Colorado Archery Mule Deer Units

[armstrml]

Hello All,

My brother and I will be putting in for a limited draw archery tag this year for Colorado mule deer. We have 3 pts, and plan on doing a high country hunt, backpacking in. We have been doing some research on the different units we are considering. I have a few questions and thought I would see if I can get some input on here, now that the deadline is almost here. Below are some units we are considering and some comments/questions.

Unit 55 vs Unit 551.

Unit 55 seems may be our first choice at this point. My only concern is if the pressure from archery elk hunters and other people using the area recreationally is too great. Does anyone have any experience in this area that could offer input on this?

Also we are considering unit 551. The success rates seem to by historically higher in 551 and I was curious why this might be. There are fewer tags and appears to haveless high country.

The other units we are looking at are 74 and 44 or 444. I do not know much about 44 or 444 other than hearing people say that area in or adjacent to eagle county is good. If any has any experience or can offer any input on these units, we would appreciate it. Our goal would be a quality high country hunt above timberline. Hopefully with the opportunity to see a lot of deer and get multiple stalks. 180 or 190 inch possibility would great but not necessarily a requirement.

Thanks

 

[JPSeveland]

I would stick it out in area 55 i dont know a ton about the area but have a buddy that guides down there and its really becoming a go to place for hunters these days. Yes there will be alot of people camping and screwing around but all you have to do is get off the roads and you will be ok. The good thing is it is not an over the counter area for archery elk and that will help a bit with crowd countrol. Are you going to be able to make it out to do any scouting and get familiar with the country before season starts?

 

[lostinOregon]

551 does not have as much above timberline country as 55 does.

Rich

 

[JPSeveland]

That is very true 55 is a much better area for glassing and doing a spot and stock.

 

[BOHNTR]

55 is still recovering from the massive winter kill of 07/08......not sure if the numbers will ever rebound. There are a few deer in the high-country, but nothing like before. 551 is not your classic above-timberline hunt......but more deer per acre and some good ones.

 

[Destroyer17]

I have hunted unit 55 before it's a huge area with a lot of dirt bike trails and very steep rugged country! They also give out a lot of elk tags even though it's a draw area. the unit is really not a backpacking type hunt more of a day hunt. I do know that the local Outfitters where not doing guided hunts because the lack of quality bucks but that may have changed. good luck on finding a 180 to 190 class buck those type of bucks are not around ever corner but do exist.
I would rather hunt a unit every year as opposing to wait in CO because there's just as good bucks in other units. Knowing a unit like the back of your hand will put the advantage in your lap! I would try 551 if I was going to burn that many points!

 

[armstrml]

I would stick it out in area 55 i dont know a ton about the area but have a buddy that guides down there and its really becoming a go to place for hunters these days. Yes there will be alot of people camping and screwing around but all you have to do is get off the roads and you will be ok. The good thing is it is not an over the counter area for archery elk and that will help a bit with crowd countrol. Are you going to be able to make it out to do any scouting and get familiar with the country before season starts?

No unfortunately we won't be able to make it out prior to the opener. So scouting will be limited to maps, hopefully talk to the region biologist, and any other info we can gain from forums etc... Will the elk be in the timber that time of year or will they be in similar country as the deer?

 

[armstrml]

I have hunted unit 55 before it's a huge area with a lot of dirt bike trails and very steep rugged country! They also give out a lot of elk tags even though it's a draw area. the unit is really not a backpacking type hunt more of a day hunt. I do know that the local Outfitters where not doing guided hunts because the lack of quality bucks but that may have changed. good luck on finding a 180 to 190 class buck those type of bucks are not around ever corner but do exist.
I would rather hunt a unit every year as opposing to wait in CO because there's just as good bucks in other units. Knowing a unit like the back of your hand will put the advantage in your lap! I would try 551 if I was going to burn that many points!

Destroyer17, just curious when did you hunt 55? Was it archery season? Also why would you say it is more of a day hunt unit? Is that because of the atv trail access?

