
Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Outfitters - Guided Hunts
Mule Deer Hunts in Colorado
Mountain Hunts
Our mountain ranches are an incredible migratory destination for giant mountain mule deer. Most bucks live in the high country that surrounds our ranches and migrate down onto the lower sage flats to rut and winter every year. This is a wild, fair chase hunt and the bucks, which are extremely hard to hunt early in the year, become very hunt-able in mid to late November as they descend on the doe groups that live in the willow bottoms and timber fringes lining the valley floor close to the hunting ranch. We never know exactly what is going to show up, but we know that there will be some giants which makes the hunt incredibly exciting. Expectations for our late season hunts are bucks scoring north of 180″ with possibilities of 190-200+”. Huge mass, dark antlers, big square heads make these mountain mulies worthy of anyone willing to brave the snow and cold to put their tag on one of these majestic giants!
These hunts can be booked alone or in combination with one of our rifle elk hunts.
We are hunting migrating bucks in the rut, so we never know what is going to show up, but if the snow and weather is right, be prepared to see mature bucks in the 180+ class. Our goal is to harvest mature bucks with a minimum score of 180 or minimum age of 6.5.
This is not a hunt where you will see a high number of deer, however, the bucks you will see will be mature and huge in both antlers and body. Although we cover a lot of ground on these hunts, we also use heated blinds in proven spots where you will be overlooking open sage and dark timber/aspen patches which the deer use for cover and feed during their migration to winter grounds. This hunt is very dependent upon cold and lots of snow in the high country which pushes mature bucks to their winter grounds.
Eastern Plains Hunts
We are hunting the Eastern Plains of Colorado for huge Mule Deer and Whitetail Deer. We target mature bucks scoring in the 190"+ with a real possibility at 200+" for Mule Deer, and 160+" for our Whitetail Deer Bucks. This hunt will find you spending a lot of time in the truck looking for our targeted mule deer bucks, and using elevated Red Neck Box Blinds located between agricultural fields and bedding areas, along with spot and stalk in some of the most challenging Whitetail ground you will ever hunt.
We take a very limited number of clients on both our Mountain and Eastern Plains Hunts so the pressure is light, and genetics are incredible!
.jpg)
Mule Deer Hunting Location - Jackson County, CO - Units 6, 16, 17 & 171
Mountain Hunts - GMU's (Game Management Units) 6,16,17,171
Our Mule Deer Hunts are free range in the Mountains of Eastern Colorado. Mule Deer hunts take place on our private Ranches in Rand, CO. These hunts take place in Late September/Early October and November during the third and fourth rifle seasons.
Our Plains Deer Hunts take place in Eastern Colorado, call us for details of exact location and GMU's.
Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Video
.jpg)
2023 Colorado Mule Deer Season Dates
Mountain
Mule Deer Archery
- September 2 - September 30
- Hunt Code: D-A-006-O1-A
Mule Deer Muzzleloader
- September 9 - September 17
- Hunt Code: D-M-006-O1-M
Mule Deer Preference Point Only
- Hunt Code: D-P-999-99-P
Mule Deer - Early Rifle Season
- October 1 - October 9
- Hunt Code: D-M-017-E1-R
Mule Deer - 2nd Rifle Season
- October 28 - November 5
- Hunt Code: D-M-017-O2-R
Mule Deer - 3rd Rifle Season
- November 11 - November 17
- Hunt Code: D-M-017-O3-R
Mule Deer - 4th Rifle Season
- November 22 - November 26
- Hunt Code: D-M-006-O4-R
Plains
Early Rifle
- October 28 - November 7
What supplies do I need to bring with me when I hunt mule deer at your ranch?
You will need to bring your weapon of choice, hunting cloths & boots, pack, binoculars, range finder, and camp cloths. All towels and sleeping gear are provided at the ranch, along with a fully stocked kitchen where our cook provides home cooked meals. You may want to bring coolers or a freezer to get your meat home.
What Game Management Units do you guide for mule deer in CO?
Eastern Colorado – Plains Hunt • Mule Deer: 102 • Whitetail: 101/102
Will I be hunting private of public land for mule deer?
You will be hunting 100% on our leased private land. We have access to over 20,000 acres of privately managed ground.
Do you charge Trophy Fees?
No, the price of the hunt applies if you harvest a 180” buck or a 200” buck.
