Colorado drought and fires

[RICMIC]

3 of us drew Colorado area 44 MZL deer tags this year, but I have some concern about the extreme drought over much of central CO, and specifically in Eagle County. There are no fires close, though the Willow Fire by Leadville has some potential to spread. I spent almost two weeks in this unit about 10 years ago when I last drew this tag, and a hot dry summer only ended on the monsoons that started on the last day. Speaking to bow hunters while I was there, they told me that the deer were active and plentyfull until the weather changed, then if almost shut down.
We are able to turn in our tags, but that must be done 30 days before the start of the season, and you can either get a refund, or save your points. For myself, I would be inclined to wait until August 7th or so, and take the refund if things don't change. I would not return to CO to hunt, as it would be years before I could draw the tag and I am experiencing some mobility issues that comes with becoming an old fart. I have a elk hunt in WY next year that will be a redo of 2022 when I spend close to 6 weeks hunting, and scored on 2 elk.
My buds used far more points than I did, and wouldn't want to give the points away on a turn in, but one of them would bitch for years about pissing away $500 for nothing..
Thoughts????

 

[Winchester]

On the plus side we had almost no snow here in Colorado last year, so winter mortality was low.
On the down side, we it really hasnt rained yet this year, so horn growth will suffer some.
44 MZL is always a tough, demanding hunt, both physically and mentally ... this year it will be all that and maybe worse because of the fires.
I live on the front range and depending on which way the wind is blowing it can get very smoky and nasty right now.
I agree you should wait another couple of weeks and then see whats happening, but it's looking like a tough hunt right now.
You might want to PM JimP who lives on the north edge of the unit and Colorado V who's hunted it in September I believe.

 

[RICMIC]

I did check in with JimP, as he was a great help to me on my previous trip. Unfortunately, Jim has had a recent health issue that he has to deal with.
Thank you Winchester for your input...it was just what I was looking for from someone "local".

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I hope he is OK, I know that he has not been on here for awhile.

 

[JimP]

I am on just not replying like I should.

44 should still be a good unit.
Just not with the water that it should have..
The water that it has is will still be there but not it the quality that it should be

 

[RICMIC]

Many thanks again Jim. Get well. II will check in with you if we end up going.

 

[ColoradoV]

You have tags for undeniably the best unit in the state if maybe not the best timeframe for said area.. I would not worry too much about the fires we are starting to get rain and the high country here does not suffer from the same drought conditions as the lower elevation stuff. With that said some of the deer you would chase are resident but still plenty to eat unless they are in the valley bottom down by the river. I did see there was a fire around Cottonwood pass but think they got it out and that is the far boarder of the area and not somewhere ya would pry end up.

I have a muzzy elk tag in a unit w a big fire close to where I live. The usfs has closed basically 2/3rds of the unit until sept 30th so that changes things. All the archery hunters and muzzy guys crowded into 1/3 of the hunting area will pry guide my decision to turn in the tag then try and draw it next season. The fine for going into the area is $5000..

I would say if there is not a big closure in area to do your normal hunt as I have been looking a bit and in the high country the bucks are doing just fine on antler growth. There is some big country in there so overall I doubt your hunt as of now would be effected too much by fire.

v

 

[RICMIC]

Thanks ColoradoV. I am in a double conumdrum of a necessary new hip surgery that I would have to defer to make this hunt and a Canadian canoe trip in August. The Canada trip is also affected by fires, and part of the Quetico Park is currently closed as well as the Boundary Waters canoe area on the US side. My inclination is a GO/GO, knowing that it could well be my last hurrah. Endeavor to persevere.

 

[Winchester]

It has finally stated to rain a little here with more in the forecast… should help a little.

 

[Winchester]

I rained really hard last night for about an hour, first time this year at my house. Very nice!

 

[RICMIC]

I see that the leftover list is out, and that there are 2 buck tags that must have been turned in (I drew with 5 pts. and that got the last of the NR tags). Two of us have decided to GO, and the 3rd is still on the fence. If I didn't have a tag in hand I would try for a leftover bull tag in a unit that I shot a good bull during the MZL season, and saw the biggest bull that I have ever seen, and that was in a stalkable position. I had used 11 pts. for that tag, and it is now 17+.
I am not playing that game this year, but just how much of a fire sale is it?

 

[RICMIC]

As it turned out, we had a good trip. The weather cooperated by not being too hot, and there was some rain almost every day. What did not cooperate was my hip....that limited just where I could go each day. In the end, two of us shot bucks, tho nothing too exciting. I did see a spectacular buck that was bedded 33 yards from the trail that would have been a slam dunk with our muzzle-loaders, but ALAS, it was the day before the season started. We never saw him again. The 3rd guy had his opportunities, but missed on two different bucks. He is fired up to go back someday, but with the point creep I told him that it would likely be 8 or 9 years before he could draw the tag again.
I still have some elk points, and since CO lets you carry them over for 10 years, I may use them someday, but am done with the annual "qualifying tag" need to buy any more points.
Oh how things have changed...on my first CO hunt in 1979, two of us just stopped at the DNR office in Denver, and bought deer and elk tags that covered most of the state. Over the counter, and no points. Two of us returned home two weeks later, with no deer, no elk, and just $5
between us. Both of us were fired up to go back, but that partner never did go, and he died almost 20 years ago.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The old days......! The same for me in Colorado, Wyoming Utah & California. I will never hunt California and Utah again and once I use my points for deer and antelope in Wyming, I am done there too. I'll be 85 in 2 weeks and there are less years left for my hunting for sure....but I have memories to live with.