Colorado Mule Deer Hunting: Tips, Gear, Locations & Regulations

Some of the earliest scribbles humans marked on cave walls stemmed from their hunting exploits. Cave walls became places where early humans drew spears, antlers, and harvests.

Thousands of years later — not much has changed. Instead of cave drawings, we have Facebook photos. But one thing you can’t digitize is the hunt. And for many of us, we still crave it. It’s almost like after thousands of years of chasing beasts; we have evolved an instinct to hunt for antlers. Colorado mule deer hunting can be a great way to satisfy this primal urge.

We know what you want: a monster mule deer — 190 rack with some extra junk. Nothing would look better on your wall. It’s a true trophy.

Just a dream, right?

Well, not so fast.

You can fulfill these aspirations if you are willing to work for it. Colorado public lands still hold a handful of 200″+ mules. I wrote this post hoping to help you achieve your Colorado mule deer hunting goals.

Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Regulations 2025

This is not an all-inclusive set of rules and regulations, so always check the 2025 Big Game Regulations Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) publishes. It doesn’t matter how experienced you think you are; do yourself a favor and read the regulations cover to cover.

But for the heck of it, I’ll give you a rundown of what’s included within its pages.

Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Seasons 2025

All mule deer hunting licenses in Colorado are limited. Which means you can draw only with a handful of leftovers. The draw application date is in early April, and you can enter the draw online at the CPW website.

Archery

• Sept 2 – 30 

Mule deer hunting with a bow is one of the most challenging, most rewarding hunts you can do. Plus, large velvet mule deer can be taken throughout the archery season.

Muzzleloader and Early Season Rifle

• Sept 13– 21nd

Right in the middle of early-season archery comes the infamous muzzleloader season. It can be an opportunity to get into early-season mule deer. You’ll also be in for some good weather this time of year.

Rifle

• 2nd season: Oct 25 – Nov 2
• 3rd season: Nov 8 – Nov 16
• 4th season: Nov 19 – Nov 23

These wide-ranging seasons provide many opportunities to fit your hunt into your schedule. Mule deer typically start their rut around the 2nd – 3rd season. As such, that is my favorite time for Colorado mule deer hunting, as the biggest bucks make their presence known by trying to mate with the does. It makes spotting and stalking a breeze.

Landowner Tags

• Various seasons

CPW allows landowners a certain number of these tags. Some charge a steep trespass fee, and others may just let you have one. You will likely have to do some cold calling and door-knocking to score a pass. A good tool to help you find one is called ONx Maps. They will give you the contact info of the landowners.

Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Application Deadlines and Fees

The application deadline for the draw is April 2. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your tags, as this can lead to poor decisions. Trust me, I got a buck tag I didn’t want because I waited until 11:00 p.m. the night before the deadline.

An application fee of $7.00 for residents and $9.00 for non-residents per species per draw. Keep in mind that as of 2019 you must purchase a qualifying license before you can enter the draw.

Here are some qualifying licenses you can purchase before putting in for the draw: 

RESIDENT FEE

• Spring turkey: $35.76 (youth: $18.75)
• Annual small game: $35.76 (youth: $1.46)
• Small game/fishing combo: $60.05
• Veteran’s lifetime combo: Free*

* Resident only, 60% disabled or Purple Heart recipient

NONRESIDENT FEE

• Spring turkey: $183.94 (youth: $123.21)
• Annual small game: $98.92 (youth: $1.46)

The draw occurs in late May/ early June and determines whether you got your tag. If you are unsuccessful, you will be awarded a preference point. The more preference points you accumulate, your chances for future draws improve.

You must pay for your license if you successfully draw your Colorado mule deer hunting tag.

Colorado Mule Deer Hunting License fee structure is as follows:

DEER

• Resident adult: $47.91
• Resident youth: $18.45
• Nonresident adult/fishing combo*: $481.52
• Nonresident youth/fishing combo*: $122.91

One final fee is your annual habitat stamp. Habitat stamps cost $12.15, and you must have one to hunt anything in Colorado.

Following the draw, any un-drawn tags are compiled onto a leftover list. Even if these are scraps left over from the draw, you can still get excellent tags when released. The leftover list is released in early July and tags become available on August 6th on a first-come-first-served basis.

Another way to acquire a Colorado mule deer hunting tag is to win one!

• The Mule Deer Foundation — Auction & Raffle Licenses
• Colorado Mule Deer Association — Auction License
• Safari Club International, Colorado Chapter — Raffle License

Remember that you must have passed a hunter-safety education to apply for a license. Here is my recommended course.

