Share memories of your best Colorado hunts here. These photos and stories, written by hunters, capture tales of successful hunts throughout the state. Tell us your story by sending an e-mail to hunter.testimonials@state.co.us. Please include your name, a general hunt location and the story behind your outing (up to about 250 words). Also include a high-resolution, digital photo (jpeg) with the name of the photographer and any people in the photo.

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This was a very successful weekend for all of us. This was my son Nick’s  first buck (he’s 12), and my niece Darla’s first doe (she’s 13). All four deer were harvested during third rifle season.

From left to right is my brother-in-law Eddie, my son Nick, me, and my niece Darla. This was a very successful year of hunting for us, with these four deer and two additional buck antelopes.   

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I left camp bright and early the morning of Oct. 28 during second rifle season last year. I saw a heard of elk moving to a bedding area. Later that afternoon, I went back to the area where they went into the woods. Before I got to where I wanted to be, the elk came moving back out of the timber to feed. I harvested this great bull elk at 200 yards.

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I've hunted in Colorado since 1980 and have only missed three out of 32 years. It’s kinda in my blood, I guess you would say.

I was watching a deer last season when this big boy came upon me. It was opening morning of the first rifle hunt. I had just said to myself that I had never taken one on opening morning.

I had my scope cranked up to 9 power watching the deer and I noticed the deer was looking at something to its right. I came off the scope and leaned back so I could see around the stump I was sitting by and all I could see were antlers coming. He walked within 20 yards of me, broadside. I still had my scope on 9 power, but I did not want to move. Like to have never found him in the scope. My first shot took him down, the second put him down for good. 

That makes four bulls we have harvested while sitting by the same stump. Guess you could say it is a honey hole, and all on public land in Unit 70.

I finally got the big boy, and the locals were very helpful getting it back to camp.

Score: 287 4/8.