I'm looking to do a hunt out west and wondered if anyone had some suggestions as far as which state to go for?  I'm wanting to go after mule deer on a DIY hunt.  I'm looking to apply for licenses if I need to so I'm just trying to plan early.  Feel free to share any pictures from your hunts too! Thanks for the input!

Colorado is loaded up with big bucks.  Down by me in the south west its pretty easy to get on a nice one.  How are you looking to hunt, spot and stalk, blinds, stands?

If you hunt wilderness areas in Wyoming, you will need a guide as per Game and Fish regulations. I'm thinking Colorado has bigger mulies on the whole than we do, unless you want to pay a big fee.

I hunted Durango Co. area for elk, and was astounded by quite a few mulies. Back in 1992 though. Are you used to elevation?

I can speak for Durango county as my dad and brother just got back from a hunt out there and theres plenty of big mulies there with easy access too

I'm looking to do a backpack/bivouac spot and stalk hunt as far back as I can get.  I don't want to use a guide or an outfitter.  Just want to get into the wilderness and hunt.

Go to CO, our mule deer in WY are going downhill at an alarming rate.

Yes, you do need a guide in WY if your hunting in the wilderness. Dumb law, you don't need a guide to fish, backpack, or watch birds in the wilderness of WY.

If I'm right, you have to be selected in CO, no OTC hunts.  And the points required for the good areas are getting higher and higher.

BUT they do have mulies!

I figured I would I have to apply for a tag.  It's my understanding that you can buy an archery elk tag over the counter but not mule deer?  That seems goofy but I'm sure there's a reason for it.

Some of the units down there you'll have about a 30% chance at drawing with no points and will draw with 1 point. You can put in for a tougher to draw unit first choice and an easier for the second choice. If you don't draw on the first choice and do draw your second, you'll still gain a point off of your unsuccessful first choice.

Its really not too goofy...we just have a lot more elk than Indiana.      

A large portion of our elk units are OTC but quite a number of them are draw only.  Application deadline will probably be in early April.  Pick a spot in Colorado, call the DOW biologist for that area and stay in touch with him/her through the winter.  The high country in the Durango-Mancos-Ridgeway triangle has some super bucks but you'd better be in good shape for the San Juans!

Shoot me a pm if you want some more info on the durango  area