Second season Colorado reports

[a3dhunter]

Central Colorado around 7k feet found this guy with 8 does on 10/31.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Central Colorado around 7k feet found this guy with 8 does on 10/31.
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Nice buck!

 

[MallardSX2]

Central Colorado around 7k feet found this guy with 8 does on 10/31.
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Congrats. I would be very happy with that deer!

 

[Poser]

Not going to lie, these reports don't make me feel warm and fuzzy about third season. Hopefully this turns around by the weekend. Thanks for sharing input to those that did.

I'd wager 2nd rifle is probably the most difficult season to hunt mule deer bucks. That being said, with significant October snow, I'd wager the success rates were higher than we've seen in a few years. I saw a lot of big mule deer killed in the various hunting FB groups.

But also.... what were you expecting reports of? Rutting in Oct?

 

[wgrkman]

We burnt some points on a pretty good unit in southern central CO. From 10/24 to 11/2, the number of deer in town went up probably 5x so they were migrating but didn't see much rut except for 1 or 2 year old bucks. We had significant snow in the high country of our unit (about 2').

We killed 3 pretty good bucks. My buddy and I shot two bucks out of a group on 10/30 that were with a group of about 15 does. We didn't find the biggest bucks on public but the deer numbers were great in the unit. Saw 50-100 deer a day. Fun hunt.

 

[KHNC]

Rut wont be til 11/20 for sure! Cause thats when my hunt starts.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Hopefully all the big ones come out during third… cause that’s when I’m hunting haha

 

[KHNC]

Hopefully all the big ones come out during third… cause that’s when I’m hunting haha

I leave tonight for Archery WT in NE nebraska. So I wont be too jealous of you getting there early. lol

 

[blackhawk219]

I was in a north western unit for second rifle chasing bull elk. I didn't see a single elk (nor did any of the drop camp guys I ran into), but I did see some deer. Mostly groups of 4-8 does with no bucks. Only buck I saw was a 3 pointer at about 10k as the sun was going down.

I'm headed back to that same area for 3rd rifle, so hopefully the action starts! I would happily take that 3 pointer if I see him again (my freezer is empty right now). Also have a cow tag if the weather pushes the elk down as well.

 

[Poser]

Rut wont be til 11/20 for sure! Cause thats when my hunt starts.

Realistically, that's right about the timeline of the the rut proper in the SW portion of the state. Its probably a little earlier in the Northern portion of the state, but I'm a bit confused by people who are/were (apparently) expecting to see rutting behaviours in October.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Realistically, that's right about the timeline of the the rut proper in the SW portion of the state. Its probably a little earlier in the Northern portion of the state, but I'm a bit confused by people who are/were (apparently) expecting to see rutting behaviours in October.

Been involved in a few rut fests in in central/ no co but 9-13th of Nov, I agree, October I’m looking above does and for bachelor groups

 

[Hnthrdr]

I leave tonight for Archery WT in NE nebraska. So I wont be too jealous of you getting there early. lol

Sounds like fun! I’ll be on limited time in an awful unit so I think your big bucks will be safe haha

 

[OKHunter84]

I'd wager 2nd rifle is probably the most difficult season to hunt mule deer bucks. That being said, with significant October snow, I'd wager the success rates were higher than we've seen in a few years. I saw a lot of big mule deer killed in the various hunting FB groups.

But also.... what were you expecting reports of? Rutting in Oct?

Yes, i was expecting a deer orgy in the middle of the highway.

I've hunted 2nd rifle before and you're right about it being tough. I was mainly concerned about snow not sticking around.

 

[Poser]

Yes, i was expecting a deer orgy in the middle of the highway.

I've hunted 2nd rifle before and you're right about it being tough. I was mainly concerned about snow not sticking around.

worry not. this will be the snowiest 3rd rifle (throughout the entire state) in several years.

 

[jwatts]

Rut wont be til 11/20 for sure! Cause thats when my hunt starts.

I hope you're right, because that's when my hunt starts too.

 

[Huntinmechanic]

Myself and a few friends hunted a unit in the SE corner of the Piceance Basin. First few days were miserably warm and dry. Little bit of weather rolled in Tuesday and temps got down to normal. We all ended up with mature bucks after 8 days of hunting and a ton of country being covered. Didn't see much rutting action but, the little bit of weather flipped a switch with the migration. One day we were glassing/driving by 80+ bucks in a particular area, next day we were lucky to see 10 or so in the same area.

 

[KHNC]

Got a report that 3rd season was much better than 2nd in NW Co area. I wont get specific but bigger bucks were found in lower elevations. Definitely started to migrate. Next week weather is looking good.

On a side note, my archery WT rut hunt in a phenomenal part of Nebraska was terrible. Had 2 and 3 yo bucks running all over from 11/6-11/11. Not one mature buck in sight. Passed a couple 130 class 8pts that i was really tempted to shoot. Seemed they were all locked down with does after the 5th. First time ive had that experience for the full duration of those dates.