Click for larger image - Kyle Lopez with his 2007 Colorado Mule Deer
The monster mule deer taken by 14-year old Kyle Lopez in Colorado during the 2007 season has been officially scored. A conservative green score put the buck at just over 303 net. However, good news for the Lopez family as Roger Selner has scored the buck after the 60-day drying period at an amazing 311 2/8 gross and 306 2/8 net B&C. This buck has 26 points on the right and 17 points on the left. This buck will be invited to the next Boone & Crockett panel scoring, but that won’t take place until 2010.
Kyle’s Buck is now the new #2 non-typical buck for Colorado and #13 in the world. That is a incredible!
Read the story of Kyle’s buck in the new issue of Hunting Illustrated Magazine out on newsstands January 29th!
Come see the buck in person. The Lopez buck will be in the King’s Outdoor World booth at the Hunting and Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City February 6-9th. Here is some more info about the Hunting Expo.
Where does this compare against the all-time greats from Colorado?
Top Ten Non-Typical Mule Deer from Colorado
1. 306 7/8 Montezuma, CO Lloyd Pyle 1972
2. 306 3/8 Douglas, CO Kyle Lopez 2007
3. 306 2/8 Norwood, CO Steve H. Herndon 1954
4. 304 5/8 Elk Creek, CO Andrew Daum 1886
5. 303 6/8 Eagle, CO James Austill 1962
6. 302 4/8 Paonia, CO Louis H. Huntington, Jr. 1965
7. 300 Mesa, CO George Blackmon, Jr. 1961
8. 297 5/8 Larimer, CO Jack Autrey 1941
9. 296 2/8 Mesa, CO Unknown 1981
10. 287 5/8 Montezuma, CO Travis Shippy 1985
January 28th, 2008
Our December/January 2008 (HI33) issue of Hunting Illustrated has been available on newsstands and subscribers for a while already. Now all of you can check out this awesome issue. Our Virtual Magazine for this issue is now posted. If you want to view and read the whole issue of the magazine click the link below.
Click Here to read Hunting Illustrated Virtual Magazine
Special cover story on the craze of coyote hunting
Predatorflage
by Les Johnson
You Have Got to see It To Believe It!
by Cory Lundberg
The Will to Live
by Walt Earl
A New Twist On Predator Shooting
by Hazer Bulkley
Corporate Interview:
Minaska Outdoors
Of course that is just a taste of what you will find in this packed issue of HI. Also read the story on the Robert Arledge 294 Idaho mule deer and Rob Brennan’s amazing muzzleloader whitetail deer scoring over 290 that was taken in 2007!
Want a special offer on Hunting Illustrated? Call 800-447-6897 and get a full one year subscription (that’s 6 issues) for just $10. Yep, that is just ten bucks (normally $24.95).
January 25th, 2008
Thanks for Michael Burrell for giving me the heads up on this and the link to contribute. Here is the skinny:
Dear fellow sportsmen,
Certain parts of Colorado has received large accumulations of snow and extremely cold temperatures making being a mule deer a bit tough this winter. CDOW has implemented an emergency feeding program to help out the deer. Below is a link you should check out and contribute what you can to help these deer out. Let’s show the rest of the world who steps up when wildlife is in need of help.
Click Here to Contribute on the Colorado Fish & Game Website
JANUARY 25 UPDATE ON DEER FEEDING OPERATION IN THE GUNNISON BASIN
The emergency feeding program by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in the Gunnison Basin is in full operation with feed being distributed to big game animals at more than 60 sites.
The program was started Jan. 13 because of extreme winter conditions in the area. Up to four feet of snow is covering natural food sources, and cold temperatures that have reached 40 degrees below zero are affecting the animals.
The feeding effort is being aimed at mule deer and pronghorn because their natural food sources are completely covered with snow. Elk, which are well-adapted to severe cold, are being provided hay in select areas only to keep them away from deer feeding sites and ranchers’ haystacks.
For the past 10 days Division of Wildlife personnel have been packing trails and roads into feeding areas with snow-cats and snowmobiles. Now that the snow on those trails is firm, feed is being taken into areas by snowmobile, snow-cat and on foot. Feeding is being done by DOW staff and volunteers. About 150 people have signed on to work as volunteers in the effort. At this time the DOW is not soliciting more volunteers.
Deer, which are naturally wary of people, are becoming accustomed to human activity and are starting to move to the feeding sites. Deer are being provided approximately 2 pounds per day of a specially formulated, high-energy feed.
Feed is also being provided to about 380 pronghorn in the basin. These animals, however, are notoriously skiddish and are difficult to draw to feed sites.
One problem facing wildlife officials is that some people are feeding deer inappropriate food. Deer are browsers, they survive mainly on shrubby-type vegetation. They cannot survive on hay, pet food, corn, birdseed, table scraps, etc.
“Unnatural food hurts deer more than it helps them,” said J Wenum, area wildlife manager for the Gunnison area.
If people want to help deer, wildlife officials recommend that property owners knock snow off of shrubs and pack down areas with snowshoes or skies to allow deer to move around in snow more easily.
Even though winter conditions are difficult in the basin now, snow came late which allowed deer to feed on natural vegetation until mid-December. Consequently, the body condition of many deer still appears to be good at this time.
Wildlife managers note, however, that the tough conditions will mean that mortality among deer will likely be higher than average. In a normal winter, 12 percent to 18 percent of the population will die. Most susceptible to harsh winter conditions are fawns and older age bucks.
“We’re not trying to save every deer in the Gunnison Basin. More deer will probably die this year than in average years. But our feeding program is meant to avoid a catastrophic die off,” Wenum said.
Colorado residents are reminded that the Colorado Division of Wildlife has posted a temporary emergency closure on wildlife-related recreational activities on public lands in the Gunnison Basin below 9,500 feet through May 15. Activities prohibited include all hunting and shed-antler collecting. Fishing is still permitted on Blue Mesa Reservoir and area streams. Collection of big horn sheep horns or skulls in sheep unit S70 is also prohibited. The full closure notice and a map can be viewed at the DOW web site.
Anyone can make a donation to the feeding effort. Go to the DOW’s home page to donate on line or for more information:
http://wildlife.state.co.us.
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January 14th, 2008
Brand new release from Nate Jacobson and Alpine Antlers. The long awaited release of Burly Bucks 2 is here and ready to ship. Get this action packed mule deer hunting DVD. Nate has some great bucks on film and some hunts of some monster bucks that will keep you entertained from start to finish.
Click on the clip above to view a short video trailer. To buy a copy of this new DVD go to the Hunting Illustrated On-line Store.
January 11th, 2008
This buck was taken by Scott Simmons on a January 2007 Sonora hunt. He actually got a cancellation hunt last year and was able to take this nice 180 class buck.
Sonora, Mexico Cancellation Hunts – Mexico Mule Deer and Coues Deer
Sonora, Mexico Mule Deer and Coues Deer hunts available at discounted prices. Priced to sell quickly! First come first served.
Contact Arnold Sandoval now for details and pricing:
(805) 300-1092
January 3rd, 2008
