need help with CO big game hunting.

[josh7328]

Im a texan, living in colorado springs with the army. I am pretty unfamiliar with colorado, but would LOVE to do some kind ofmedium or big game hunting here. I only know of a few places that are legal to hunt on, but i havent been able to find much of any sign, let alone enough sign to be worth buying a tag for those areas. if anybody has some helpful information, that would be cool. Im up for pretty much any kind of hunting, preferably for the tasty game.

[Mtn.man]

Gunnison, Pagosa Springs, all open areas public access, no draw.

[josh7328]

Gunnison, Pagosa Springs, all open areas public access, no draw. so how do i go about getting a license for say, deer in those areas?

[mx'r]

The draw is over. Contact DOW and they will let you know the date that the leftover tags will be released.

[tmjohnson]

May not be sign right now, but things change come winter time.
I saw maybe 60 to 80 elk on west side of I-25 at Mile Marker 125 a few days ago in the morning. That evening I saw 20 to 25 deer.

[Colorado Osprey]

Im a texan, living in colorado springs with the army. I am pretty unfamiliar with colorado, but would LOVE to do some kind ofmedium or big game hunting here. I only know of a few places that are legal to hunt on, but i havent been able to find much of any sign, let alone enough sign to be worth buying a tag for those areas. if anybody has some helpful information, that would be cool. Im up for pretty much any kind of hunting, preferably for the tasty game.

You don't need to go far.
There are plenty of trophy class deer and plenty of elk right there on post.
Next year put in for the draw, get your access hunting license through MWR and you are all set.

[Mtn.man]

so how do i go about getting a license for say, deer in those areas?

Those areas are over the counter for elk, no draw. Deer are draw only in CO.
But for elk, just figure out which season you can go and buy your tag at any place that sells licenses's.

[spencerhenry]

elk are not over the counter for every season. only 2nd and 3rd, but there are often times leftovers licenses for many units for both deer and elk.

[Colby]

If you are active Military stationed in CO, you get to buy resident tags even though you are a Texan. Go see the folks at your local DOW office, they'll get you all lined out.

Colby

[TennVol]

Are you looking for antlers or meat? Deer, elk or pronghorn? Archery, blackpowder or rifle?

BTW, I am unaware of any big game hunts (rifle) on Ft Carson that don't require preference points to draw the tag. And if you do eventually draw a tag, sometimes you are severely limited to the areas on post where you can hunt. As you know, training is the priority - hunting is somewhere far below that on the list.

If you want to see some nice animals on post, talk to the range control officers - they know where they hang out.

Shoot me an email/IM if you want any specfic recommendations.

[josh7328]

Are you looking for antlers or meat? Deer, elk or pronghorn? Archery, blackpowder or rifle?

BTW, I am unaware of any big game hunts (rifle) on Ft Carson that don't require preference points to draw the tag. And if you do eventually draw a tag, sometimes you are severely limited to the areas on post where you can hunt. As you know, training is the priority - hunting is somewhere far below that on the list.

If you want to see some nice animals on post, talk to the range control officers - they know where they hang out.

Shoot me an email/IM if you want any specfic recommendations.

Rifle and archery. Any game that tastes good. Won't be doing any taxidermy.

[Zombie Steve]

Everyone seems to head for the mountains, but there are some world class mule deer on the eastern plains.

[Mtn.man]

all draw.

[TennVol]

If you're just interested in a meat hunt, there is a program for CO residents called Ranching For Wildlife. I can highly recommend Three Forks Ranch, north of Steamboat Springs for a cow elk hunt. They provide guides (free) on a 2 hunters to one guide ratio. Most years it doesn't require a preference point to draw the tag.

They take their trucks out in the field and they have a pretty good idea where the herd should be. My last hunt there I was able to harvest a nice fat cow elk at 125 yds. They help you get it out of the field and load it in your truck. It is normally only a one day hunt.

...I ended up with 170 lbs of boneless meat from that animal.

[d_striker]

Everyone seems to head for the mountains, but there are some world class mule deer on the eastern plains.

I'm told often that eastern plains mule deer taste MUCH better than mulies up in the mountains. Seems to make sense.