My buddy and I are sitting on 4 pts. for deer. We our out of staters with no chance of scouting before season. Is a person better off trying for a better quality unit 2nd season or a lesser unit 3rd season. Both of us are experienced western hunters with many trips under our belts, most being Wyoming and Montana. I haven't ruled out a fourth season hunt but don't see many available with that point level. Thanks for any advice.
Colorado deer season selection question
- Thread starter sdebrot
- Start date
Slugz
Veteran member
Take it for what its worth. I'm a resident also. If I can't hunt them early season (any method take), archery, 1st rifle or 4th season.....then I dont hunt. I realize I have options because I live here, but I'm in the same boat of hunting deer every couple years after building points.
I dont like hunting 2nd/3rd due to it being a transition zone of weather pattern change and the dreaded October (where did the big ones go period) when the mature deer seem to disappear. Add in the increased pressure of OTC hunting going on at the same time and it makes for a tough......but doable hunt.
If I had no options and had to make a choice I'd go third due to the fact the animals will be solidly pre rut covering ground and starting to chase and pair up with doe groups. Most years snow will be on the ground and help in the tracking aspect of getting into an active deer area. That's a generalization though, 4th rifle this year the first two days was mild temps and no snow on the ground then a blizzard came through and dumped a foot overnight on day 3.
Lastly I would think the GMU you are wanting to hunt has a lot to do with it/decision making of season. Feel free to PM to talk more if you want.
I dont like hunting 2nd/3rd due to it being a transition zone of weather pattern change and the dreaded October (where did the big ones go period) when the mature deer seem to disappear. Add in the increased pressure of OTC hunting going on at the same time and it makes for a tough......but doable hunt.
If I had no options and had to make a choice I'd go third due to the fact the animals will be solidly pre rut covering ground and starting to chase and pair up with doe groups. Most years snow will be on the ground and help in the tracking aspect of getting into an active deer area. That's a generalization though, 4th rifle this year the first two days was mild temps and no snow on the ground then a blizzard came through and dumped a foot overnight on day 3.
Lastly I would think the GMU you are wanting to hunt has a lot to do with it/decision making of season. Feel free to PM to talk more if you want.
cotim
Member
I see big diff between 2nd and 3rd. More and bigger bucks pop out in Nov. I have never seen the quality of bucks during 2nd that ive seen in 3rd. That's why it is usually more points to draw.
hoshour
Veteran member
You're best off going either 1st season or late. In most units, success is highest by far in 4th season, then 3rd, then 2nd, then ML, then archery. On the other hand, 1st rifle is great in many places if you can draw it. Check the harvest report online or in the MRS tables.
Get the best harvest success, trophy quality and least pressure you can get for the points (see the MRS). That's more important than which season.
Get the best harvest success, trophy quality and least pressure you can get for the points (see the MRS). That's more important than which season.
Last edited:
gypsumreaper
Active Member
- Mar 13, 2014
- 308
- 0
If you are going for deer as said the later seasons are the best. You aren't going to draw a tag during first rifle since it is elk only. But the early sept rifle seasons aren't bad either depending on where you are. I hunted deer 2nd season a lot until I got into archery then would draw archery tags. I seen more quality bucks durin archery than I did in 2nd but did see quality bucks in second. This was also the unit I hunted for 18 years so I knew where they went and could scout my backyard. We hunted elk only 3rd season a few years and did see more quality bucks, but even 4th season can be tough. It's about knowing where they are you can draw a trophy unit tag for 4th season but doesn't mean there are 180" plus around every tree. Any hunt is exactly that a hunt. I hunted 44 since I was 7 with my dad and just this year moved units, cause of where I guide, I'd love to still hunt 44 but I don't get a ton of time to hunt so easier for me to hunt the backyard than drive an hour to Gypsum. It's all about knowing the area and doing your research.
Based on my research so far which includes the last few years of mrs on Colorado deer, talking to C.O.'s, and success rates posted on Colorado's website I've started to narrow down my selections. I still have a few phone calls to make before deciding but at this point in time I'm looking at area 22 2nd season or 79 3rd season. I was toying with area 67 with a muzzleloader until I heard about the snow issue in the Gunnison basin. I am open to suggestions.
Slugz
Veteran member
A question on an area like 67. I notice that the success rate for muzzleloading is similar to that of archery. Is the lack of greater success attributable to a shorter season, or hunters holding out for a better trophy? A few years ago I was fortunate enough to fill my archery elk tag on the first day of my hunt. It happened to be during muzzleloading season. I hung out at camp the next day and watched guys drive by back and forth who were obviously road hunting with a muzzleloader. This leads me to believe that it is a common practice and cause of poor success. Views of others.
hoshour
Veteran member
Some muzzleloader hunters are not as serious as archery hunters, but the bigger deal is that archery season starts earlier and muzzleloader comes in partway through. One area I know of where the elk have easy access to private land, the bowhunters get a shot but quickly push them onto private before the ML crowd comes in.
Slugz
Veteran member
If that's what you saw then it's probably happening and that's a good data point for that GMU. On the flip side in my primary GMU I attribute it to shot ranges opening up to 100 yards. My muzzle guys in camp can be a little more picky as they have essentialy doubled effective range. I'm totally on NF so my elk change altitudes/drain ages slightly according to pressure vice having private to hop on.
Finding good deer is like finding a needle in a haystack in that high country (if you haven't spent the Summer watching one like some locals do) . Then sometimes getting them out of the quakies to get a look at them is another issue if it's warm. My advice on 67 specifically is that the age classes weren't really there before Winter hit, they're not going to be there afterward and the gap in classes just got bigger.
