Trophy
Mule Deer
Hunting in Colorado
Here
in Colorado we have two different kinds of mule deer. Mountain
Mule Deer
and Plains Mule Deer. They’re the
same species for sure, but they differ a fair amount in size
and antler formation. The Plains mule deer live near crops.
They live mostly in coulees and creek bottoms much like their
white tail cousins. It’s probably because of these
crops that their bodies average 20% bigger. If a buck lives
5 years in the plains he’s likely to weigh 300 lbs.
The difference is not only in the body weight. The mountain
mule deer’s antlers tend to stand up more, while the
plains deer lay out more. And non typical's in the mountains
are more common. A five year old deer in the mountains will
average grossing in the mid 160s while in the plains he’ll
average in the mid 180s. You can get a bruiser in either
location, but the odds are higher in the plains.
In 2007
there was an exception to that with a teenage hunter killing
the 3rd largest non typical buck ever taken in Colorado
not 10 miles from one of our mountain ranches. The buck grossed
way over 300. This deer was harvested on the same ridge
line
as two of the ranches we lease.
Hunting
mule deer in the plains can prove challenging. Shots can
be long at times, and being able to shoot at running
game increases your chances at going home with a wall hanger.
Not that this is typical, but those hunters who are prepared
for all situations have a higher chance at success. In 2007
we harvested some of the really big boys, yet in 2008 the
shots at the really big bucks came up empty. 2009 was similar
to 2008 with a giant non typical escaping 3 shots untouched.
However our last hunter made a good shot on a great buck
that scored 191 inches (see Rob Arieta, lower left).
In
2007 we hosted 5 hunters in the plains and all 5 of them
harvested nice bucks. 3 of them scored over 185 (186 & 197
and 206). The other two were respectable. The average score
for 2007 was a spectacular 180 inches gross score. We used
most our luck in 2007 because in 2008 our hunters had several
missed shots at the big bruisers and ended up harvesting
3 bucks in the 170s and one 12 point white tail that grossed
156 inches. 2009 was a mix of the previous two years experiences.
A great Wyoming hunter missed 3 shots at a huge non typical
that will haunt his memory for life. He ended up harvesting
a nice 9 point white tail. 8 hunter’s hunted total
and 6 harvested. The big ones were elusive, and only the
last hunter bagged a monster. While looking for a 30 +
inch wide buck that we watched for hours through a spotting
scope, the lucky hunter bagged a nice slick 28” wide
4 X 4 with double eye guards on one side, and a 3 ½ inch
drop tine to top it off. It grossed 191 inches. The biggest
buck of this avid hunter’s life. (Rob Arieta, lower
left) Our record to date is now 18 hunters hosted, with
15 harvested,
and 3 going home with only memories.
Come
and be one of the few lucky hunters who hunt with us this
year. There
will only be 8 slots for hunters. We’ve
added quite a lot of land to hunt on so it should be a spectacular
year to hunt. We expect to take some really exceptional deer
in 2010!
Sincerely, Patrick Faast / Pack String Ranch Outfitters
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