CO Deer Advice
- Thread starter bigsky2
- Start date
ColoradoV
Very Active Member
- Oct 4, 2011
- 820
- 941
I was thinking the same thing.. Well I guess folks bought snake oil as well.
Something to think about at this point is that many area's in Colorado are getting pounded with snow this winter. The Gunnison basin was over 130% of snowpack BEFORE this storm. This is the most at this date in this decade and again that measurement was before this storm that is dumping feet of snow over the area..... The next 2 coming over the next week are supposed to do the same.
I was in Crested Butte for a couple days and after yesterday the snow is above the sage on most of the winter grounds in a couple of the units around Gunnison.. Snow is half way up the barb wire already covering the feed. Still snowing as I look out my window right now.
The skiing was great as the 40" of snow over the past 3 days made for amazing conditions but the rest of the winter will not be easy on the animals as by next week I would imagine much of the Gunnison basin including the winter grounds will be pushing 200% or double of normal snowpack.
There aren't many that match my point level is the hard part. Most of them are like 3 points below or way higher than 11. The closest 4th season tag to my point level is 71/711 which takes about 10 points. The 3rd season can be drawn with only 3 or 4 which seems insane to me.
I have been very concerned about this and am definitely planning on figuring out the winter kill situation before I apply.
BKC
Very Active Member
JimP
Administrator
I haven't looked lately but with 13 resident points that should put you close to unit 44 for the 3rd season and quite possibly the 4th.
BKC
Very Active Member
Jim, I am torn, I like the high country and get to hunt good mulies on the eastern plains every year so that's why I have so many points. I am keeping my eye on the weather and seeing what happens to the deer population for next seasons late hunts.
JimP
Administrator
I hear you. I would love to get to know the eastern plains but I have never ventured out there for deer. I know that there are areas that hold some real nice mule deer along with the white tails. Perhaps some day I'll get out there.
Ridn9high
Member
- Mar 12, 2014
- 98
- 6
If I had 11 points, I'd do a bit more research. I know when I used my 9 points two years ago, I had researched hard for two years before the hunt. There are a couple units you listed that would be good hunts with your points. There are a few that I wouldn't waste a point on(75,751,74). Drew 75/751 as second choice a few years ago.
Hunted 66 2nd in 2015. Hunted hard, saw lots of bucks(2 bigger than I killed) and ended up with a 160" buck. Had to cut my hunt short do to a family emerfency. If you want more info, PM me.
Hunted 66 2nd in 2015. Hunted hard, saw lots of bucks(2 bigger than I killed) and ended up with a 160" buck. Had to cut my hunt short do to a family emerfency. If you want more info, PM me.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
I hunted a 4th season last fall with 10 points. It was brutal with the warm conditions this fall, but the year prior, I heard report after report of 180+ bucks.
hoshour
Veteran member
44 3rd took 12 points in 2016 and 4th took 16. It's been a tremendous big buck producer for many years but the population is down a lot. It still managed 73% success in 2015 for 4th season, 69% in 3rd season. The genetics in that unit are maybe the best in the country.
Eagle Co. is the #2 producer of B&C bucks in the U.S behind Rio Arriba in NM where the big ones come mainly from the Indian Reservation. Not even the AZ Strip produces more B&C bucks. And in Eagle Co. 44 has produced by far the most B&C bucks because it is the only unit managed for quality. The other units are absolutely hammered with deer and elk hunters - more than 2 per square mile in every season or the unit has been in decline or both.
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Matthoek21
Veteran member
Me to. I've been saying the same thing. Good for skiing but tough on the deer and elk.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
You really have to understand the units and why the demand is so high for 4th season. I have hunted these units a lot over the years and know them all pretty well as it is right where I live. The animals (deer & elk) in the area (and unit 70 also) migrate to the east toward Utah. If the weather is right and the migration is in full swing, 4th season can be unbelievable. This coupled with the timing of the rut for mule deer make the small number of 4th season tags highly desirable.
Another reason whey the points are so high for 4th season deer tags is quantity. The units that have a 4th season that I have researched, have a limited number of tags. Usually the number is a lot less than the other seasons. I am sure the biologists realize that the deer could be concentrated and be very vulnerable to the hunters.
High demand...low availability, high price to pay!
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Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
You have received a lot of information in this thread to get you launched on researching a very good tag. Take what people are saying and expand on that info. Study draw odds on the CDOW website (rather than GoHunt). Look at surrounding units. Call biologists and wardens in the actual areas.
JimP
Administrator
Just remember one thing, people have hunted for that 190" buck in the best units that the state of Colorado has to offer and have never found him.
It is a lot like a biologist from Utah stated about the fabled Paunsaugunt unit in southern Utah or the Kiabab unit in Arizona. There are good bucks but don't expect to see one behind every tree, and there are even fewer of the larger bucks.
It is a lot like a biologist from Utah stated about the fabled Paunsaugunt unit in southern Utah or the Kiabab unit in Arizona. There are good bucks but don't expect to see one behind every tree, and there are even fewer of the larger bucks.
cmbbulldog
Active Member
- Jul 18, 2011
- 264
- 21
I hunted 67 last fall second season. I hunted hard, nearly all day for 6 days. I didn't even come close to seeing a shooter. I talked to a lot of hunters and they saw what I saw. The weather was terrible. Upper 60's during the day. Pretty depressed about waiting 7 years to see nothing. Weather plays a big factor.
Slugz
Veteran member
Its just a data dive......just like the MRS.......just like the B&C.....or just like the P&Y data
Winter is going to be a factor in choosing. When Gunnison closed schools for the first time since 1970 and then got some rain last night on top of all that snow will most likely not end up well. Elk are even on the roads and they won't want to feed because the elk will just push the deer off the feed.Crazy amount of snow!!