Hello. I am heading to Colorado for mule deer this year. My goal is any buck. I generally prefer National Forest hunts for deer and elk because I enjoy the effort, scenery and roadless areas. Is a 3rd rifle hunt possible in those high elevation units, or do I risk losing the whole hunt due to weather?
Colorado 3rd hunt weather
- Thread starter CdnHunter
- Start date
Usually snow by third, but nf is at all different elevations, higher you go more snow you'll have. It's a 9 day season, hard to lose a whole hunt. The snow increases effort for sure. I'd pretty much cross out access roughly above 11k ft without a sled, tracked wheeler or hard hike.
Without more details hard to say more. If you pm I'll give what info I can on units you're looking at
Without more details hard to say more. If you pm I'll give what info I can on units you're looking at
It is a total crapshoot, but there will have been snow by then, just depends on how much that would shut down high country areas. My friend lives and hunts in an area with a lot of high altitude wilderness that was essentially cutoff because of a huge snowstorm during 3rd rifle. If you're after any buck, they should be scattered throughout elevation bands. I'd have a number of different plans in case weather does come in.
CoHunter1991
Well-known member
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- Jan 18, 2021
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- 387
Yeah it is a total crap shoot i agree. Last year third was pretty dry and 50 degrees where i hunt and this year there was 2' of snow and temps were low.
Carnage2011
Well-known member
There are bucks on the NF third season every year. Pick a unit that has public land covering a bunch of elevation bands and there will be deer to hunt.
Good advice. In other words, find a unit which contains my plan A, B and C.
RealMuddyboots
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- Dec 28, 2021
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- 464
+1^^^
I have had multiple 3rd seasons ended fast at higher elevations by heavy snow. Be smart to bug out otherwise, they will pick you up in spring. Having a back up plan at lower elevations is an absolute must. Having a flexible camp that is easy to tear down and reset is also big deal. Do scouting at multiple elevation locations just to have the ability to hunt. You plan for maybe couple years, finally draw the 3rd season tag, gear blah blah. You need to maximize the opportunity with areas prescouted at least on computer. Call local CO's. I've had good luck with them.
I have had multiple 3rd seasons ended fast at higher elevations by heavy snow. Be smart to bug out otherwise, they will pick you up in spring. Having a back up plan at lower elevations is an absolute must. Having a flexible camp that is easy to tear down and reset is also big deal. Do scouting at multiple elevation locations just to have the ability to hunt. You plan for maybe couple years, finally draw the 3rd season tag, gear blah blah. You need to maximize the opportunity with areas prescouted at least on computer. Call local CO's. I've had good luck with them.
WildWill
Well-known member
If being in the high country is most important stick to 2nd. Got a bunch of snow in the unit I hunted this season the couple days before 3rd season opener. Year before that they didn't have any snow during 3rd.
