What CO unit with 9 pts?

kurtski25 · Nov 28, 2008

Over the years I've been accumulating pref points with the goal of going to Unit 61. Now that I'm ready to to apply I see that 61 has gone down a little (less tags and age structure has dropped). So, I'm starting to consider other units.
Specifically,
Unit 62 4th season
Unit 66 3rd season
Unit 43 early rifle
Unit 53 4th season
Which unit and season would you choose?
Any input from anyone who has been to these units lately would be most appreciated. PM if you wish, if there's anything I can do to reciprocate the favor I certainly will.
Kurtski

cmbbulldog · Nov 28, 2008

Wait a couple of years and see the deer herds respond from the winter kill. I heard the Gunnison Basin units just werent anywhere close to the same as in years past. Heard that for lots of units in the state. It your set on hunting next year though, I am sure with some work you can still find a good deer wherever you go.

PM sent

ColoradoRam · Nov 28, 2008

I would wait also. My dad burned 13 points on a unit 3, 4th rifle buck tag and we were hunting private land that produced several 180 class deer in the last few years. The winter kill up there was a lot worse than heard or expected. He did manage to take a nice buck but the number of winterkill we and the rancher had found on not only deer but elk as well was really sad. Give it 3 to 5 years with mild winters and you could really have your pick of a great hunt.

kurtski25 · Nov 28, 2008

Thanks for the info gents, I appreciate it. Bulldog I sent a PM back and thanks for the help.
I guess I'm starting to think about waiting for a year or two.
Kurtski

appleman · Nov 29, 2008

Just got back from 62 4th and I think I would skip it. Maybe it was the wrong year or bad rut or the moon but I never saw anything close to a shooter and I covered alot of ground. Did see hundreds of deer but a lack of bucks!!!

Rem308 · Nov 29, 2008

I think it would be smart to skip Anywhere in western Colorado for a couple of years.Especially with 9 points,I sure would not waste them next year.All my hunting friends are giving me dismal reports from this year.I can't see it any better for a couple of years.

rmanwill · Nov 29, 2008

Nine points is alot to give up. This year was bad everwhere. Waiting may be the best thing to do and then again maybe next year there will be that many more big bucks to choose from if the weather, moon and stars all line up for the lucky ones to draw tags. Best of luck and remeber most good units in Colorado will have several good bucks on any given year.

BigPig · Dec 1, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Dec-01-08 AT 09:18AM (MST)[p]61 is much lower in elevation. I centainly don't know but I can't imagine it had winterkill issues. This is not a high country hunt, those deer should have been fine. Am I wrong?

littlehunter23 · Dec 1, 2008

unit 61 is a good unit to hunt in its only figuring out what season to hunt it.

325wsm · Dec 1, 2008

Out of the hunts and units you listed I think that 61 would still be the best choice

HiMtnHntr · Dec 1, 2008

61 is fairly low elevation unit, from about 9500-6000 ft. or so. Last winter, the area did get hit with the worst winter in 25 years, or so I have heard from people that live there. It's conceivable that a few areas where the deer have had it easy in past years were covered with a lot of snow last winter.

ElmerFudd · Dec 1, 2008

Who knows, the dry year and low kill might mean a few more are left for next year. Often a poor harvest is followed by a good one, and visa versa. I know it was a bad winter, but it's hunting and all a gamble. Nothing takes the fun out of anything more than unrealistic expectations.