In regards to this post I have a question. I wonder about the age class statement and MRS research pages; In 2013 the MRS section listed 67 as an excellent opportunity for both bow and muzzle. In 2016 it is not listed. What has happened in 67 for this to have happened? This is presented as a question and not any kind of accusation.
Weather and tag increase. Come out of a Winter that takes the 07, 08 & minimizes 09 fawn crops.......there's the deer you're looking for. Then 11-13ish you have drought, now you have another bad Winter. And there's been a significant tag increase along the way.
Slugz
Veteran member
I'm not all that sure it's accurate to say we're having a bad winter. If we get late spring storms them yes totally agree but all I have heard and seen indicate we are still ok. I could be wrong though and missing some info.
Talked to the warden in area 67 today. He told me that the winter was bad so far and to check back closer to April to see how it ends up. He did point out that they felt they would loose some.
Slugz
Veteran member
Normal wintering grounds east of town. I saw two (in the shooter age class) feeding fine and looking good mixed in with all the others and a bunch of elk. I have friends who make the trip from Springs to Gunnison weekly for college. He is a retired guide from (GMU 66/67) so I get the majority of my info from him. Last I made the trip out was Jan 20th. I thought the snow was deep yes, didn't get the right storms to crust over yet and we needed to see the spring storms and what they do. I felt all the animals I saw were very healthy looking and scratching up food fine especially in the scrub oak BLM. Not disputing any info from anyone else, just passing what I know.
Another issue I ran into was getting reports from young biologists/wardens who IMO didn't have the experience yet to say "oh it's bad out here". Just my 2 sense.
Here's hoping for no heavy spring snows.
Another issue I ran into was getting reports from young biologists/wardens who IMO didn't have the experience yet to say "oh it's bad out here". Just my 2 sense.
Here's hoping for no heavy spring snows.
ColoradoV
Very Active Member
- Oct 4, 2011
- 819
- 939
Pack the Deer are concentrated near town on the hwy 50 side literally 1000's of them and Slugs I am going to have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of what is going on. 50" of settled snow at the Gunnison airport. That is over 4' not of storm but settled snow.. In the past week only today has it has not been -20 for a low as it is only -2 now.. The sage is covered and lots of kills nightly on hwy 50. Virtually no melt since in the past 2 weeks as it has been that cold.
Not sure where you walked but the crust/cold is here. I saw 3 yesterday that were not hwy kills but winter kills. Also every local I know many with ranches in the area feel the same as I do. The winter kill will be the highest since 2007-08 no doubt about it. Even with 0 more snow unless it warms up a big kill is in the works.. 551 will take the biggest hit followed by 55 then 54. 66 and 67 are in somewhat better shape than the eastern side of the basin.
I am sad to see deer starving every day it sucks. Many will die and I have many decades of history watching the winters around gunnison. In 07/08 I was one of the only ones to give out real info as even the cpw was saying it is not that bad well it was and this is.. Over the past few years I was the first to say easy as cake winter but that is not this winter as I am of the opinion that this year is a game changer and with as hard as it is to turn back in tags I would think real careful before pulling the trigger in the gunnison basin as I also hunted deer pre 07/08 many times and in 08 - pry put in more time than most and changed geographic areas after 08.
Lots of area's in Colorado are not experiencing the winter the Gunnison basin is and unless we see a abnormal warm up at this point it is wait and see as in wait and see what happens on the summer range before I feel comfortable putting in for a gunny unit. My father was going to do 67, 66, or maybe 551 4th this year. I doubt we will even have a 4th season so we are going to put in for 44 - 4th as the winter is much better there and he is 73 with 18 points going in so we dont have the time to wait again for a recovery.
Again just another opinion but that is my take of current conditions.
Not sure where you walked but the crust/cold is here. I saw 3 yesterday that were not hwy kills but winter kills. Also every local I know many with ranches in the area feel the same as I do. The winter kill will be the highest since 2007-08 no doubt about it. Even with 0 more snow unless it warms up a big kill is in the works.. 551 will take the biggest hit followed by 55 then 54. 66 and 67 are in somewhat better shape than the eastern side of the basin.
I am sad to see deer starving every day it sucks. Many will die and I have many decades of history watching the winters around gunnison. In 07/08 I was one of the only ones to give out real info as even the cpw was saying it is not that bad well it was and this is.. Over the past few years I was the first to say easy as cake winter but that is not this winter as I am of the opinion that this year is a game changer and with as hard as it is to turn back in tags I would think real careful before pulling the trigger in the gunnison basin as I also hunted deer pre 07/08 many times and in 08 - pry put in more time than most and changed geographic areas after 08.
Lots of area's in Colorado are not experiencing the winter the Gunnison basin is and unless we see a abnormal warm up at this point it is wait and see as in wait and see what happens on the summer range before I feel comfortable putting in for a gunny unit. My father was going to do 67, 66, or maybe 551 4th this year. I doubt we will even have a 4th season so we are going to put in for 44 - 4th as the winter is much better there and he is 73 with 18 points going in so we dont have the time to wait again for a recovery.
Again just another opinion but that is my take of current conditions.
Slugz
Veteran member
No issues......boots on ground every week is the best info and yours is 2 weeks more current......that's the great thing about this forum and the updated info. Thanks for the report.
Based on what you are seeing would you rule out burning 4 points on a muzzle loading hunt in 67 at this time?