GMU 66 second season deer

[jgriffin82]

GMU 67 second season deer

Good afternoon everyone. I turned in 7 points for a 67 2nd season deer tag this year. I have read that the herd hasn't fully recovered from the 07-08 winter, but I know there is still good deer in the area. I have hunted 67 for elk twice back in 03 & 04. That is when I noticed the amount of high quality bucks was enormous. I have hunted 66 and 65 a few times as well. I am somewhat familiar with the area. I was hoping for some advice on where to set up a good camp or rent a cabin close to hunting and a general area to begin looking for bucks. In the past we hunted the west side of 67 off of 149. We would take a dirt road due east off of 149. The entrance was across the highway from about a 12' tall fence. IIRC, it was BLM road 3042 or Co. Rd. 149 . It starts as low sage country and winds up in timber up high. Any advice would be great. I would love to scout, but the 32 hour round trip is too much. Thanks for anything and everything.

James

 

[packmule]

Can probably hunt the same way you did for elk. I wouldn't expect to see the same deer numbers you did in 03-04 until 2015-2016.... Tomahawk guest ranch wouldn't be a bad place to stay.

 

[jgriffin82]

Thanks packmule. Is Tomahawk the old Powderhorn Guest Ranch? We left Lake City a day after 1st season 66 Elk closed last year and going north on 149, we saw about 35 bucks. It was pre-dusk so we there may have been more. Most were small, but there were a few that will be shooters this year if they made it through 2012 rifle seasons.

 

[packmule]

That hadn't changed by 3rd season, a lot of young bucks hugging the rd, most yearlings still with their mama & groups of 5-10 about the same age. Numbers have gone up every year since 07-08, but not near the quality as that Fall. IIRC tomahawk is a cpl miles on down the road from powderhorn guest ranch.

 

[jgriffin82]

Packmule, thanks for the Tomahawk advice. Did you hunt elk 3rd season 67 last year? I reserved a cabin for second season deer. Seems like nice folks that run the place. Fishing sounds like it may be pretty good too. Have you stayed there in the past?

 

[packmule]

Haven't stayed there, just talked to them a lot last yr on the unit. They both seemed real nice and personable & kids were well mannered. We usually stay in the cabins at Wildwood, but bc of their long-term leases you've got to dang near book a yr in advance. I was helping on a deer hunt last year, but have hunted it a few years since the winterkill and got to see it going into that Winter.