2 hunt 66 yearly, 2 hunt 67..so they'll apply for the units they know. The 66 guys are undecided.
Colorado Deer for 2016
- Thread starter minn elk chaser
- Start date
- Jan 6, 2014
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Thanks for your opinion as it is always respected and appreciated. The deer I mentioned were just for the sake of conversation. I do know of 3 bucks over 190 that have been taken from the nw corner in past 2years. I know there may not be as many good bucks as other units but I think this is the year to use my points. Packmule has stated that the Gunnison area is likely to be drawn by people with more points so that narrows the number of unit to have a chance at. Keep the good advise coming.
- Jan 6, 2014
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That was a Gunnison hunt when it was over population objective. They'll never let it get back to that, but it was fun sifting through 100 bucks every day and seeng about 20 a day that would catch your attention. Now you hope to see a few over the course of the hunt that get your attention.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!
For someone going in the first time I'm not sure there's much of a difference, except maybe there's more to watch for a rut hunt in 66 with deer heading towards Blue Mesa & Lake City (which could explain why publications favor it) and the benefit of deer moving from 67 onto 66. I'd hunt 67, but I know it better than 66, that'll likely change though.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
With the points you have, I would think these are the units that should be on the table and the points they took to draw last year (listed difficulty to draw, not best to worst). I've also included Unit 2, 142 and 201 because of your interest:
Unit 44 4th season (33% draw with 20 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 142 L1R (50% draw with 20 points, 4 nonresident tags)
Unit 55 4th season (100% draw with 20 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 2 3rd season (100% draw with 20 points, 1 nonresident tag)
Unit 22 4th season (33% draw with 19 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 201 3rd season (100% draw with 19 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 66 4th season (67% draw with 18 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 53 4th season (100% draw with 18 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 35 4th season (67% draw with 15 points, 5 nonresident tags)
Unit 67 4th season (100% draw with 15 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Here are the same units ranked by the resident difficulty to draw which can be a helpful indicator of demand by the people who live in the state:
Unit 66 4th season (50% draw with 15 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 44 4th season (75% draw with 15 points, 11 resident tags)
Unit 2 3rd season (100% draw with 14 points, 7 resident tags)
Unit 201 3rd season (80% draw with 13 points, 10 resident tags)
Unit 22 4th season (100% draw with 13 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 67 4th season (100% draw with 12 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 55 4th season (50% draw with 10 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 142 L1R (33% draw with 9 points, 16 resident tags)
Unit 53 4th season (83% draw with 9 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 35 4th season (5% draw with 7 points, 11 resident tags)
Unit 44 4th season (33% draw with 20 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 142 L1R (50% draw with 20 points, 4 nonresident tags)
Unit 55 4th season (100% draw with 20 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 2 3rd season (100% draw with 20 points, 1 nonresident tag)
Unit 22 4th season (33% draw with 19 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 201 3rd season (100% draw with 19 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 66 4th season (67% draw with 18 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 53 4th season (100% draw with 18 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Unit 35 4th season (67% draw with 15 points, 5 nonresident tags)
Unit 67 4th season (100% draw with 15 points, 2 nonresident tags)
Here are the same units ranked by the resident difficulty to draw which can be a helpful indicator of demand by the people who live in the state:
Unit 66 4th season (50% draw with 15 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 44 4th season (75% draw with 15 points, 11 resident tags)
Unit 2 3rd season (100% draw with 14 points, 7 resident tags)
Unit 201 3rd season (80% draw with 13 points, 10 resident tags)
Unit 22 4th season (100% draw with 13 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 67 4th season (100% draw with 12 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 55 4th season (50% draw with 10 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 142 L1R (33% draw with 9 points, 16 resident tags)
Unit 53 4th season (83% draw with 9 points, 6 resident tags)
Unit 35 4th season (5% draw with 7 points, 11 resident tags)
- Jan 6, 2014
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Thanks again Umpqua Hunter as you always have made it easy for the rest of us with all your help and information. It appears to me that my idea on 2 and 201 were not all misguided when I see the pp needed and the percentage of drawn for the residents. I wondered about unit 22 as I know a guy who lives in Fruita that has hunted that unit and shot a good buck. I hope someone who has hunted some of these units in the past couple years joins in on this conversation.
bigmoose
Active Member
Since you are treating this hunt as a once in a lifetime type hunt I don't think 22 would be on my list. Also, after 22 years of waiting, I would go as early as I could to scout. Unless you are going to hire a guide, I would pick a unit that I know a little or have hunted before. So many guys wait so long and then have a hard time just learning the layout of the unit. I think elk hunting the unit in prior years is a big help. If you really want to get a big buck, don't get a elk tag! It could ruin your hunt!
MuleyHunter
Active Member
I think UH (Jim) was referring to unit 21 not 22. 22 does not take that many points....
Quinton
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Quinton
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Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Unfortunately Unit 22 4th season does take a pile of points. It kind of surprised me too when I was looking into it a couple years ago. Last year 13 points for a resident and 19 for a nonresident. See page 527 of 937 on the linked report.
http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/Statistics/Deer/2015DeerDrawRecap.pdf
MuleyHunter
Active Member
Sorry Jim I had 3rd season on the brain..... I was thinking of the season being later.
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Didn't 22 lose a lot of winter ground (Shell?), seems I've seen that somewhere recently.
2 & 201 may be worth looking into, low density, limited tags (for elk too..right, UH?), limited pressure. It's a recipe for some old bucks to be hanging around.
2 & 201 may be worth looking into, low density, limited tags (for elk too..right, UH?), limited pressure. It's a recipe for some old bucks to be hanging around.
That was the biggest buck I saw on the hoof, I know some others got bucks in the 170-180 class, but talking with some locals they said 142 use to produce many bucks over 200 but it has been on the decline. I was really happy to get the that buck and if i lived closer I would have scouted it more, but overall a great hunt. as long as you have the time to go through the military stuff to get access
ColoradoV
Very Active Member
- Oct 4, 2011
- 820
- 941
Before the oil shale boom my uncle was the outfitter that had a bunch of that shell lease leased for outfitting as well as some other land down there. He also guided on the public land in 21, 22, 33, 23. IMO yea there is a reason that 22 4th takes the more points than the famed 44 - 4th.. Hell fair to say 22 is the new 21. I have seen more than one 200"+ buck come out of there. With out the shell property there is still a bunch of public land to hunt. Might want to find out who will be outfitting it now. No Colorado unit is what it was in the "good old days" what ever that was but I would not overlook 22 - 4th as my father is in the same boat as you for points and he is looking at that hunt real hard this year.
- Jan 6, 2014
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Thanks again guys for the postings. I know what ever I do I will second guess myself but I intend to make the most of it and enjoy.
Many people think that these units mentioned are a sure thing for a great buck but I feel the experience is the most important thing.
Do any of you guys know of a outfitter that I could contact in 22, 44, 66?
Many people think that these units mentioned are a sure thing for a great buck but I feel the experience is the most important thing.
Do any of you guys know of a outfitter that I could contact in 22, 44, 66?
sheephunter
Active Member
I would be looking at the population estimates in the regional hunting guides (on CPW website) before deciding. At least 1 of the units that has been heavily recommended here is sitting on a population estimate of only 30-35% of carrying capacity. With buck/doe ratios what they are, and age classes what they are, this could translate into there only being possibly a couple real trophies in the whole unit.
ILbowhunter17
New Member
- Dec 23, 2012
- 40
- 0
In God We Trust
Very Active Member
Before you put in for a tag call the biologist and ask about winter kill. As others have stated on this and other topics the winter has been hard on the deer in some areas.