Also I'm definitely not under any illusion that that class of buck is easy to come by. So I would not say it's an expectation of ours or anything. Being the first hunt in Colorado (have hunted wyoming) I would be just as happy with buck much smaller. Thanks for the info

 

[armstrml]

55 is still recovering from the massive winter kill of 07/08......not sure if the numbers will ever rebound. There are a few deer in the high-country, but nothing like before. 551 is not your classic above-timberline hunt......but more deer per acre and some good ones.

BOHNTR, would you have any suggestions in place of 55 for an above timberline archery hunt for 0-3pts? Have you hunted 55 in the past?

 

[Destroyer17]

Destroyer17, just curious when did you hunt 55? Was it archery season? Also why would you say it is more of a day hunt unit? Is that because of the atv trail access?

Also I'm definitely not under any illusion that that class of buck is easy to come by. So I would not say it's an expectation of ours or anything. Being the first hunt in Colorado (have hunted wyoming) I would be just as happy with buck much smaller. Thanks for the info

I was just there recently this past September! I rather have a daypack that's light because of the roads being closes. There's a lot of dirt bike trails , but there is very little wilderness in that unit not a backpack type hunt! I only hunt archery!

 

[JPSeveland]

Some good maps you could get would be onxmaps for a garmin gps also i like to use my topo hunting gmu maps That map is 35.00 from online its a waterproof tear proof map and its 48 inches by 36 inches its aa good place to start when researching an area.

 

[BOHNTR]

BOHNTR, Have you hunted 55 in the past?

I have....and backpacked it a few times as well. As I said before, it used to be really good prior to 07/08.....it just hasn't rebounded like they thought it would.......but then again none of the Gunnison units have (54 & 43).

If you are dead set on an above timber-line archery mule deer hunt, I would look at units that offer early (above timber-line) rifle hunts and start my research from there. There are several, including a few that don't take very many points to draw.

 

[ColoradoV]

Out of the units you listed for me 74, 44, 551, and 55 in that order.. IMO 551 has the same genetics as 55 and is recovering far better due to the huge cut in tags since 08.. The units in the sw part of the state are not missing a entire age class of bucks like the gunny basin is. 44 is looking as good as it has in years so good in fact I might be hunting in with my father for a late season hunt this year.

I have to agree w bowhunter that the winter kill hit 55 harder than any other unit in the gunny basin and pry colorado in 07/08.. I think 66 and 67 are recovering better if you want a gunny basin hunt - yea sad to see some of these units taking so long to come back around. Also I have hunted all the units you listed over the years but one and was in 55 yesterday fishing...

Something else to think about is that you will pry not draw 55 this year with 3 points, might not draw 551 as it depends on who puts in, 44, 444, 74, and 67 would be a sure bet to draw for you.

In the past 3 years bow hunter apps have over doubled in 55.... Or back when it was a 0-1 point unit or before 08 it was a great hunt now there is no way I am going to wait 3- 4 years to draw 55 for archery. The quality is just not there to justify waiting that long as point creep is off the charts. 55 will no doubt take residents 3 points to draw this year and non residents 4 if you want to guarantee yourself a tag.. Or I am not going to wait 3-4 years to hunt smaller bucks than I can find in a 0 point unit..

Also might want to look into the sangres units.. Not near the winter kill or the press the fabled 40's and 50's and some hogs are coming out of the sangres lately..

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I've hunted 74 a number of times as it is really close to home for me. Unless you really know the area and have some experience there, I stay away from the southern part of the unit. The closer you get to Durango, the more hunters you will see. The area above Purgatory Ski Resort gets less pressure as there is less access. It is also higher country and has some wilderness area. It would be my choice.

 

[packmule]

55 suffers from the Ulmer-effect when it comes to points. I really like the looks of 551, but it strikes me more of a run & gun unit than a high country hunt. It benefits from that side of 67 not pooling deer with its habitat (prairie goats are a different story).

 

[armstrml]

Thank you everyone for all the response everyone; we appreciate it!

Does anyone have any recommendations for 2nd choice archery tags for mule deer? We should draw 1st choice without issue so this would be just in case...it looks like there are hardly any units it is possible to draw 2nd choice in though, if I'm reading the stats correctly.

Happy Easter