Best mule deer and elk state

[DaveHaze]

Hi, I'm looking to relocate from Texas to either Colorado or Utah and would like some opinions and suggestions to which state and where in the state would you choose to live to hunt mule deer and elk. Thanks!

 

[buckhunter]

colo. great deer herd and more elk than people combine for one of the best big game states out there.

 

[wmidbrook]

CO has much more opportunity than UT for elk with higher success hunts. You can draw more tags every year in CO hands down...pretty much guaranteed 2 elk tags per year there along with a guaranteed buck deer tag and antlerless deer. CO has lots more trophy potential for bucks but UT has better trophy potential for elk. Only problem with limited entry elk tags in UT is that it'll take you at least 5+ years to draw limited entry archery on average and at least 10-15 years to draw a good rifle unit.

Both states are pretty good for being close to good out-of-state opportunities with Utah being much better situated imo. In less than 8 hrs I can be in outstanding limited entry areas in UT, WY, NV, AZ, CO and NM--many of those areas are less than 4 hrs. I also like being less than 30 minutes from work, and 4 premiere world class ski resorts that don't have more than a few minute lift lines. Denver is an hour plus to lots of outdoor recreation opportunities but is a more cosmopolitan city than SLC without all the whacky blue laws.

 

[quack_head]

I drive through Utah to get to CO.

 

[COHunter]

Colorado is a great State to hunt as a Nonresident

When you live here it aint so hot. It is very crowded, seasons are very short, and you must choose your method of take. If you live in Utah, you have a much better chance at drawing their incredible Elk tags, and you could still hunt Colorado every year if you still wanted too. Utah is also better situated if you want to hunt other western states due to its loacation, like mentioned in another post.

Hunting is my passion, so within the next 10 years, we plan on saying Bye-Bye to Colorado to live in a more Resident hunter friendly State (WY or MT). And if I wanted to, I could always come back and hunt Colorado, because it is just too easy for a Nonresident to get a tag. (100,000+ Nonresident Elk tags sold in 2006)

 

[DEERSLAM]

Quantity or quality? Mule deer...hands down CO for both Q & Q. Elk...UT has much better quality bulls, older age class. CO on the other hand is the state with the largest elk herd. Depends on what you're looking for Dave.