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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177 |
I have $5 - $7k to spend on this hunt (maybe a little more). I am bound by my financials. I am looking for some outfitter names that produce respectable Mule deer in that price range. A few names that guys know have good reputations and personal experience. My best bet is Ranching For Wildlife outfitters in the US. I have no preference points and do not intend to get any. That as well will put me in a specific size animal and outfitters. That is also why I am looking into (and leaning more towards) Alberta. For a guy with no prefrence points and $7,000 to spend, Alberta seems to be more realistic option.
Your best bet will be eastern CO or Alberta. You are on the right track. With no preference points(PP) you will have to find an outfitter with landowner vouchers and the system is supposed to change this coming year so here in CO we are a little in the dark until they let us know whats changing. We have landowners with a lot of PP but with the system changing they may be worthless to us. I wouldn't book a hunt until CO says what the changes are as there are some terrific mule deer and whitetail out here on the plains. Most hunts would fit your budget and DIA is basically on the plains so travel is super easy. I would look for an outfitter that hunts multiple units, leases a lot of ground and has a track record of killing really big deer. There are only a couple I would recommend and I am happy to share that via PM. I will also post up some pictures of some big plains deer in a bit
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,973
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,973 |
You might also consider desert (Sonoran) mule deer. There's a lot of opportunity and the price is rather affordable, depending on state or country. Mexico is going to be the most expensive. Texas is probably the cheapest, though trophy quality can be exceptional. Arizona is a safe bet, if you're looking for quality and affordability. There's some awesome Sonoran mule deer bucks in Arizona, that's for sure. Southern California -- east of San Diego County and eat of Riverside Country can sometimes produce some truly humongous desert mule deer bucks, but, finding an outfitter won't be easy.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177 |
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,212
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Posts: 3,212 |
Hell yea Drum. Any of those will work. Lol
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,182
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,182 |
SNS Outfitters: (307) 266-4229. Although I've not hunted mule deer with SNS, I hunted antelope with them a couple of years ago in WY and it was easily one of the most enjoyable hunts I've ever been on. There were some mule deer hunters in my camp and they bagged some monsters,however. SNS hunts in WY and MT. Highly recommended.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
Some real toads there....Nice!
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 567
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 567 |
The pics that are posted by Drummond never disappoint
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 131
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 131 |
landowner vouchers and the system is supposed to change this coming year so here in CO we are a little in the dark until they let us know whats changing. We have landowners with a lot of PP but with the system changing they may be worthless to us.
I wouldn't book a hunt until CO says what the changes are as there are some terrific mule deer and whitetail out here on the plains. For hunters who already have bonus points, do you feel they will still count in the new system? Also, does drought periods in eastern Colorado or western Kansas have much effect on Mule Deer trophy sizes?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177 |
For hunters who already have bonus points, do you feel they will still count in the new system? Also, does drought periods in eastern Colorado or western Kansas have much effect on Mule Deer trophy sizes?
I think if anything they will do a point banking system to get guys to start burning a few points. I don't think it will have a huge impact for individuals wanting to hunt the plains As for the drought, it has had a negative impact and some areas are worse than others. We are still finding and killing some big deer but the drought has made it more difficult. Fortunately for us we hunt some areas that have a lot of irrigated pivots so its not as bad
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177 |
The pics that are posted by Drummond never disappoint Thanks guys
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692 |
WOW! What a collection of BEASTS!
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,640
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,640 |
Drummond, Daaayyhum, some incredible bucks!
WWP53D
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,161
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,161 |
I can't recommend them from personal experience, but an outfit that always impresses me with the size of deer they take is Nontypical Outfitters out of WY. They always seem to take some true monsters every year. Maybe some other folks can tell us more about them? I've hunted with them for both deer & elk and highly recommend them. They scout and hunt HARD.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 894
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Campfire Regular
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,218
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,218 |
+10 on contacting Huntsonora. You won't regret it. +100 on Drummond! Best guide I've ever been out with! And one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet!
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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