Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Outfitters - Guided Hunts
Trophy Colorado Mule Deer
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 will make 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, and 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 will show up, but if the snow and weather are 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 a 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 our genetics are incredible!
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 the exact locations and GMUs.
Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Video
2024 Colorado Mule Deer Season Dates
Mountain
Mule Deer Archery
- September 2 - September 30
- Hunt Code: D-A-006-O1-A
Mule Deer Muzzleloader
- September 14 - September 22
- 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 26 - November 3
- Hunt Code: D-M-017-O2-R
Mule Deer - 3rd Rifle Season
- November 9 - November 15
- Hunt Code: D-M-017-O3-R
Mule Deer - 4th Rifle Season
- November 20 - November 24
- Hunt Code: D-M-006-O4-R
Plains
Early Rifle
- October 26 - November 5
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 clothes and boots, a pack, binoculars, a range finder, and camp clothes. All towels and sleeping gear are provided at the ranch, along with a fully stocked kitchen where our cook prepares home-cooked meals. You may want to bring coolers or a freezer to transport 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 or 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 hunt price 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 mature bucks.
How much does a CO Mule Deer Hunt cost?
See our mule deer hunting packages on our rates page.
What is included in the price of the hunt?
The price of the hunt includes meals, lodging, guide fees, incredible views, and an awesome experience.
What is NOT included in the price of the hunt?
Hunting license, Game processing (we will gut and skin your deer 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 one Client for one guide unless two clients book together, in which case 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. You can check out client reviews on our website's home page. Scroll down to the bottom to find the reviews, and you can also check out more reviews on our Facebook or Yelp pages.
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 before your hunt start date or by July 30th if you are 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 before your hunt start date; anything within 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 youth hunters as we do for any other clients, so we do not offer any youth hunt pricing breaks.
Do you offer any discounts for more than 1 hunter in a group?
No, with our 2:1 client-to-guide ratio, we are set up to handle clients 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 (the drive is approximately 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 and 70 degrees during the day, and it could drop to sub-freezing in the afternoon if a storm blows in. One thing is certain: clients should be prepared for all seasons in one day!
Do you use horses or ATVs to get into your hunt areas?
We leave the lodge in the morning using the guide's vehicles; from there, you will walk into your hunting spot and hunt until midday, when you will head back in for lunch, then the same in the afternoon. We do not use horses or ATVs to hunt the ranches; you will do that on foot or sitting on a high bluff overlooking huge expanses of land trying to locate mule deer. We also use elevated, heated blinds as stage points to glass for deer, which makes it nice on those cold and snowy days!
What kind of success rate do your clients see?
100% on both mule deer and whitetail deer.
Do you charge guest fees for non-hunters?
Guests 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, but if there is room, we allow guests to stay at a rate of $1,950 (6 Days).
