High Country Colorado Units

[mooretitan]

Well I have read over what seems like endless information for the Colorado draw. I am pretty sure that I have what I am looking for but at the last minute my dad ask about a above the timberline hunt. I am having a hard time figuring out which units are above the timberline. We don't have any points going into the draw but are willing to put some work in scouting this summer.

Also is it possible to draw a somewhat decent above the timberline archery unit as a second choice so we can build points.

Not looking for any detailed info I can do most of the research. Just these units are above the tree line.

If not looking at unit 31/32 or 60 archery but I cant get 31/32 as a second choice and 60 as a second choice I am not 100%

Thanks in advance

 

[gypsumreaper]

Are you talking about the early rifle tags?
I'm not really sure what the above timberline tags are, the early rifle tags I know are not above timberline, there's no certain elevation it's in the wilderness area. You have to be within a wilderness area to hunt that tag.
Unless there are other tags I don't know about but my unit has a ton of high Country but they still call it the early rifle tag in the Maroon bells snowmass wilderness area.

If this is the type of tags you are looking at then no most of these tags take a few PP to draw for the rifle. There are maybe a few units that have some archery deer tags that you could possibly draw though. Will have to get on the CPW sight and do some research on draw odds.

 

[JimP]

Those are mostly going to be the early rifle hunts such as one in units 44, 45, 444 with the hunt code of D-M-o44-E1-R or the early hunt in unit 47, 48, and 36. In the wilderness areas. There may be a couple of others. This year they run from September 9-17 or the same time that the muzzle loader and archery hunts run.

The areas are open to archery and muzzle loader draws also but are a single unit on them. I know that you used to be able to draw a archery tag in 444 as a second choice and then hunt it up high. But you may want to look at the draw odds before you make your decidion

 

[mooretitan]

So if I understand it right I am looking for units with wilderness and that these would be considered above the timberline? Not looking to draw a early rifle hunt. I know that would take a few points before that could happen. Looking for a wilderness/above timberline unit for archery that I might be able to draw as a second choice so I can gain a PP. If that's not possible what units can I get this done as a 1st choice no PP.

I will be researching as much info as I can the next couple days.

If not does anyone have some info on 31/32 archery. That is the back up right now. But I am trying to build PP and still hunt mule deer in Colorado

Thanks for your time. Time flies fast and really want to get a few more good hunts with my dad and sons

 

[Work2hunt]

There are a lot of areas that are "above" timberline. Find any mountain that exceeds about 10,500 ft and you start getting into that category. As mentioned earlier, if you want a rifle hunt there is the early rifle season for about 12 hunts or so where most, but not all specify that you be above a certain elevation or timberline.

If you want an archery or muzzleloader hunt you might find a 2nd choice draw if you research the odds.

 

[JimP]

If you want to hunt above timberline archery you just need to find the units that have a early rifle in wilderness areas and put in for that unit, after you check the draw odds for that unit.

A example is unit 36. Part of it is in the Eagles Nest Wilderness and the early rifle hunt is in the wilderness only but the whole unit is open to archery hunting along with 3 other units with it and you can hunt the wilderness area, and I believe that you should be able to draw it on a second choice hunt.

 

[gypsumreaper]

What JimP said 36 has the early rifle with archery as well as 44,45,444 for holy cross and unit 43 with the Maroon bells wilderness. All have high altitude areas but also archery tags that allow to hunt the entire unit instead of just high altitude. You may be surprised how many deer are not at high altitude during the archery season.

 

[mooretitan]

Thanks guys - looks like I will be a few years away for drawing some of those units. I will have to look into archery and something I can do every 1-2 years.

On a side note can anyone talk me out of unit 31 archery as a backup plan. I have heard there is private property issues and wild horses. But in the eastmans section it shows 70% public land.

Learning each state has been a process for sure. Its pretty easy if you are just holding out for max points and best zones but trying to get a solid game plan for 1-4 years and still be in great areas is a chore

 

[JimP]

31 does have a lot of public/BLM ground in it but access can be a problem. Private property owners in the bottom of the canyons lock you out of the BLM ground up high.

If I was you I would check out the unit 35 archery, there should be tags offered in the second go around in the draw. I actually drew a muzzle loader tag on my second choice last year. Then if you do draw 35 as a second choice you can hunt the Eagles Nest Wilderness which is a "High Country Hunt" or you can hunt 35, 36, 45, or 361 if you don't want to pack into the wilderness area.

 

[mooretitan]

Thanks Jim, I sent you a pm