time.
Idaho has slightly less expensive tags and shorter seasons but you still have two weeks of rifle or archery generally and a week of the other weapon and there are two kinds of tags. A and B tags. First gives you a longer archery season and shorter rifle and the B tag is the reverse with a longer rifle but shorter archery season. You hunt both archery and rifle on both tags but depending on which tag you can tailor it to be longer for what you like best. Idaho you can have elk , deer , and bear tags at the same time and multiples of each in much of the area. Your elk or deer tag can be used as a bear or wolf tag instead if you wish also. The idaho tags aren't good for the whole state but they are good for a couple of hd's usually so there is still plenty of area to move around in if you are not finding things in your first stop.
I haven't hunted Idaho yet but if it goes well over the next month or so I'll be picking up an elk tag for Idaho and going there as well as Montana.

 

[Shrek]

Another great thing about Montana is you can hunt elk in one general HD that has great elk numbers and then drive half way across the state to hunt deer where the deer numbers are good. I've done this and really liked it. First year I hunted elk in three different HDs and then drove across the state and hunted mule deer in sagebrush country after the elk had kicked my butt.

 

[Warren1726]

Thanks, Shrek, you're very helpful!

 

[Shrek]

Niether Montana or Idaho have guaranteed point draws like Colorado or Wyoming . Idaho doesn't even do points at all and Montana points just put you into the draw additional times for your points so your odds get better over the years. No maddening point creep but many find it maddening that they can't get a guaranteed draw for a trophy HD. Personally I could care less if I ever hunt a trophy management hd or someplace with the genetics for big antlers. Meat in the freezer and a great experience is what I value and big antlers are just a bonus if they happen. I do try to shoot mature animals but I'm not always even that self controlled or picky. I've got a freezer full of very nice deer heads for my local area that I haven't ever bothered to clean and boil. Big 8's and 10's. Throphys just collect dust on the wall at my house and get hats , belts , and clothes hung on them if it's convenient.

 

[Warren1726]

I like the way you think! I try to kill mature bucks and does. I haven't bought red meat in three years. Don't get me wrong I'd be pumped to kill a trophy it's just not my biggest priority. Do any of y'all have a suggestion on Hd's for a first time elk/Mulie hunter in Montana?

 

[Jeff Martin]

I agree. I will be in a LE (2 point unit) in the high country CO in 2+ weeks. With that said, I will shoot with the first opportunity - As a NR, wight he hard work and limited time, you have to feed the family and have fun. I despise the "pass up everything" view on hunting these days.

 

[Shrek]

I'm not going to name a particular unit but if you comb through the regulations you will see units that are any elk for general rifle. Tells you that the unit has plenty of elk in it. Same with deer. If it's any mule deer then there's plenty of deer in the unit. Then you need to look at how much public land is open in the unit. If you just want to shoot a mule deer and elk then hunting where there a lots of elk helps. Little Belts is that way for elk and I hunted it and saw elk. There were hunters at every ttrail and a pile of guys riding the roads but I hiked back three miles and didn't see a sigle fresh boot print ...didn't see any elk back there either and all the sign and elk I saw were right up near the road. Less than a half mile in . If I didn't have some place to go where there are friends nearby to visit and point me in the right direction I'd be right back in the Little Belts with the crowd and know that just a little effort would get me clear of them and into a place with a great chance of connecting. I've been to several places now in Montana and locals are mostly lazy hunters and aren't going to be found more than a mile from the road if that. Three miles back I meet people from places like Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Last fall I met an eighty year old insurance agent from Minnesota and his two fifty something sons three miles from the road and the only locals I ran into back there were illegally riding a 4wheeler and the two kids scoped me repeatedly. They weren't close but still ! Bottom line is get back away from the nearest road and trial and you're very likely to have the place to yourself and a quality backcountry experience.

 

[5MilesBack]

I despise the "pass up everything" view on hunting these days.

What is the "pass up everything" view on hunting? Never even heard of that one.

 

[Grant Gladson]

Colorado sucks probably shouldn't hunt here... But actually For archery CO shouldn't be over looked. If you are rifle hunting it gets real tricky with pressure and how much the animals are pushed around but OTC archery in CO is solid. Pick a spot with lots of highcountry that is easy to get a deer tag most likely it's OTC for elk too. The further from Denver/ the front range the better as naturally that is where more people are. Archery will give you a solid 5 weeks to chase animals. People are lazy out here so if you get some distance into wilderness you will find animals. Genetics are pretty solid state wide too. Put some age on an animal and you'll have an impressive animal. Most archery deer tags are multiple units too so you aren't restricted to one unit. MT is good if you get the combo but it if you just are getting one of the two tags CO will be drastically cheaper. If you like the adventure of highcountry we got plenty of sky high basins to choose from

 

[5MilesBack]

Archery will give you a solid 5 weeks to chase animals.

Where are you picking up that extra week from?

 

[Grant Gladson]

Where are you picking up that extra week from?

Not sure... Had a slow moment there! 30 days of season for CO archery