I put in for these units this year for archery season (late august-early sept) for mule deer and was wandering if anyone had any suggestions of where to look for deer and if this area holds any quality deer. Since I live in TN I obviously wont be able to scout it out ahead of time and I have spent my fare share of time on google earth. Looks like Weminuche could be promising, but I just dont know not having laid eyes on it. I plan on hiking in deep and staying for 8 days. Also, wanted to hear from any CO residents near the Durango area and see how the winter was. I know they had a really bad winter back in 07ish and just curious how this past winter was. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Colorado Unit 75/751 archery Mule Deer
- Thread starter pcc2b
- Start date
Graylight
Active Member
The back country is rugged and no one worth their salt will give up any spots in that country simply because it is a tough hunt... Not because of few animals but moreso the size of the country and effort it takes to get in...
The part where you said go deep for 8 days... That's the biggest part of the equation that you already answered yourself. The other part will be to focus on willow basins above 12,000 ft. and don't forget to pay close attention to the rocky cliffs that look like only sheep would be there... Big bucks will bed where you least expect them and sometimes by them selves...
Make certain you are ready for this type of hunt because it will take all of your determination for the 8 whole days, you will get wet and cold and if you hunt smart, you will see a couple of gagger Muleys... Check your equipment and check it again, then once you're sure, check it again, make sure you get the best equipment you can afford. You will put on a minimum 5 miles just to get into good country and hunt from there to wherever you end up. I hope this helps and good luck. As always this is only my opinion... Happy hunting!
The part where you said go deep for 8 days... That's the biggest part of the equation that you already answered yourself. The other part will be to focus on willow basins above 12,000 ft. and don't forget to pay close attention to the rocky cliffs that look like only sheep would be there... Big bucks will bed where you least expect them and sometimes by them selves...
Make certain you are ready for this type of hunt because it will take all of your determination for the 8 whole days, you will get wet and cold and if you hunt smart, you will see a couple of gagger Muleys... Check your equipment and check it again, then once you're sure, check it again, make sure you get the best equipment you can afford. You will put on a minimum 5 miles just to get into good country and hunt from there to wherever you end up. I hope this helps and good luck. As always this is only my opinion... Happy hunting!
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5 miles. Don't think he will even break treeline. Either way, good luck, good country, don't give up. Always remember, there is one more baisn to check, you can strech that last days worth of food into 1.5 or 2 days. Hunt hard, you have the rest of the year to heal. Make sure to take care of your feet!!!
Graylight
Active Member
If he's gonna hunt 75, there's access to plenty of the high basins within 5 miles... Just my opinion...
Thanks Graylight. I hunted in the flat tops WA last year for 8 days off my back so I kind of know what I am getting into from a conditioning and gear standpoint. (by the way, we only came across a couple of bucks. it was tough hunting). I have checked out the area close to durango res in 751 on google earth between 12-13,000ft and it looks promising, but you never know until you are on the ground. Thanks for the tip on focusing on willow basins. Any other tips on feeding, movement and bedding habits of these high country deer is much appreciated. Thanks again. For a TN boy this type of hunt is what I work towards all year long. Just hoping all this preparation will pay off with a big set of velvet antlers on my back. Also, I am sure that there is only a handful of trips like this that my wife will tolerate me coming home empty handed before she starts to question why I go
Graylight
Active Member
Willow basins are just the start... Once you find a good basin, the deer will usually bed high in the rock outcrops/cliff bands or in the krumholz: stunted pines at the highest point of vegetation. Once bedded, will be tough to find but if you are patient, you will start to pick them out. The wind swirls a lot up there, so I doubt that you will be left with few stalks. More likely, you will be frustrated to get to 30 yards on multiple bucks and then blow them out because of a thermal switch... Day after day after day... I have been able to hunt the same group of bucks several times for week long stints and blow them out three, four and even five times! They usually come back to the same spot or move only a short distance and re-bed... One thing to remember is that your best chances are during the opener to about the first 10 days of September... After that a lot of the big bucks will shed velvet and go into the timber... Your hunt will get a lot tougher then, so try to be where you intend to hunt on the opener and get it done quick... This is only my opinion on my experiences and hope it helps.
As for your wife... Only being in that country doing what we do can show someone why were there, successful or not... If she has an appreciation for the outdoors, she'll get it right away!
Good luck!
As for your wife... Only being in that country doing what we do can show someone why were there, successful or not... If she has an appreciation for the outdoors, she'll get it right away!
Good luck!
love it! thanks Graylight. I plan on being there aug 26th - sept 4 so i should be ok in that regard. as for the wife, i need to get her out there with me. Just curious what you have lined up this fall? Thanks again for your help.
Graylight
Active Member
Colorado high country, California blacktails, Arizona Muleys and possible Oregon Blacktails... Not as much as usual because my wife is almost ready to have our first little boy, so I am playing it day by day for now...
hoytnut
Member
Listen up pcc2b. Having hunted 75/751 I have nothing to add to what Graylight has shared. I too think you can get into some good country within 5 miles, but I have found sometimes it is worth it to get 8-10 miles into some areas. I was hoping to hunt that unit again this year, but with no points and a reduction in tags I'm afraid it will be a no go this year. Good luck, have fun and train like a madman because that is some rough physical country - especially factoring in the altitude change!
hoytnut,
I am thinking about the area in 75 close to the conteninatal divide above vallecito lake. you think this is a good bet? also, how has the winter been out west this past year?
I am thinking about the area in 75 close to the conteninatal divide above vallecito lake. you think this is a good bet? also, how has the winter been out west this past year?
hoytnut
Member
OR Archer
Member
Buddy and I drew this tag this year. Been pouring over maps and Google Earth a lot lately. Obviously this is big country. My general question is where is the majority of the foot traffic happening at? We would like to avoid as much human activity as we can. We have our hunt planned for the first week of season through Labor day weekend.
Graylight
Active Member
Don't worry too much about foot traffic... You are in the back country and no matter where you go, you will see back packers... The deer are used to this, so don't even factor it in... Most of the trails are not near bedding areas either... There are the CT and divide trails that run through that country as well as a 100 mile race that goes through that country in the summer/fall... The deer won't even care...
OR Archer
Member
OR archer, i will be there the exact same time as you. maybe we will meet on the mountain! Best of luck!
OR Archer
Member
NM_Archer
Member
I drew 75/751 this yr first time applying for it.(was expecting points, but i'll take it!) I live in Farmington NM and hunt elk in these units every year I get the chance. I have seen some great deer while on those hunts! Google earth does not do the terrain justice! Most of it is very steep and rugged. There are some very good access roads outside of Durango to get you started in the right direction. Send me a pm and I can give you a little more detailed information. I'll be more than willing to help anyway I can. Just can't give you our secrete basins!
trouttramp
New Member
Hey guys, well going to be in the same area, drew a tag for first archery 75/751 going to be arriving out there for the opener coming from New Hampshire. Really looking forward to this hunt been planning for over a year. Been doing a lot of research on the weminuchee seems like there might be some nice looking basins to check out. Can't wait to get out there and sounds like there might be a few other guys on here that are going to be in th same area at the same time. Been checking out spotting scopes wondering if anybody has any recommendations, not much need for spotting scopes in NH, been checking out the Nikon ED 50, any suggestions or alternative scopes you guys recommend checking out?
