Unit 61 archery deer in Colorado

B

bohuntr77

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I just found out that I drew this tag. I plan to hunt from September 12, 2009 until I shoot a buck or the season ends. I would appreciate any advise or information anyone may have regarding this hunt. Please e-mail me at [email protected]. Thanks.
Dan
 
I had 4 points. I thought I would draw Unit 61 archery elk with 14 points but didn't. I thought it would be more of a long shot to draw the deer tag. I guess I was wrong in both cases.
Dan
 
You might take a different approach to obtaining info about a unit other than coming on a hunting forum, not knowing anyone and a new member, and asking for info and starting places on a unit.
 
Trust me I am trying to get info from as many sources as possible. This forum was suggested to me by a couple of my friends from other sites as a particuarly good place to get info about this type of thing. I have been a long time poster on some other sites and have asked this questionon those sites as well. I am also a member of The Huntin Fool and should be getting a list of contact numbers for persons who have hunted the unit previously from them. I also know an outfitter that operates in that unit. I have answered tons of questions for out staters on other sites about hunting muledeer and antelope in SD so I didn't feel I was doing anything wrong in posting a question here.
Dan
 
I have helped a lot of people on this site with information and they have helped me probably a lot more. I have hunted 61 deer a while back and scouted over the years. I have 5 points and I put in with a buddy with 4 points so we will see if I drew later. Right now it is not looking good by going the back way. Either way I will send you a email with some locations to start looking. If we draw we will be going the first of the hunt. They seem to be a little harder to find once the velvet is off. Talk to you later.
 
Welcome to MM, where the sarcasm is always free.
Anyway.
good tag to have.
I've scouted and hunted the other side of the Plateau (unit 62). There are great bucks in 61. Expect to be hunting rim type country in mixed oak and aspen. The bucks are typically as high as they can go then. Some glassable terrian but much thick country, too.
You said you were coming September 12th?
My advice (always free so take it for what it's worth) would be to hunt closer to the opener in late August.
By September 12th, on a normal year, the bucks will be thinking about rubbing or already starting. I'd rather hunt full velvet bucks as on average they spend more time in the open and for whatever reason seem to be easier to find.
If it's hot, hunting is tough, but they may be more tied to water if you know the water in the area.

God bless your hunt
The Christian
 
Muzzleloader deer and elk opens Sept.12 in 61 so you could have a lot of other people in there to mess you up but good luck on the hunt maybe I will see you I have a elk tag for there....Devlin
 
Unit 61 has always been a great tag to have but the DNR posted that there was a 20% winter kill in both 61 and 62 the winter of 07. I saw alot fewer big deer in 62 last year than I have seen in previous years. I will second what everyone else has said about hunting early, They are much more predictable in their patterns the closer to opening day that you go.
 
Thanks for the info guys. I really appreciate it. I may consider coming out a little earlier based on the advice here. My original plan was based on the assumption that I would draw an elk tag and I wanted to time my hunt for peak rut. I do have a buddy that is going to come along and pick up an OTC archery elk tag in one of the adjacent units, probably unit 70.
Dan
 
Bohuntr, use your huntin fool list!!!!!!! I had archery elk last year and the 5 guys I called all spent over an hour each on the phone with me, until I ran outta questions. They had their maps out, I had my maps out. Everything I was told was true.

And use the deer hunt this year to scout elk for when you draw. I guarentee that after you spend a couple of weeks in Sept in the unit, you'll keep trying for the elk tag.

I only saw 9 bucks in 15 days last year BUT I was huntin oak brush. I'd hunt the aspens for deer.
 
Dan,
You were very unlucky / lucky. I say you were unlucky because only 2 applicants with 14 points did not draw the elk tag. I say you were lucky because IMO this is not a unit where you want to have both of those tags at once. The muley tag is a tough draw and the elk tag is absolutely a once in a lifetime tag under the current system. Under no circumstances would I want to have both at the same time if I had the option of making it two seperate hunts. IMO you also got lucky by drawing the muley 1st. As others have mentioned, I would hunt early and stay as long as I could. You should be able to leverage a lot from this hunt on your elk hunt which you should draw next year if you choose. I killed a nice bull in 61 in '06 and I was hunting in an area that I learned from an archery deer hunter from the year before.
As I said before...you have a good muley tag and will draw a great elk tag. Use this year to get after the muleys and prepare yourself for the elk tag.
Mike-TN
 
I agree, two great tags at the same
time would be tough, I have tried it
on general hunts in my state, and it
is not that easy, if you are looking
for trophies in both species. Have a great hunt!
 
Mike, I really agree with your logic at this point. When I found out that I didn't draw the elk tag I was really disappointed but now I am looking at it as an opportunity to try and kill a big muley while learning the unit for next year. The only downside is that this throws a wrench in my long term planning with some of my buddies as we have points accumulated in Wyoming, Montana and Utah and they don't have the Colorado points. Considering how long I have waited and the effects of the point creep I feel like I need to put in for Unit 61 again next year but hate to prevent my buddies from going after tags. There is no way I could afford the time and money to go on two out of state elk hunts in one fall so that is not an option. I guess having points in several states is a good problem to have. If only the application deadlines and draw deadlines dovetailed a little better in the states I am interested in I could plan better. Thanks for the help and encouragement from everyone. Keep it comin!
Dan
 
Dan, one thing I didn't mention is if I had the deer tag, I'd go early-the first 2 weeks. For elk, I'd hunt the last 2 weeks. My one hunt experence elk was it got better every day. Called in more and bigger bulls almost every day.

26th and 27th were the best 2 days but day after muzzy closed, I had eight different bulls going at one time. A smallish 6 @ 15 feet and a 320 to within 30 yards. Got a great look at the big one @ 60-70 yards but when he dove into the oakbrush with me I couldn't get a shot. Just being drawn with a bull like that @ 30 yards was fantastic.

Good luck.
 
If I'm reading the draw stats correctly, you were very lucky to get the mule deer tag with four points. Looks like there was only one tag left for the four point pool and 22 applicants.

Unlucky in elk....but lucky in mule deer. Congrats on the tag. Maybe I'll see you on the mountain!

Paul
 
That is interesting on the stats, Paul. I guess as the Rolling Stones once said: "You don't always get what you want but you get what you need". I really wanted an elk tag but I need to learn the Unit before hunting it effectively for elk and I need a big mule deer. Well need might be putting it a little bit strongly although I definitely do NEED to hunt! Do you have an elk tag or a deer tag Paul? Good luck on whichever one you have! Is your handle Pav on another site?
Dan
 
Hey Dan.

Yes, I go by my initials (pav) on that site. Got the same tag you do. I can't envision ever having enough points for elk in that unit. I agree, this likely worked out in your favor. Good luck!

Paul
 
Thanks Paul. Maybe we will run into each other this fall. What dates are you planning to hunt? Good luck, I hope you shoot a big ol Booner!
Dan
 
Dan,

Originally, I was planning for mid-September. After talking with a few guys on this site, I changed my plans. Will be flying in to Grand Junction on Thursday morning prior to the opener. Trip is planned for two scouting days...and ten actual hunting days.

Good luck on your muley....and on the elk scouting. If you decide to stick with your original plans...we should touch base before you leave. I'll be home the day after Labor Day.

Paul
 

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