How big of a mule deer buck can I expect to harvest?
We target bucks that score in the 185” to 200+” range. We manage for either trophy status or mature bucks that are 5+ years of age. We only take 4 mule deer clients and 4 whitetail clients per year, so this is a very intimate hunt with a high success rate on trophy class or mature bucks.
How much is a mule Deer Hunt?
Whitetail 6 Day Fully Guided Hunt cost: $6,500 Mule Deer 6 Day Fully Guided Hunt cost: $7,500 - $10,500
What is included in the price of the hunt?
Meals, lodging, guide fees, incredible views, and an awesome experience are all included in the price of the hunt.
What is NOT included in the price of the hunt?
Hunting license, Game processing (we will gut and skin your elk and prepare it for processing), Taxidermy, Alcohol, Guide/Cook Tips (Recommend a minimum of 10% to guide, and $100/hunter or guest to cook), Transportation to our lodge from your home (Once you are at the lodge, we transport clients to the daily hunting spots)
How many clients per each guide?
Mule Deer: Our hunts are 1 Client for 1 guide unless two client’s book together, then they will hunt together. Whitetail: Our hunts are semi-guided or fully guided depending on the client’s ability to judge bucks.
How do I get a license & tag to hunt Mule Deer in Colorado?
Clients will need to draw a deer license. Whitetail deer will require 0-2 points to draw depending on if you’re a resident or non-resident. Mule deer will require 2-6 points to draw depending on if you’re a resident or non-resident. We help all clients with the application process if needed. Landowner vouchers are very difficult to come by, if we can locate one cost will be anywhere from $1,000 - $2,500 depending on the landowner.
Do you help take care of my animal after it’s down?
Yes, our guides will gut the animal in the field. It will then be loaded up on our ranch equipment and taken to our skinning shed to be hung, skinned, and caped.
Do you have a list of references I can talk to who have hunted with you before?
Yes, we will provide references upon request, and you can check out client reviews on our website home page. Scroll down to the bottom to find the reviews, and you can check out more reviews on our Facebook or Yelp pages as well.
How do I book a hunt with I&A Outfitters?
We require a 50% deposit to hold reservations. The hunt balance is then due either 90 days prior to your hunt start date, or by July 30th if your hunting in November.
What if I book a hunt and then need to cancel?
We understand that life sometimes interrupts your plans. Because of our hunt schedule and Colorado’s license system, we most likely will not be able to move you to another date in the same year, however we do allow you to move your hunt to the following year provided that we are notified at least 60 days prior to your hunt start date, anything with-in 60 days of your hunt start date will not allow for any refunds or change in schedule. Cancellations are not allowed.
Do you offer any discounted pricing for youth hunters?
No, we work just as hard for a youth hunter as we do for any other clients, therefore we do not offer any youth hunt pricing breaks.
Do you offer ay discounts for more than 1 hunter in a group?
No, with our 2:1 client to guide ratio, we are set up to handle client who come in by themselves or with groups.
What is the closest airport to your ranch?
Denver International airport is 100 miles from our ranch. You can rent a car at the airport and drive to our ranch (drive time is approx. 2.5 hours) We DO NOT do airport pick-ups.
How physically demanding are your hunts?
Moderate
What kind of weather can I expect on my hunt?
Eastern Colorado has some of the most torrent weather in North America, it could be 20 degrees in the morning, 70 degrees during the day, and drop to sub-freezing in the afternoon if a storm blows in. One thing is for sure, clients should be prepared for all seasons in one day!
Do you use horses or ATV’s to get into your hunt areas?
We leave the lodge in the morning using the guides vehicles, from there you will walk into your hunting spot and hunt until midday where you will head back in for lunch, then the same in the afternoon. We do not use horses or atv’s to hunt the ranches, you will be doing that on foot or sitting on a high bluff overlooking huge expanses of land trying to locate elk. We also use elevated heated blinds as stage points to glass for elk, makes it nice on those cold and snowy days!
What kind of success rate to your clients see?
100% on both mule deer and whitetail deer.
Do you charge guest fees for non-hunters?
Guest’s are allowed and there is a fee, but guests are only allowed if we have room at the lodge. Our priority is the hunting clients, then if room we allow guests at a rate of: $1,950 (6 Days)