Colorado early season mule deer questions

[Work2hunt]

It may be too early for some, but I like to plan and give myself time to think through all options.

I am trying to finalize plans for next year's (2015) early season rifle deer hunt that I am planning to do with my hunting buddy. I currently have narrowed my choices to units 36, 48 (48, 481, 56, 561), and 43 based on conversations I have had with game warden's, biologists, and others who have hunted these areas.

I don't have any experience in any of these units so I was hoping to put a feeler out and see if anyone from here that has been in these units (hunting or other reasons) felt like talking about these areas. Please feel free to post or PM me as I would love to hear about the area, what to expect in these areas, what your experience was, quality of deer you saw, other hunter or hiker impacts, and a bunch of other possible questions.

Thanks!
Eric

 

[canvsbk]

Pm sent....

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

It may be too early for some, but I like to plan and give myself time to think through all options

No worries Eric, you are not too early. I am well on the way with 2015 plans.

 

[Work2hunt]

No worries Eric, you are not too early. I am well on the way with 2015 plans.

I figured there was a few other dedicated hunters out there. My wife just rolls here eyes at me everytime I take my hunting binder out. I'm even working on a few 2016 plans.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Heck I have a seven year plan laid out that will change a little depending on herds, winter kill etc.

 

[Musket Man]

What weapon are you planning on using?

 

[Work2hunt]

What weapon are you planning on using?

Rifle. We are planning to hunt one of the early season rifle mule deer hunts.

 

[PointsHunter]

Heck I have a seven year plan laid out that will change a little depending on herds, winter kill etc.

I'm right there with you with long term plan over three states tied back to when to burn points...

 

[Musket Man]

Rifle. We are planning to hunt one of the early season rifle mule deer hunts.

I would not use that many points on 43. I hunted it ML once and was not very impressed. Alot of hikers and not alot of deer. Its in some awesome country and ML or archery that are easy to draw I would say its worth going for the backpacking alone, but for the points the rifle hunt takes I think you could do much better.

 

[Work2hunt]

I would not use that many points on 43. I hunted it ML once and was not very impressed. Alot of hikers and not alot of deer. Its in some awesome country and ML or archery that are easy to draw I would say its worth going for the backpacking alone, but for the points the rifle hunt takes I think you could do much better.

Thanks for the candid take on 43. I've heard some similar comments that "43 has some big deer, but it isn't what it used to be" and people are waiting to burn points on it until it recovers.

 

[sheephunter]

I would agree with the above assessment on unit 43. Several years back, for a couple years in a row, I spent literally days behind binoculars & spotting scope while volunteering for a bighorn sheep count. Of course, I wasn't going to look away if I saw any big bucks up there above timberline, but in all that time up there all I ever saw was a forkhorn. I was only in a relatively small part of the unit, and the scenery was spectacular, and it looked like a real good place for a real whopper of a buck to hang out. I'm sure there would be a few around but I didn't see enough to make me willing to burn points there at the time. Of course, things could have changed by now.

 

[Musket Man]

Thanks for the candid take on 43. I've heard some similar comments that "43 has some big deer, but it isn't what it used to be" and people are waiting to burn points on it until it recovers.

It has produced some big deer but I dont think alot of them. IMO its pretty over rated. I saw more deer on some NF land I tried the last few days then I did backpacking into 2 areas of the wilderness. I had a great time and hunt but I drew the ML tag 2nd choice and would have been very disappointed if I had waited that long to draw the rifle tag.

 

[Work2hunt]

It may be too early for some, but I like to plan and give myself time to think through all options.

I am trying to finalize plans for next year's (2015) early season rifle deer hunt that I am planning to do with my hunting buddy. I currently have narrowed my choices to units 36, 48 (48, 481, 56, 561), and 43 based on conversations I have had with game warden's, biologists, and others who have hunted these areas.

I don't have any experience in any of these units so I was hoping to put a feeler out and see if anyone from here that has been in these units (hunting or other reasons) felt like talking about these areas. Please feel free to post or PM me as I would love to hear about the area, what to expect in these areas, what your experience was, quality of deer you saw, other hunter or hiker impacts, and a bunch of other possible questions.

Thanks!
Eric

Another year and a new plan. I thought I would bring this post up again and see if there was any new info that someone would like to share. Due to moving from Ohio to Missouri this year I felt it best to hold off another year so I can give this hunt the attention it deserves.

For 2016 my hunting buddy and I are planning to hunt one of the early season high country rifle hunts that Colorado offers. We are still looking at units 36, 48 (48, 481, 56, 561), and 43 to burn our 11 points on, partially due to recommendations by others and partially because we haven't come up with a better option. I'm also sick thinking about burning 11 points on a hunt. We certainly didn't intend to hold out this long but due to various reasons over the years we built up 11 points.

Does anyone have any info they would like to share about these units ( feel free to pm me, too)? Due to the season structure this year I know some of these early season rifle hunts coincided with the muzzleloader season. Does anyone know how the early rifle season hunters faired with the extra hunters in the woods?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[hoshour]

I have a friend who burned his points for early season deer in 48/481 this year and hardly saw a thing. This guy is an outstanding hunter who worked his butt off backpacking up high. He was shocked because of the area's reputation and very disappointed.

 

[Musket Man]

I would not use 11 points on any of those.

 

[Slugz]

I agree with MM. W2H are you wanting early season cause you want one in velvet? Let me know and I'll try to help as much as I can.

 

[ColoradoV]

PM sent.

You would be leaving a few points on the table for either the 43 block or the 48 block rifle.

 

[Granby guy]

I am very familiar with one of those units and wouldn't hesitate to spend 11 points to hunt it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

With 11 I'd probably hold out one more year for a 74 tag.