Colorado deer season selection question

[Slugz]

Based on what you are seeing would you rule out burning 4 points on a muzzle loading hunt in 67 at this time?

I'd say thats a safe yes sir

 

[sdebrot]

I'd say thats a safe yes sir

I was afraid of that, I was really liking the idea of a hunt with few others around. The upside is I don't have to invest in a new muzzle loader.

 

[packmule]

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.

They'd better bust a u-turn and head West.

 

[sdebrot]

I'm going to throw are 30 in the mix as possibilities. Does anyone have a good or bad report about this unit for second season?

 

[MuleyHunter]

Unit 30

Unit 30 used to be one of the better units for big bucks, but since the late 80's and early 90's deer numbers have declined. There are still some very big bucks in the unit, but the bulk of them live in the farm country around Fruita, Loma, and Mack.

Also because of the terrain in the higher country it is very tough to dig up a good buck during 2nd season.

Quinton

 

[sdebrot]

Unit 30 used to be one of the better units for big bucks, but since the late 80's and early 90's deer numbers have declined. There are still some very big bucks in the unit, but the bulk of them live in the farm country around Fruita, Loma, and Mack.

Also because of the terrain in the higher country it is very tough to dig up a good buck during 2nd season.

Quinton

I take it that this is due to the oak brush I see in the area. In your opinion is this a hunt worth burning 4 pts. on or should I be looking elsewhere?

 

[MuleyHunter]

Partly, most the time the leaves are not completely off and the bucks will be in transition zone due to heavy pressure from elk hunters. They will be pushed off the tops and hanging in the very hard to get into and hunt middle ranges. As most of the country is very steep and deep.

 

[MuleyHunter]

As far as spending 4 pp's on unit 30 I would not. The last time I was saving points for deer I was up to 5 pp's and was wanting to hunt unit 30 3rd season, but ended up going to a different unit, as I felt it just was not worth it.....

 

[sdebrot]

As far as spending 4 pp's on unit 30 I would not. The last time I was saving points for deer I was up to 5 pp's and was wanting to hunt unit 30 3rd season, but ended up going to a different unit, as I felt it just was not worth it.....

Thanks for the info.

 

[In God We Trust]

So far most areas are above 100% year to dat with snow fall and 80% + for yearly snow fall. If the winter continues like this then things could be bad for the deer. My opinion is a good unit 3rd rifle is better than a great unit 2nd rifle. Right now the rifle seasons are in the later part of the month for the 5 year cycle so a 3rd rifle tag is a pretty good tag. You also need to take into account if the unit is OTC for elk 2nd and 3rd rifle. I prefer to hunt deer in units that are not OTC rifle for elk. Pressure is pretty bad in most of those units.