Colorado Mule Deer unit 66

[1SGV-F]

My hunting buddy and I have 9 and 8 preference points. We are thinking about putting in for unit 66 rifle second season. Does anyone have any advise on this unit? I see the success rate feel quite a bite in 2013.

Thanks Kelly

 

[packmule]

It's a 100% unit if you don't care what you shoot. See plenty of bucks every day to make it a fun hunt, but the age gap from the winterkill makes those big mature bucks a tough find.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

My hunting buddy and I have 9 and 8 preference points. We are thinking about putting in for unit 66 rifle second season. Does anyone have any advise on this unit? I see the success rate feel quite a bite in 2013.

Thanks Kelly

I hunted 66 2nd in 2014. It was a tough hunt for bigger bucks. The weather was very warm. I'm not sure I'd trust the CPW success stats since they're only a sample of hunters. It's hard for me to believe the rates they publish.

If you decide to go that route, feel free to PM me, as I hunted the entire season there.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I'm not sure I'd trust the CPW success stats since they're only a sample of hunters. It's hard for me to believe the rates they publish.

I've lived here in Colorado for 15 years and hunted here since the 80"s. I've only been sampled 2 or 3 times over all these years. I think their stats are pure BS!

 

[packmule]

I've lived here in Colorado for 15 years and hunted here since the 80"s. I've only been sampled 2 or 3 times over all these years. I think their stats are pure BS!

I get the survey every time I hunt deer.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

I get the survey every time I hunt

I've hunted CO over 15 years and only received a few requests to submit a survey.

 

[ThreeTikkas]

I thought second rifle took something like 13 points to draw.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

I thought second rifle took something like 13 points to draw.

66 2nd took 9 to guarantee a tag in 2014, and it was around 80% with 8pp if I remember right.

 

[RICMIC]

Thanks HiMtn for your info.

 

[lostinOregon]

I have gotten a harvest survey every year I have hunted CO.

Rich

 

[packmule]

Wondering if it's a unit specific thing since there's not exactly a large sample size. All 5 of us in 1 unit got the survey, the other 2 guys hunting across the road did too.

 

[JPSeveland]

66 is a great area i have preached about it a few times on here 2nd season can be a little tuffer then 3rd but still a great tag. I guided in 66 for a while and i guided some giant deer all on public land with the biggest deer being 226 gross. The bad winter a few years ago really hurt the deer hurd in 66 and 67 but its right on the edge of being back to what it was. Another suggestion is the muzzle loader season is a great tag for a high country buck. What type of calibber deer are you looking for?

 

[Ridn9high]

Are you res or non-res? If you are a non-resident, you wont be drawing with 8 or 9 points this year! Look across the road and apply for 67 if you are set on hunting that area.

Here is last seasons draw recap

 

[HiMtnHnter]

Are you res or non-res? If you are a non-resident, you wont be drawing with 8 or 9 points this year! Look across the road and apply for 67 if you are set on hunting that area.

Here is last seasons draw recap

Last year the tag could be had with 8, but it took 9 to guarantee. I know this because myself and buddy drew with 9 and 8, respectively. I would expect the creep to go up a point, which means 9 may do it, but probably not 8, unless they raise tag numbers, which they have done the past few years. With 4th seasons coming, though, I would not expect them to raise 2nd season numbers. It's a hard sell with that many points, especially with how early the season will be, and the possibility of warm weather.

 

[Ridn9high]

Last year the tag could be had with 8, but it took 9 to guarantee. I know this because myself and buddy drew with 9 and 8, respectively. I would expect the creep to go up a point, which means 9 may do it, but probably not 8, unless they raise tag numbers, which they have done the past few years. With 4th seasons coming, though, I would not expect them to raise 2nd season numbers. It's a hard sell with that many points, especially with how early the season will be, and the possibility of warm weather.

How many tags went to non-res in 66 2nd in 2014? Was it 13 tags?

 

[HiMtnHnter]

How many tags went to non-res in 66 2nd in 2014? Was it 13 tags?

The draw summaries indicate that 29 NR drew a tag.

 

[packmule]

56/29/15 is what recal is showing.

 

[packmule]

(7)10, (14)9, (8/27)8


Going to be hard to draw with 8.

 

[Ridn9high]

Thanks guys!

Guess my percentage was off a little. For some reason I thought it was 15% to non-res.

 

[wannabehunter]

Unit 66 was a fantastic hunt even the year after the major winterkill. A few bucks made it through and we had a blast in that high country with a muzzleloader. To be truthful there were very few deer. But there was a few big ones left. We did not get them because of a disease called buck fever. Great week on horses with my son who had the tag.