Colorado Mule Deer - First Draw Hunt After Years of OTC

[tomengineer]

I finally have 5 points in CO. My hunting partners have 4 points a piece. I have GoHunt filtering and have picked out several units in central CO I'm considering for fall of 2025 mule deer(3rd season). These units are intentionally outside of the OTC elk units bc after hunting OTC elk archery the last two years I'd honestly rather just hike around CO and not shoot anything than see that many other hunters.

Questions in order would be:

1. Is it dumb to exclude units where the OTC elk season overlaps the mule deer draw season? I know that question is wide open but I'd just rather not have the pressure now that I'm finally cashing in the points.
2. I'm trying to pick a unit where we can hunt elk in 2026 with the same 4-5 point levels which lends itself to the units in Central CO as well. The thinking is that we can scout for a future elk trip while we hunt deer. If that's silly I'll take the advice.
3. These units surround Hartsel CO but with our point totals we can also hunt units in SW Colorado and South Central CO. If that's better deer hunting I'd prefer that but again the idea is to try to hunt the unit this year for deer and elk the next.
4. For a November 8-16 Deer hunt in the area I'm talking about, do you see that as a hunt trying to target the migration or rut? Or both?
5. I plan to call the biologists to ask some of this but if you have a suggestion for better questions to ask them please let me know.

Thanks in advance for the help. I'd rather have you PM me if you're willing as nobody wants unit numbers wide open.

 

[Sheltowee]

Have literally zero insight but am in roughly the same boat. Following along!

 

[TOGIE]

some otc units do not exactly have otc style numbers of elk hunters.

 

[nrpate05]

1) I'm not sure I'd plan my deer hunt around OTC elk hunters, but I understand the tactic. There could be just as many elk hunters in a draw unit, although I suppose it is more predictable.
2) Since you're burning points, I'd focus this on purely mule deer. You'll limit yourself with having to choose a 4-5 point elk unit.
3) The further you get from the from range, the fewer people there will be, theoretically. I think the southern part of the state is quite good for deer hunting, but then again most of the state is.
4) Those are really good dates for deer. I'd think about both. Look for doe groups and keep an eye on them and there will be bucks around.
5) Good idea - I can't really help, but I'd have specific questions lined up. Not just, "hey, where are the deer...?" Maybe a good idea to ask about pressure from elk hunters.

 

[tomengineer]

1) I'm not sure I'd plan my deer hunt around OTC elk hunters, but I understand the tactic. There could be just as many elk hunters in a draw unit, although I suppose it is more predictable.
2) Since you're burning points, I'd focus this on purely mule deer. You'll limit yourself with having to choose a 4-5 point elk unit.
3) The further you get from the from range, the fewer people there will be, theoretically. I think the southern part of the state is quite good for deer hunting, but then again most of the state is.
4) Those are really good dates for deer. I'd think about both. Look for doe groups and keep an eye on them and there will be bucks around.
5) Good idea - I can't really help, but I'd have specific questions lined up. Not just, "hey, where are the deer...?" Maybe a good idea to ask about pressure from elk hunters.

Ok great thanks for the input. Gives me some perspective on burning the points and focusing on mule deer.

 

[Petcoon]

I hunted a 3rd season deer unit last fall in Colorado, It had a doe season and OTC elk running at the same time, alot of people in the woods at once, glad they require orange. I have twelve points and my thinking is similar to yours. Also in Colorado it seems like the game wardens might have more info than a bio, I was told they have Sheep, Goat, moose bios but deer. elk might be in larger regions they are assigned?
The Doe group thing is the ticket in my opinion, but the largest buck I saw was spotted once, bad shot option (passed) and never seen again. They can move alot. But I saw alot more bucks in a week of hunting than I would in a similar unit in my home state.

 

[ChiefKlein]

I finally have 5 points in CO. My hunting partners have 4 points a piece. I have GoHunt filtering and have picked out several units in central CO I'm considering for fall of 2025 mule deer(3rd season). These units are intentionally outside of the OTC elk units bc after hunting OTC elk archery the last two years I'd honestly rather just hike around CO and not shoot anything than see that many other hunters.

Questions in order would be:

1. Is it dumb to exclude units where the OTC elk season overlaps the mule deer draw season? I know that question is wide open but I'd just rather not have the pressure now that I'm finally cashing in the points.
2. I'm trying to pick a unit where we can hunt elk in 2026 with the same 4-5 point levels which lends itself to the units in Central CO as well. The thinking is that we can scout for a future elk trip while we hunt deer. If that's silly I'll take the advice.
3. These units surround Hartsel CO but with our point totals we can also hunt units in SW Colorado and South Central CO. If that's better deer hunting I'd prefer that but again the idea is to try to hunt the unit this year for deer and elk the next.
4. For a November 8-16 Deer hunt in the area I'm talking about, do you see that as a hunt trying to target the migration or rut? Or both?
5. I plan to call the biologists to ask some of this but if you have a suggestion for better questions to ask them please let me know.

Thanks in advance for the help. I'd rather have you PM me if you're willing as nobody wants unit numbers wide open.

I hunt unit 12 a lot some big Bucks but you have to get in to the timber. Also unit 231 early late you will be snowed in. Both of these are step so they keep the hunters numbers down

 

[Jake.]

I'd rather have you PM me if you're willing as nobody wants unit numbers wide open.

Saying the town that the units are near pretty much does the same thing.