Second season Colorado reports

Poser

WKR
Joined
Dec 27, 2013
Messages
5,587
Location
Durango CO
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

FNG
Joined
Mar 30, 2018
Messages
34
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.

deer.pngdeer3.jpgdeer2.jpg
 

KHNC

WKR
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
3,619
Location
NC
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

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Messages
102
Location
Colorado
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

WKR
Joined
Dec 27, 2013
Messages
5,587
Location
Durango CO
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

WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Messages
3,478
Location
The West
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

WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Messages
3,478
Location
The West
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
 
Joined
May 7, 2023
Messages
621
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.
 
Joined
Apr 17, 2018
Messages
37
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

WKR
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
3,619
Location
NC
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.
 
Top