Again, brush up on all the ins and outs of Colorado mule deer hunting regulations before you plan any hunt and right before you go on the hunt.

My Honey Holes: Places to Hunt Mule Deer in Colorado

One philosophy I don’t subscribe to is the general lack of help other hunters are willing to give the public. I see this all the time on social media groups. People ask for general advice about hunting, only to be lambasted and made fun of.

Well, I am here to buck that trend and lend a helping hand to those looking for information. I reason that everyone, no matter how seasoned you are, deserves a little help. Planning a Colorado mule deer hunt can be daunting.

Where do you even start?

First, you must find a location to put in for the draw. While it is true that every unit managed for big game holds mule deer, I have narrowed it down to 5 big game areas that I like. I encourage you to research and scout these and other units as often as possible if you are dedicated to a successful hunt.

A good way to do this scouting is to go shed hunting in Spring and Summer. Check out my Shed Hunting Colorado post for more details.

To increase your draw odds, don’t be afraid of going for a doe tag your first time out. The meat is much better on a doe anyway, and it will give you the experience you need to hunt a monster buck in the future.

Gear I Recommend for Colorado Mule Deer Hunting

Colorado’s climate can be unforgiving. Furthermore, the miles you will put in to locate a mule deer will be numerous. Make sure you are fully prepared before embarking on a DIY backcountry hunt. Here are a few items I recommend bringing with you.

Scent Crusher Bag

This is one of the best hunting products I have ever owned. These days, people like to downplay the effect that scent has, and I often hear people say, “Just stay downwind.”

This tote gear bag is big enough to hold all your daytime hunting gear, such as my daypack and clothing. It takes 30 minutes to remove the scent from any items you put in it. It will have done its job if it gives you an extra edge on landing that trophy mule deer. Plus, it’s rugged enough to take in the field and big enough to double as long-term storage.

Hunters Specialties Doe Estrus Scent Wafers

This stuff flat-out works. It leaves behind the scent that the bucks want to smell, not yours. These are inexpensive but can make all the difference, especially when walking through dense vegetation. Grab yourself a few of these before you head out.

Sitka Optifade

This is the pack I wore last year, and it worked out well for me. It held everything I needed and was super lightweight and comfortable. You can haul out a quarter or two with it as well. It’s effortless to strap a bow to this pack. It also allows for a hydration bladder, which is critical because you don’t want to hear water sloshing around when you’re stalking that mule deer buck.

KUIU Mountain Star 2

This tent is built for the most extreme conditions that nature can throw at it. This 4-season single-wall tent is easy to set up in any backcountry setting. It’s lightweight enough to pack in with you and durable enough for rough environments. It’s a 4-person tent big enough for 3 people and their gear snugly. It can keep you warm in harsh temps and is versatile enough to set up and tear down in minutes. These reasons make it the perfect Colorado mule deer hunting tent.

 

KUIU SuperDown Altai

Never buy another sleeping bag again. This KUIU-made ultra-lightweight mummy bag is perfect for those wilderness Colorado mule deer hunts. KUIU commands a hefty price tag, but your investment pays you back with a good night’s sleep out in the woods.

The right gear can make all the difference — mainly when surviving the hunt.

Here are some other valuable gear write-ups that may be helpful:

• For the best hunting boots, check out my gear review here.
• For the best skinning knives, check out my review here.
• For my recommendations for the best spotting scopes, click here.

Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Tips

Patience – Don’t have high expectations regarding how quickly you finish it. The likelihood is you are going to have to work for this hunt. Just because there isn’t the mule deer you are looking for one day doesn’t mean there won’t be one the next. Keep at it, and don’t get defeated early on.

Scouting – This might be the best thing you can do to increase your success. Get out there in the unit you are hunting and learn the terrain. Deer migrations fluctuate monthly, but picking some good spots in advance will drastically increase your success rate.

Talk to CPW – Call the local office where you intend to hunt. They will have knowledge, deer hunting 101 courses, and dedicated hunt planners. CWP can help you pick an area and plan your hunt. Give them a call!

Glassing – Thoroughly glass (viewing areas using binoculars or a scope) areas before going into them. Big bucks like to hide in deep cover. Here is a good strategy – walk many miles and use a quality spotting scope to look over large areas. Mule deer camouflage well, so be patient and thorough while hunting. Later in the afternoon and evenings, I like to post up where I think they will be and glass until the last shooting light. Big bucks can come out at the last minute — be patient.

Please message me if you have any questions regarding mule deer hunting in Colorado. I am a hunting and fishing guide in Colorado, and I would love to lend you some advice!

Furthermore, if you have some advice, please comment below and share it with other hunters.