Colorado 3rd Rifle Season Combo Hunt
Shared Trip
Active hunting
Colorado 3rd rifle season targets both elk and mule deerDraw-only tags available with experienced professional guidance includedCooler temperatures and snowfall create predictable wildlife patterns
You've been dreaming about that perfect Colorado hunt where you can chase both elk and mule deer in one trip, right? Well, the 3rd rifle season is your golden ticket. This isn't just another hunt - it's the hunt that serious Colorado hunters mark on their calendars every year. With Silver Spur Outfitters, you're getting a legitimate shot at filling two tags in some of the most prime habitat the Rockies have to offer. The 3rd season runs when the weather starts getting serious, pushing game into patterns that make your odds of success jump through the roof. We're talking about the real deal here - draw tags only, limited opportunity, and the kind of hunting that creates stories you'll be telling for decades.
This combo hunt is built for the hunter who wants to maximize their Colorado experience without cutting corners. You're looking at prime late-season conditions when elk are moving toward winter range and mule deer are transitioning into their cold-weather patterns. The beauty of the 3rd rifle season is timing - you're hitting that sweet spot after the chaos of earlier seasons when animals have settled into more predictable routines. Cooler temperatures mean game is moving more during daylight hours, and early snowfall creates natural funnels that concentrate animals in specific areas. You'll be working one-on-one with our guides who know these mountains like the back of their hand. We're not running a cattle drive here - this is personalized hunting where every decision is made with your success in mind. The terrain varies from dense timber to open parks, giving you multiple opportunities to adapt your hunting style to what the animals are doing on any given day.
Colorado's 3rd rifle season hunting happens in country that'll test your boots and reward your patience. We're talking elevation changes from 8,000 to 11,000 feet, where the air gets thin and the views get serious. The terrain shifts from thick spruce and fir stands where elk love to bed down, to open aspen groves perfect for glassing, and rocky ridgelines where mule deer like to escape pressure. Your success comes down to reading the country and understanding how animals use it. Fresh snow is your best friend out here - it tells the whole story of what moved where and when. We'll teach you to identify the difference between feeding tracks and travel routes, how to spot beds in the timber, and why that saddle between peaks is worth the extra climb. The key is staying flexible with your approach. Morning might have you glassing open slopes for deer, while afternoon finds you calling elk in thick cover. Weather changes fast at elevation, so you'll want quality rain gear and layers you can adjust as conditions shift. This isn't a walk in the park, but it's the kind of hunting that separates the weekend warriors from the real deal.
Rocky Mountain elk during 3rd season are transitioning from their post-rut behavior into serious winter preparation mode. Bulls are focused on feeding and recovering from the stress of breeding season, making them more predictable but still plenty challenging. You're looking at animals that can weigh 700-900 pounds, with mature bulls carrying antlers that'll make your taxidermist smile. Late October and early November elk are creatures of habit - they're moving between feeding areas and security cover on schedules you can pattern if you put in the work. What makes elk hunting special during this season is their vulnerability to weather changes. A storm system can move an entire herd overnight, but it also concentrates them in areas where a patient hunter can capitalize. These animals have incredible senses and live in country where one mistake sends them into the next county, but when you connect with a bull elk, you've accomplished something that most hunters only dream about.
Mule deer in Colorado's high country are a different kind of challenge entirely. Mature bucks average 180-220 pounds and carry antlers with that distinctive forked pattern that makes them unmistakable. What sets mule deer apart during 3rd season is their transition behavior - they're moving from summer range to winter areas, creating opportunities in transition zones you won't find earlier in the year. These deer are masters of their environment, using terrain features like rocky outcrops and timber edges to disappear faster than you'd believe possible. The key to success with mule deer is patience and glass time. They'll bed in impossible places where only their antler tips give them away, then emerge to feed in openings where a well-placed shot can happen. Colorado mule deer have a reputation for being smart, and they've earned it. But during the 3rd season, when weather starts pushing them around, even the wisest old buck has to expose himself to make the moves necessary for survival. That's your window.
The Colorado 3rd rifle season combo hunt represents everything serious hunters are looking for - challenge, opportunity, and the chance to test your skills against two of the West's most sought-after game species. This isn't a guaranteed slam dunk, but it's a legitimate opportunity to fill both tags in country that showcases why Colorado hunting has the reputation it does. With Silver Spur Outfitters, you're getting guides who've been working this country long enough to know where the animals want to be before the animals know it themselves. The draw-only tag system means you're competing with serious hunters for limited opportunities, but that's exactly what makes success so meaningful. Whether you're a Colorado veteran looking to add another chapter to your hunting story or an out-of-state hunter ready to experience what Rocky Mountain hunting is all about, this combo hunt delivers the real deal. Don't wait around hoping for easier opportunities that don't exist - apply for your tags and reserve your spot for a hunt that'll remind you why you started hunting in the first place. The mountains are calling, and your best shot at a Colorado double is waiting.
Colorado