Colorado 21, third season

Piker · Mar 7, 2010

About 20 years ago my buddy and I started building Colorado elk points for the ?hunt of a lifetime?. After a couple of years we decided to build up some deer points so we could use a deer hunt to scout for our big elk hunt. Well, a lot has changed over the last 20 years. Deer management has gone very well, and the 2006 point banking scheme showed us how big a mistake we made building up so many points. In 06 we split our points and went diy muzzy elk hunting in one of the wilderness areas of unit 66. In a few more years, we should be able to go back to the same place with the benefit of all our experience (and waypoints) from our first trip. I don't know why, but we never thought to cash in a few deer points for that hunt.

Our plan for this year is to hunt deer in Unit 21 third season. After looking over the topo maps and Google Earth, I'm now looking for some advice. How are these roads? We'll be driving a 4wd pickup with 4 sets of tire chains. Should we have a winch?, Locking differential? We?re planning on camping in the truck 1-2 nights between hotel stays. What type of weather should we be prepared for.

More importantly, how is this unit/season best hunted? Drive, spot, and stalk? Glassing from elevated vantage points? Also, I've seen references to migration. Where are the deer migrating from and to?

HiMtnHntr · Mar 7, 2010

I can't answer many of your questions because I've never hunted there, but one thing I would recommend is that you plan to camp in the unit for your entire hunt. The reason for this is that you will lose a lot of hunting time, and spend a lot more money, travelling back and forth to town. Why not invest in at least a comfortable tent and plan to stay the whole time? With the season structure changes the 3rd season should be pretty good as it falls in the middle of november. With a good amount of luck you will have some colder temps and some snow. You should prepare for weather at both extremes, from very mild to very cold and snowy, and everything in between.

wildwilderness · Mar 7, 2010

oil field workers keep all the roads good. only problem if they get too muddy but they dry out fast.

oldmossback · Mar 7, 2010

How many points do you guys have?

Piker · Mar 7, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Mar-07-10 AT 07:47PM (MST)[p]We have 16 deer points, so unless I misunderstood last years draw results, we should be in good shape to draw tags.

In 06 we hiked into the wilderness on the day before the muzzy elk season started, and lived in a two man tent (mostly 5 miles from the truck at 11,600 ft) for the whole 9 day season. My buddy hiked out to the truck on day 5 to exchange some trash and dirty laundry for food and clean laundry. Ate 3500 calories a day and lost way to much weight. Even though we're anxious to go back and do it again, we're sort of hoping this would be a little easier hunt. We don't mind getting out and hunting, but I want to smell a little better on day 9 than I did last time : )

Actually, I don't want to still be there on day 9, but if that's what it takes, we'll be there till the end.

tstewy · Mar 7, 2010

Great unit ive hunted it once when i was a kid but i always go there during the rut and winter to film big bucks saw two bucks over 200in during the rut 2 yrs ago.pm me if you want more info.

tstewy · Mar 7, 2010

ps the spot were the big bucks were there is always at least one monster and no roads to boot make it awesome hunting always at least one giant in the canyon.i just dopnt want it getting blasted everywhere not like i'll ever draw but still.

littlebighorn · Mar 8, 2010

Stewy,
I sent you a pm.

gl7mm · Mar 10, 2010

We hunted it 3rd season a few years back. Great hunt and between the migration and rut getting going later in season saw a lot of real high quality bucks. With late season dates this is the year to hunt it. It is an easy hunt relatively speaking although there are plenty of places to stretch your legs as much as you want. We hunted from Rangely and put a lot of miles on but it worked OK. I can give you some ideas where to look and an overview of the area. I will never have enough points to hunt it again. We killed one dandy and my brother the whitetail hunter pulled the trigger to early but he was happy and it was a respectable critter. I can send you P.M. when I have maps in front of me with some good areas if you like.