Mule Deer

HUNTING:

OUR HUNTS ARE CONDUCTED ON PRIVATE RANCHES THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN PLAINS and southern mountains OF COLORADO. WE LEASE AND HAVE PERMISSION TO HUNT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES in many different units. THE EASTERN PLAINS HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS SOME OF THE BEST DEER HUNTING AVAILABLE TODAY. on a typical day one of our guides will pick you up before daylight and proceed to our hunting areas. at daylight we will begin glassing over such areas as CROP LAND, tall grass CRP fields, rolling sand hills, rough canyon country, mountain foothills or high alpine.  It is our goal TO FIND THE BIGGEST mature BUCK POSSIBLE. At Sandy hills WE strive TO HARVEST MATURE DEER IN THE 180" RANGE AND UP, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF REACHING 200" OR MORE. Being physically fit to walk, crawl, kneel, and sit for moderate periods is highly recommended. if you have something preventing you from accomplishing one or more of these tasks, give us a call and we can discuss your options. additionally, our clients are always curious of what they can expect for shot ranges. it's difficult to predict an unknown situation, but we prefer to maintain 10-60 yard shots with a bow, up to 100 yards with a muzzleloader, and out to 500 with rifles. we can discuss longer shot situations if you're comfortable, but typically it's not necessary.  

our SERVICES:

hunts include a 1:1 or 2:1 hunter to guide ratio depending on how you book. we will transport you for the duration of your hunt, provide you with professional hunt photos, cape your trophy, and make recommendations on game processors and taxidermists. On eastern plains hunts, guides will have snacks and water, but meals and lodging are not included in the hunt price. On southern Colorado hunts, meals and lodging are included.

LICENSE process:

Colorado uses a preference point system for drawing licenses in limited units. Each unit and season require a different number of preference points to draw a license. An applicant can apply for one preference point each year per species.  additionally, we also have access to landowner vouchers each year for archery, muzzleloader, and rifle mule deer and whitetail deer, which allows you to hunt in years you do not draw. these vouchers are limited and must be discussed prior to your hunt. Rifle mule deer tags currently take 4 to 6 points to draw, muzzleloader take 2-4 points, and Archery licenses take 0 to 2 points.

for more information visit:

https://cpw.state.co.us/

BOOKING process:

​Due to an extremely high demand for our services, we are currently booking mule deer 2-3 years in advance in most cases. we have an extremely high return rate with clients, so getting a spot can be challenging. we also offer management hunts for hunters not concerned with trophy size or hunters wishing to still hunt and get experience prior to a trophy hunt. this is a great option for potential archery clients. spot and stalk mule deer hunting on the plains is a very unique style of hunting and few hunters come prepared. in our opinion, a hunter must experience a hunt to truly understand the hunt in it's entirety. PLEASE CALL FOR SPECIFIC BOOKING INFORMATION. 

MAGAZINE COVERS:

Bucks guided by our team have made the covers of Huntin' Fool and Eastmans' journals: Daniel Colaianni's archery buck on Huntin' Fool's March 2026 cover, Matt Jensen's 241-inch B&C buck on the March/April 2021 Eastmans' Bowhunting Journal, Todd McKenzie's buck on the October/November 2016 Eastmans' Hunting Journal, and Bob Fromme's 226-inch buck on the May/June 2013 Eastmans' Bowhunting Journal.

TROPHY CLASSES:

Our mule deer harvest galleries are organized by trophy class: 180 to 190 inches, 190 to 200 inches, 200 to 215 inches, and 215 to 250 inches, plus a second tier trophy class. Trophy hunts target the largest mature bucks. Second tier trophy hunts target mature bucks with smaller antlers and are priced lower.

RATES:

Eastern plains mule deer hunts run $2,500 to $17,500 per hunter, with meals and lodging not included. Southern Colorado mule deer hunts run $3,500 to $18,000 per hunter, with meals and lodging included. Second tier trophy hunts sit at the lower end of each range. Landowner vouchers are quoted separately: $1,000 to $4,000 on the eastern plains and $1,000 to $7,500 in southern Colorado. See all hunt rates.

SEASONS AND HUNT LENGTH:

We guide archery, muzzleloader and rifle mule deer hunts. Muzzleloader season runs September 10 to 18 in southern Colorado and October 10 to 18 on the eastern plains. Mule deer hunts are 5 days, except archery hunts on the eastern plains, which are 6 days.

GETTING HERE AND LODGING:

Fly into Denver or Colorado Springs, rent a car, and plan to arrive the afternoon or evening before your hunt starts. On southern Colorado hunts you stay in our lodge or ranch house with your own room, and our cook provides meals. On eastern plains hunts lodging is not included; most clients stay at a very nice Airbnb near our hunting area, and we will point you to it. Plan your trip.

MEAT AND TROPHIES:

Most clients use a local processor and have their meat shipped home. We can also process your meat for shipping for a fee, and if you drive in, you can bring coolers and take your meat home to be processed there. We cape your trophy and can recommend taxidermists.

COMMON MULE DEER QUESTIONS:

Do I need to draw a tag? Rifle deer licenses take 4 to 6 preference points, muzzleloader 2 to 4 and archery 0 to 2, but our landowner vouchers let you hunt in a year you do not draw.

How far ahead should I book? Mule deer usually books two to three years in advance.

What is the difference between a trophy and a second tier hunt? Trophy hunts target the largest mature bucks we have. Second tier trophy hunts target mature bucks with smaller antlers and cost less.

More on licenses: Tags and Draws.