Colorado 4th season rifle with 14 points

[Colorado Cowboy]

I'm with JimP on the reality check, especially if by a 180 buck you mean typical. Colorado puts about 16 typical bucks a year into B&C with a 180" minimum score. If you want to say that half the B&C-eligible bucks don't get entered, that's 32 bucks a year from over 28,000 deer harvested each year. Lots of big bucks came out of units that took less than 14 points.

Having 14 points doesn't buy a 180" typical buck for the average hunter. It takes a lot of work, usually in a unit you know well and not a little luck.

If you are able to hire an outfitter and buy that local knowledge and lots of previous hard work, it will up your odds exponentially.

Dave is spot on. I hunt 70 and in the last 10 years I have seen maybe 2 or 3 180" class bucks in fourth season. (never killed one of them either)

 

[sptsman4]

Thanks! I'll check out 70 4th. I'm also looking at 30 3rd (Bookcliffs). CDW website says that 30 and 21 are managed for trophy bucks. I know the UT side of the Books has some really nice bucks. I liked 11 4th with only 13 tags until I found it also has 1000 elk tags. 30 has some rugged terrain and roads can get bad but that's what the big ones like! Only neg is that it only has a 60% success where some of the other units have 75 to 100%. I'd hate to eat 14 pts! Any more info on 70 or 30?

 

[minn elk chaser]

Success rates can be very deceiving as some guys either go big or go home with the tag. Have you ever had a chance to harvest a 180" buck before? There is not a unit anywhere that I know of that you will be able to guarantee you will get that chance. Maybe on private ground but not on public. If you don't find a 180 buck will you be happy to eat the tag and say it was a great experience. Look at all the guys who have more than 14 points that are chasing the same type of buck but not sure where to go. I used my points in unit 44 in 2016 and that took me 22points to draw. Enjoy the moment and be thankful you got to do it........

 

[CODAK]

Don't trust the stats. It's a way for people to steer hunters to or away from areas

 

[sptsman4]

Yes, I've eaten tags before. I ate my UT CWMU elk tag with 14 pts because I never found a bull bigger than 320. I already have one of those and was told to expect 350+ but it just never happened. I didn't need the meat and it was a fun hunt and saw lots of great country in the 51,000 acres of the ranch. Problem is, I'm 70 now and probably won't have another chance at a 14 pt unit before I'm too old to hunt! Just looking for the best odds. Actually anything over 160 would be bigger than anything I've shot to-date. It's not all about the score either but in my 55 years of hunting, a big muley has always eluded me--but I've had a few chances!