Gunnison Basin Mule Deer

[xtreme]

Does anyone know how these latest snows will affect the mule deer in the Gunnison units. I am considering a draw at unit 66 and I know the mule deer have not completely recovered from the winters of 07-08.
We have 73 inches of snow cover at Cumbres and 98 inches at Wolf Creek Co. I have seen some elk stay up high in deep snow but I have never seen a deer in really deep snow.

 

[Zim]

I have 5 points and been reading lots of reviews and would not touch it with a 10 foot pole yet. I took a 175" buck there in 06.

 

[gatheringsheds]

So far this winter Gunnison Basin is having a mild winter with very little snow. Hope you have lots of points saved up you'll need them to draw 66.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Too bad 66 isn't in the Hybrid draw. The bad thing about it that you need 10 points to start with. I put in for Unit 3/310 for antelope as I have 11 pts. The new Hybrid draw will give some of us older hunter a chance at chance at a premium unit that we could never draw in our lifetime.

 

[Old Hunter]

Deer will move down much faster than elk. Deer won't struggle in deep snow. It doesn't seem to bother bulls much at all. They come down for the cows.

 

[xtreme]

I know where Jack's Cabin is located. I have ridden all that country on my dirt bike. There is a trail that goes up from Jacks Cutoff that should have potential once the cabins are cleared. Goes toward Deadman Gulch. I have gone up and down at North Bank, I think that goes to Doctors Park. The best deer country I remember is a trail that goes up somewhere between Jacks Cutoff east end and North Bank. I have been on Cement Creek lots of times but I dont recall thinking that was a deer hotspot. I probably missed something in there. The ridges above CB all the way to Angels Pass look good to me and I have seen lots of deer there but I assume lots of hunters during season.
Gatheringsheds, would you go to 66 vs 55?

 

[gatheringsheds]

I like both units, if I had 8 points saved up 66 third rifle would be fun. Same season 55 would be good but not worth burning that many points because its an OTC elk unit so there are a ton of hunters. If your into Archery then that's a whole other story. 55 is really good cause there is so much high country and you can draw with 1 point.

 

[Graylight]

The winter is VERY mild so far... It should be a fun hunt this year...

 

[ColoradoV]

Parts of the Gunnison basin were hit hard in 08 then again last year.

It will take more than one year to recover from these two winters. Almost a entire age class of bucks is non-existent. In fact I have 2 friends who outfit in the gunnision basin that have quit booking deer hunts due to the lack of deer for their customers. I spend a ton of time in 55 and have seen basins that used to hold 15+ good 160+ bucks pre 2007-08 now hold 1-2 130 class bucks. Helped a old friend with a muzzy tag last year and we did not tag out as the best buck we saw was 160ish - disappointing to say the least.

There are a few bruisers to be found but I am holding on to my points for a few more years and wait for the units to recover. The CPW also feels this way as I believe they have cut 3rd season licenses from about 90 in 2007 to about 30 last year....

 

[xtreme]

I am going yo apply for unit 66 3rd rifle or unit 61 3rd rifle. Thanks everone for you help