- Mar 21, 2018
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I'm a Gunny resident bowhunting for the first time. Planning on unit 55 any advice would be appreciated. Was also wondering how this abnormally warm winter might change hunting tactics.
GMU 55 Colorado First Time Bowhunting
- Thread starter Lmclaughlin1030
- Start date
JimP
Administrator
It is the end of March with close to 5 months before bow season, the weather will change. We might have 3' of snow by the time bow season rolls around.
Like Joe said get out and do some scouting. Watch the elk and find out where they are bedding, feeding, and watering. Then come the bow season you can throw a lot of it out the window because of all the hunters out there.
Like Joe said get out and do some scouting. Watch the elk and find out where they are bedding, feeding, and watering. Then come the bow season you can throw a lot of it out the window because of all the hunters out there.
Slugz
Veteran member
Head on over to the New Members section and please do an intro. Welcome to Eastmans' forum.
If targeting elk.
Figure out where the calving is going on in the spring and come fall......you will be very close to the breeding/rutting area.
Wouldn't even think twice about the warmer winter.
If targeting elk.
Figure out where the calving is going on in the spring and come fall......you will be very close to the breeding/rutting area.
Wouldn't even think twice about the warmer winter.
- Mar 21, 2018
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Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Way back in 1988 I killed a ram near Gunnison on the Taylor River. We saw lots of nice bulls way up high just a couple days after muzzleloader season. You will likely be hunting at the upper most elevations with those archery dates. For scouting, go on Google Earth and find some glassing points where you can see a few meadows. Get out a couple weeks before season and be on those glassing spots before first light and then again the last hour of daylight.
Farmer
New Member
Boy don't I wish I lived in Gunnison and had unlimited opportunities to scout... the last thing I would ask on a forum is where START! Here's an idea: Jump in your rig and put some miles on. Get out at likely looking spots and put boots on the ground and hoof it. After doing this a bunch of times and still coming up empty THEN put a post on this forum. IMO!
As a personal note I have scouted 55 for five years for deer while hunting cow elk. I arrive a week before the season and spend the entire time scouting (including many trips into wilderness areas). I finally located a couple of good bucks and then the bad winter hit. I spent last year once again scouting to see if either of them survived. They did! I was going to apply this year to go after them and wouldn't you know it... the points to draw went to 13. I got 12. I'm dead-in-the-water. I gotta change units after all this. I'm 72, hunt solo and I'm from New Hampshire. No way I can scout. Don't I wish I was from Gunny...
As a personal note I have scouted 55 for five years for deer while hunting cow elk. I arrive a week before the season and spend the entire time scouting (including many trips into wilderness areas). I finally located a couple of good bucks and then the bad winter hit. I spent last year once again scouting to see if either of them survived. They did! I was going to apply this year to go after them and wouldn't you know it... the points to draw went to 13. I got 12. I'm dead-in-the-water. I gotta change units after all this. I'm 72, hunt solo and I'm from New Hampshire. No way I can scout. Don't I wish I was from Gunny...
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Doesn't really sound like lm1030 spends much time out in the area away from roads. You need to do a lot of walking and hiking. One thing to keep in mind is conditions change, so some things you see will be different in August than in June.
I live near(less than 20 miles) 5 different units and spend lots of time in the ones I hunt during the summer. The more time spent, the more you learn.
I live near(less than 20 miles) 5 different units and spend lots of time in the ones I hunt during the summer. The more time spent, the more you learn.
Thomas11
Member
It took 13 points last year but my guess is that it will be lower this yr. they cut deer for 55 and several others in the basin last yr by 75% or so but word is those tag allocations will go up some this yr. not as many as prior yrs but more than last yr so points to draw should be lower than 13 this yr if that happens
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
I believe he's a resident and also bowhunting for elk (it was posted under the "elk" section).
Spirit of a Hunter
New Member
- Jan 7, 2016
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Dear Mr. McLaughlin, Unless I'm mistaken, all of my resources have stated that the Gunnison Basin was hit terribly hard in the winter of 2016/2017. Winter kill was so high that available tags have been lowered considerably. Not that there aren't some mature survivors, I'm just say'n its something to consider. We all know that a good hunter putting in great effort can almost always scratch out a mature buck. Good luck.