I've been a whitetail deer hunter most of my life; got off a lease a couple years back and still have the hunting bug big time. Being a full time dad, full time worker and full time student doesn't leave a lot of time to manage a lease like I'd like to. What I can do is take 7-10 days off to do one hunt.

Right now I am trying to decide between putting in the for New Mexico Mule Deer draw or just going OTC for Elk in Colorado. I was really interested in mulies, yet the more I read/watch information about back country elk hunting, the more appealing the challenge and adventure look.

What are y'alls thoughts?

Do both. Try to get a hunt where you can take both. But if you have to choose, elk all the way. Once you hear that first bugle hunting never be the same

My thoughts are to flip your species for the states; NM elk & CO muleys.

+1. Put in for archery and muzzleloader elk tags in the Gila country. Put in for preference points annually for Colorado muleys, and every 2-3 years you can draw a nice front range or eastern plains tag. I wouldn't bother with an OTC tag, although certainly, others here will disagree.

I've done the OTC thing 2 times with guys who have been up there for 10+ years and have yet to even SEE an elk and I walked 6-8 miles a day. OTC tags are after the rut and they don't bugle or pattern for crap. The only guys I saw with elk were either lucky rascals or were on horseback where they could make it in a LOT further than us on foot. Usually ran across at least 10 other orange clad suckers a day Save your money and go on a guided private land hunt.

Mule deer all the way

3/4 of the units in CO are otc archery for elk. If the rut isn't in sept, I don't know when it is.


As far as for the OP. NM=bigger elk CO= bigger mule deer

I concur but that can get $$$$$/. Nothing beats a herd bull screaming in your face, but spot and stalk archey mulies is a blast

I'd thought about doing this, however if I'm not mistaken, both are draws which means I could end up with nothing at all.

Really considering now putting in for New Mexico Elk and then if I don't draw there, getting OTC Elk in Colorado.



Watched a show the other day and had the Bose turned on and that bugle sounded crazy....