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Elk & Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado – Deadline Approaching

Erik Schell
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The 2020 application deadline for Colorado mule deer and elk is April 7th with draw results tentatively posting June 5th. The application system in Colorado is on a true preference point system, meaning whomever applies for that particular hunt with the most preference points will be allotted a tag. With historical draw information you can make extremely accurate assumptions on when you will draw a tag. 

ELK

Colorado has long been known for the sheer quantity of elk that call the state home. The latest population estimates project the herd at over 280,000.  Colorado is not only a quantity state, the quality of bulls can be exceptional within the right areas. Regardless of your personal priorities, I can assure you that Colorado has a hunt that will accomplish the goals/priorities you desire.

Mule Deer

This is a state that every mule deer hunter should be applying for. You ask why, the answer is simple… OPPORTUNITY abounds in the Centennial State. Colorado is arguably the best overall producer of trophy bucks, but also boasts some of the highest overall tag allotments for deer you will find in the West.

Hunt Options

The hunts below are a small sampling of WTA’s Colorado elk & mule deer trips that have available spots in 2020. Each hunt takes place with a veteran outfitter whom has a track record of providing WTA clients with safe and successful experiences. If these hunts do not meet your individual specifications please click below for a complete listing of Colorado elk and mule deer hunts available through WTA.

Application Strategy

Managing your Colorado elk and deer points in conjunction with personal expectations can be difficult when you have so many unit, weapon, and hunting seasons to choose from. This is why consulting with an expert is critical. If you’re considering applying into the Colorado elk and or mule deer draw give WTA TAGS a call (800-755-8247) or send us an email  before you do. We will help you formulate an application strategy tailored to you.

2020 Available Elk Hunts

Unit 40 Trophy Bull Elk

Dates – Archery- Sept. 21-25, Two Spots Remaining (14+ Points Required To Draw)

Rifle- Nov. 7-11, Two Spots Remaining (15+ Points Required To Draw)

Rifle- Nov. 18-22, Two Spots Remaining (15+ Points Required To Draw)

For those of you with the necessary points to draw, this is one hunt that is not to be overlooked! Colorado’s unit 40 is one of the most consistent producers of 300+ inch bulls in the state with multiple bulls over 380 inches being harvested each and every year. Expert 1×1 guide service, premium private land in one of Colorado’s best elk units, modern log cabin accommodations and superb meals – round-out to make this one of WTA TAGS top recommendations for big bulls in Colorado.

Private Land Bull Elk In Unit 20

Dates – Rifle- Dec. 11-6, Two Spots Remaining (7+ Points Required To Draw)

Rifle- Jan. 15-20, Two Spots Remaining (6+ Points Required To Draw)

These late season, private land only hunts, have consistently produced trophy bulls for over a decade. This culmination of private ranches makes up the premier winter range within the unit which makes for ideal late season bull hunting. The topography and road network on the ranches make this an ideal hunt for those that- “just don’t get around like they used to”.

Big Bulls In Southern Colorado

Dates –Archery- Sept. 25-29, 4 Spots Remaining (3+ Preference Points Required To Draw/ A Limited Supply Of Guaranteed Landowner Vouchers Are Available)

Rifle- Oct. 10-14, 4 Spots Remaining (5+ Preference Points Required To Draw)

Rifle- Oct. 17-21, 2 Spots Remaining (3+ Preference Points Required To Draw)

If southern Colorado is not on your “elk radar” it should be! This outfitter operates on 40,000+ acres of private property that consistently produces bulls ranging from 270-320+ with bulls over 350 being taken every year. This hunt is arguably the best offering for applicants that currently have 3-5 elk points in Colorado.

Western Colorado Private Land Elk Hunt

Dates – Archery- Sept. 15-20, 4 Spots Remaining (Tag is Over The Counter)

Rifle- Oct. 10-14, 5 Spots Remaining (Zero Preference Points Required To Draw)

This 20,000+ acre private ranch in western Colorado is operated by a long time outfitter of WTA. The ranch has a healthy population of elk throughout the fall, hunts will be action packed with overall high success rates on 5X5 & 6X6 bulls.

2020 Available Deer Hunts

Trophy Mule Deer In Western Colorado

Dates – Rifle- Sept. 5-9, Two Spots Available (10+ Preference Points Required To Draw)

Rifle- Nov. 18-22, Two Spots Available (10+ Preference Points Required To Draw)

Whether you are after the unique opportunity of hunting early September with a rifle in the picturesque high basins or seek a late season hunt on the wintering grounds, this outfitter has you covered. Regardless of the season chosen you can be assured that these hunts will take place on pre-scouted private and public land that is known to produce trophy muley bucks ranging from 170-190+ inches. Every hunter owes it to themselves to experience a Colorado mule deer hunt once in their lifetime.

