Gunnison area unit 54

[Colorado Cowboy]

Looks I am going to try something a little different next year. One option on my list is a guided M/L elk hunt in unit 54 in the West Elk Wilderness area. The outfitter I am looking at is Tenderfoot Outfitters. One of my friends did a summer fishing trip with them and was very complimentary of their operation.

Anyone have any experience with them? How about just hunting in the wilderness area by yourself-DIY. I've never been in that particular area and if I do choose them, I will be making some trips there this summer to get an idea of the area. I spend some time every summer in Lake City, not too far away, so should be pretty easy to nose around a little.

 

[sjsmallfield]

Wish I had some info for you CC. Good luck on the hunt though.

 

[buckbull]

I think our company attorney muzzleloader hunted that unit a few years back. I'll check with him tomorrow and if he did hunt it I will try to pry some info for you.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I booked a M/L guided elk hunt with Tenderfoot Outfitters today. They hunt the West Elk Wilderness area in unit 54. 6 hunters in camp, 2/1 hunters to guide. It is an either sex tag and I have more than enough points. $3800.00 for everything except tips.

Now I need to get my new T/C Pro hunter back from my smith and do some more shooting (have a trigger job done). I am planning on adding one of thye See All Open Sights too. Should be a fun hunt, they run from 80 to 100% filled tags. Most bulls around the 300" mark, but take a few up to 350 every year.

 

[Musket Man]

Sounds like a great hunt CC! I might try to head that direction with my smoke pole this fall for deer. Not decided on a unit yet and might take another point to draw but I been looking at 54, 53 or 67. 53 I should be able to draw, the others might be kinda iffy.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Its a little difficult right now as Colorado has not posted the updated info on how many points were necessary for a successful tag draw in 2013. I was told it jumps around 1 1/2 points each year.

 

[In God We Trust]

As a resident you can draw a unit 54 muzzleloader tag with 1 point and you have a 40% chance of drawing it with 0. Nonresident requires 4 points to draw with a 25% chance of drawing with 3 points. I pulled this info off of Hunters Trailhead draw odds.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

When I called Parks & Wildlife Wednesday, they said that they have not released the 2013 points data yet. It is the only thing not on the statistics for 2013 on the webpage. I currently have 3 points, so I don't see a problem, but still would like to see the data as i want to look at the deer numbers for another unit too.

 

[Musket Man]

I wish they would post min points required for 13 soon since its alot simpler but you can look at how many tags there were in 13 and how many points applicants had and subtract it out to figure out how many points it took to draw in 13.

 

[Doe Nob]

I think you'll have as good a chance with Tenderfoot as with any outfitter in that unit. Definitely smart to go LE tag there too, we hunted 2nd rifle there 3 years back and orange army was an understatement. Saw on 350 class bull across beaver a ways up, but I think tenderfoot comes in from the east side. I hiked the unit for a week in July and hunted it for a week in September, if you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to answer if I can.