Looking Back

[Colorado Cowboy]

My wife and I were out to breakfast this morning (happens to be last day of 4th season) and saw a friend who owns a taxidermy and meat processing business. He told me that this year was the worst year he has had since opening his business 20 years ago. The bucks and bulls were smaller than before, especially the buck deer. Most of the people coming in for processing were not doing too well either. The one positive thing he said was that he has checked in more bears than ever.

First rifle season started out with a bang. Snowed for opening day and we all know how that can help. But second season was warm/hot and the hunting suffered. 3rd got some snow too and seemed a little better. Some rain/snow showers for 4th, but overall still warm.

I also have spent a lot of time in the NF where there are usually lots of big camps with 6 to 10 hunters. Saw maybe 1/2 as many as I usually see. Maybe the economy or the earlier promise of non residents not coming to Colorado because of our much publicized new gun legislation. Who knows!

 

[ivorytip]

after last years warm and dry winter i was planning on outstanding hunting, elk hunting was better than i have ever seen it, bow season, but as far as deer goes, i seen way fewer deer this year and few bucks compared to most years. wasnt a lack of hunters here though.

 

[wapiti66]

I went to Wy and hunted the Big Horns for archery elk, it was my first year hunting Wy so I have nothing to compare it to but the guides said it was a down year. I settled for a spike on the 6th day. I set out of colorado for the first time in several years b/c of the Wy hunt, but I plan to burn my 3 elk points there next year again. The deer here in KS are way down in numbers and size from past years in my opinion. I shot an average mulie with my bow here in Ks and haven't seen any big deer yet. Whitetails seemed to be down worse than the mulies, not sure why.

 

[sheephunter]

I hunted one of the CO central mountain units (I won't be any more specific than that) in the second rifle season. There were so many hunters/camps (both residents & non residents) that I would not go hunt the higher elevation areas I like to hunt. I heard more shooting the first couple days of the season than I have ever heard anywhere in CO. Ended up hunting a little hidey hole that nobody else got into that was loaded with game and took a pretty nice muley on the 3rd morning; passed up 7 or 8 little bucks before that. My buck had more fat on him than any other big game animal I've ever taken. The processor I took it to here in GJ told me they were getting absolutely hammered, with more game being brought in than they have seen in many years. OTOH, a friend was in one of the Gunnison Valley units in the 1st rifle season; for 9 hunters they killed 1 bull. Another group was in the same area 2nd rifle and 10 hunters killed nothing.
Guess there's just a lot of regional variables this year.

 

[mt-mike]

...... took a pretty nice muley on the 3rd morning; passed up 7 or 8 little bucks before that. My buck had more fat on him than any other big game animal I've ever taken. .........

My second season Colorado buck was also extremely fat. http://www.eastmans.com/forum/showthread.php/5848-Colorado-2nd-season-success

 

[Granby guy]

I would have to agree with CC. The elk got hammered first season with the snow but the action quickly slowed during second and third seasons. The deer hunting 3rd season left a little to be desired weather wise. I saw around 80 -100 deer during the last 4 days of 3rd season but only one of those was a big buck and he is still alive because it is hard to shoot a deer when you forget to put shells in your gun!

 

[In God We Trust]

The weather didn't do me any favors during the 3rd riffle season. I still managed a decent bull and my wife killed her first buck but that is attributed to hunting the same unit for 13 years. I agree the rifle seasons were tough. The archery/ smoke pole season was great if you could put up with the rain. I saw more big bucks and rutting bulls during September at timberline then I have in a few years.

 

[In God We Trust]

I am already looking forward to next year and planning my draw strategy for Colorado and a few other states!

 

[Musket Man]

Im already planning for next year too. Thinking about trying to go to CO with the smokepole next year!

 

[CoHiCntry]

Im already planning for next year too. Thinking about trying to go to CO with the smokepole next year!

Now your talking...

 

[In God We Trust]

I hunt mule deer smokepole every year at timberline. You can't beat the weather, big bucks up high, and the use of a firearm for 9 days. That is my favorite hunt every year hands down.

 

[ddress00]

i know many of my friends in southern states who usually come to colorado, didnt because of the gun laws that were being pushed around tag time.

 

[hoshour]

I hunted a small private ranch in CO this year that an outfitter I trust had me go hunt. It is usually booked up every year but this year one of the hunter's wives got cancer and they cancelled. The rancher only allows 6 hunters a year and usually at least 2-3 deer in the 160-170 range are taken.

We hunted there 2nd season which the rancher says is the better season there and while we saw lots of bucks, we saw 2 bucks around 145-150 and that was it. The rancher said it was the worst year for antler size he has seen in a long time.

I'm from out of state but from what I hear the rains came too late for good antler growth.