Eastern Plains Mule Deer

Dates – Rifle- Dec. 1-5, One Spot Available (3+ Preference Points Required To Draw)

This quality mule deer hunt takes place on the high plains of Eastern Colorado. Our outfitter has secured nearly 70,000 acres of contiguous land holdings with some of this being his own personal ranch. Bucks will typically score 170-190 with bucks well over 200 being shot every year. Physically this is one of the easier mule deer hunts available in today’s market that targets true trophy bucks.  

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Europe Awaits! Hosted Hunting + A European Vacation

Europe Awaits! Hosted Hunting + A European Vacation

I have been hunting Europe for a little over 10 years now, but there are so many countries and so much game that I feel like it could take another 20 years to see and do everything I want to do. That’s part of what makes Europe so exciting. It truly feels endless. Europe has become incredibly popular for several reasons. First, as an international hunting destination, it is easily accessible, with numerous flights available and no 15-hour, long-haul flights required from the U.S. and North America. Second, the hunts are almost always 100% successful because game management is top-notch and populations are extremely healthy. Third, hunts are relatively short, usually three to five days. Hunts lend themselves perfectly to adding extra vacation time, bringing non-hunters, and enjoying a truly memorable overall trip.

I’ve had the privilege of running WTA-hosted trips designed specifically for couples for the past three years, and we will continue this program well into the future, due to its overwhelming popularity. These trips are structured with a primary hunt alongside a dedicated non-hunter program for observers who prefer not to spend time in the field. Some of these activities have included spa days, shopping excursions, guided sightseeing tours, visits to olive oil operations or wineries, and more. Of course, non-hunters are always welcome to join the hunters in the field if they’d like.

On a personal level, my wife absolutely loves these trips, and I wouldn’t think of traveling to Europe without her. On several occasions when I’ve finished my hunt early, I’ve joined the non-hunters on their excursions and had an absolute blast. We also typically add a couple of days at the beginning of the trip to explore a city or region we haven’t visited before, which helps us adjust to the time change before the hunt begins.

In addition to the hunting, the scenery, the accommodations, and the food are always top-shelf.

After buying Wyoming moose preference points for years, throwing money at a dream that would probably never happen, Jeremy Ivie at WTA gave me advice that changed everything. “If you really want a chance at a Shiras moose, let’s put you in for Idaho.” The second year I applied, I drew the tag. Sometimes the best hunting advice isn’t about what unit to hunt, it’s about where to apply in the first place.

From Argentina to Idaho

My wife and I had just returned from an incredible trip to Argentina with WTA last April, and I wasn’t planning another hunt so soon. But when that Idaho draw result came through, everything changed. Now I’m planning two hunts a year, and my whole outlook has shifted. WTA doesn’t just book hunts; they help you build a hunting life.

October 1 found us in Idaho. The setup was perfect for us: a smaller, family-run operation with two cabins out back, a bathhouse between them, and the whole family was involved in the operation. Mike guided me, his father-in-law took the other hunter, and Mike’s wife and daughter helped run camp. After hunting at a bigger operation in Wyoming where I took a nice mule deer (another great recommendation from Jeremy), this intimate setting felt just right for a moose hunt.

Mountain Moose

Going in, I had no idea we’d be hunting at 5,000 feet above sea level. In my mind, moose meant swamps and willows, not mountain clear-cuts and steep terrain. But that’s where Idaho’s Shiras moose live, and Mike knew exactly how to hunt them.

Day one brought rain, cold, and long hours of glassing. We saw five moose total, including one bull that Mike immediately identified as “maybe a last-day bull, definitely not a first-day bull.” We also spotted a grizzly and some black bears. Idaho’s wild country was showing off! The terrain was brutal but beautiful, though after a full day of hiking those mountains, the word beautiful becomes relative!

Day two, Mike had a specific plan: a four-mile hike to a four-year-old clearcut he’d been watching. The timber gets so thick in Idaho that these clearcuts become magnets for moose. “We’re not going to do as much glassing today,” Mike said. “We’re going to do a lot of calling and listening.”

The Moment

Four miles in, calling and listening the whole way, we finally got an answer. Things happened fast after that. First, a cow appeared, then the bull at 250 yards. On the second morning of the hunt, I had my Idaho Shiras moose down. It was an unforgettable moment.

As most moose hunters will tell you, the real work begins after the moose is down. While we quartered and caped the moose on that steep mountainside, Mike’s wife and father-in-law were gathering horses and mules at the trailhead. The pack-out was something I’d always wanted to experience, and it lived up to all of my expectations. Idaho’s backcountry is stunning in photos, but once you’re off the trail, dealing with deadfall and near-vertical slopes while loading hundreds of pounds of moose meat onto mules, “beautiful” takes on a different meaning. I’m in good shape, and I was completely exhausted. It was fantastic.

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