You will almost certainly draw whatever tag you apply for.I wouldn't bother the HF consultants.....the ones that really kept tabs on Colorado deer are over at Epic and still hunting them every year in a handful of units.I don't know that there is anyone on the forum with 22 points.
I would be careful with Unit 2 and 201 unless you know some specifics, I just haven't heard that the quality is there to justify the points. It's a fun hunt, just know that you will be hunting the quality of bucks you have waited 22 years for.
I've heard very good reports on 44, but it's not a slam dunk but still very good.
Personally I have never seen a big buck pic from 142, but that's just me.
I would throw some of the "new" Gunnison basin 4th season tags into your equation. By "new" I mean last year was the first year since 2007 that those units have had 4th season tags, so this generation of bucks has not wised up to the late dates. Check out 55, 66, and 67. Nice thing here is Gunnison is a great town to stay in and some of these areas are less than 1/2 hour drive from there. The biggest buck I have ever seen was on a 4th season hunt in one of these units. Check on the winter kill because this area was hit hard with snow.
If I were in your shoes I would look at 44 most seriously, then the Gunnison units.
If I had 22 points I would spend $100 on a Huntin Fool membership, read the recent Colorado write-up and have a phone call with EVERY one of their consultants and ask them what is their dream unit in Colorado.
After burning your points, call the biologist in the unit you draw in June or July and ask about the winter kill. If it is concerning, TURN YOUR TAG BACK IN. Take it from experience.
One more small piece to take into account, its not huge, but I do believe it has an effect on daylight movement, in 2016 you have a full moon during the 4th season and 2017 the moon is almost dark. On my elk tag I waited one year after the season dates shifted to burn my 23 elk points.
Pack mule, that is a good point about Epic. Are you thinking Jason Carter and Adam Bronson? They would be a great resource.
Pretty good resources, especially when it comes to mule deer and sitting on a lot of points.
You might be this year... 4th season only gives you a few more days at the end of the third season and the season dates are later this year. Just sayin'....
Let me help......that many points equals.
I got confirmation that 1 of the NR tags will be off the table regardless of Winter if the 4th season is still available (and he'll have a kid hunting 2nd & 3rd....wish I could spend a month in CO like that)...a guy with 25pts is still thinking on it and since his buddy will draw I doubt he'll use his points to have 2ppl hunting the same season. 2 more guys with 24/25 are still undecided but those 2 units are what they're looking at.
I mean absolutely no disrespect by what I am about to say and please don't take it that way, but if you are considering the NW corner based on seeing 170 class deer, I hope you realize the potential opportunity you have. There are a pile of tags you could draw with a quarter of the points you have that will produce that kind of buck. The only high end 4th season tag I have been on (helped on the hunt) we were hunting a big heavy 210 class clean typical and passing on some fantastic bucks rutting right by the truck. We were on that buck and the wrong buck was shot (that one still hurts). That is the kind of hunt you want to be on!
