colorado deer

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elkhunter57

Guest
i have 19 colorado deer points for deer i have a unit in mind but is my 44 late the best unit? i am from utah and have a 200 inch net buck is there any hope for something better? i have spent a lifetime guideing hunters and will trade any info on hunting utah
 
It is hard for me to say. I tend to like 201 3rd season only because I know it well, and believe with a full week of hard hunting I could find a 200+. Like I said I know the unit. If you had a chance, you could come over this season and look at your top 1 or 2 units. Spend 1 weekend in one and another weekend in the other. Unit 2 has fewer deer and the bigger bucks are further between. You could find a good one there I have seen bucks right at 200 in it. Unit 10 is not what it used to be and niether is 21. 21 has some good bucks, but the size just has not been there the last couple years. You will see a butt load of deer in 21, but it will be hard to break 185...

As far as 44, 61, I just do not know those units well enough to say. I do know that Eagle COunty has had a ton of book entries over the years.
 
thank you very much 96 i have a good friend that lives in maybel colorado and with my 21 elk points and 19 deer points 201 and 2 could very well be the units to hunt. You are right i was headed to 44 the first of nov. i will include 201 on one of my trips. Do you have any points for Utah elk?
 
You are barking right up my tree. 44 is the best unit in the state as far I'm concerned. Killed 3 bucks over 200 out there. Way better numbers than the na corner. I know the NW corner very well also. Grew up and ran around that country since diapers chasing deer elk and lopers. Pm me if you need help.
 
Sounds like a great plan. Hope you guys see some big-uns.

That said, I am not sure I would use that many points on 44 anytime soon. Check out the DOW website statistics page and look at the deer number decline over the last 5 years. Way down by anybody's standard. I am sure there are some 200+ deer there, but with that kind of decline, I would wait a few more years there.........unless you see lots of great deer on your trip.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Tex... have you ever even been in 44? Obviously not this past winter with that commment lol You don't live in colorado do you? Heres an example of what ive been seeing..

951844buck.jpg


4566marcusabuck1.jpg
 
wow what a buck!!!!!!! i know 44 is weather dependent which is a gamble but at my age im about ready to shoot my last buck with my grandson, and i hope you have some utah elk points, lots of help on most of the utah units. I have two good friends that work at the mine i work at that grew up in gypsum, they all say the same thing and from posts earlier please colorado dont waste another good deer herd,
 
Only hunted there twice.

No question that is a fantastic buck. With enough points to get the 4th season, it is certainly worth a look, but the numbers there are still dismal compared to the past. Watch what happens this winter before deciding.

What was the date of that picture.


txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
honestly no holds barred i would not waste 19 points on unit 44, i live in that area i hunt it every single year. i scout it all summer long i know the nooks and crannies of that area. heres the deal getting a 200+ inch but in that area is a huge huge huge gamble for 19 points. the only 200 inch plus bucks iv seen much in that area are on private land. iv seen many many bucks over 200 in the cordillera area but you cant hunt there anyways and they know it. on gypsum creek there are bucks that big but only problem they know the private land. everybody says to hunt the hermits ya good but every one hunts them so they get hunted out. there are so many hunters in that area for the previous seasons everything jus disapears. coloradoboy idk bout where your from or the last time you hunted this area but it aint what it used to be at all. using 19 points on this unit is just not worth it.


$MAVERICK$
 
as always i had better go look for myself it really is the only way to get good deer and thats go some leg work. Thank you everyone and like i said i would help you with any elk hunt in Utah.
 
Didn't that buck in the bottom get killed last year by a auction tag holder Colorado boy?
 
No i killed that buck with Marcus who had the raffle tag. Say what you want but I have hunted every major deer unit in Colorado along with the eastern plains and 44 is my favorite
 
Coloradoboy that buck is a stud, your posts are right on target, i am for sure rolling 19 points on 44 late, deer gods or no deer gods i like your vibes on your home turf, wish you had elk points you would like my vibes here,
 
colordoboy
The only thing is how bad is the landowner issue? I have brass but not allot of gold, i want one good deer hunt with my grandson and the doc says i had better do it soon, great deer are always good to look at and if i cant get on land they live in, i may want to look at units with more public land. Thanks for any comment i have tough skin
 
AND ALL OF YOU PEOPLE THAT HAVE REPLIED TO MY POST THANK YOU THANK YOU SOME WAY SOME HOW I WILL RETURN A FAVOR THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-22-12 AT 05:02AM (MST)[p]ColoradoBoy
Have you turned 21 yet or still 20? In your short, yet illustrious career, you have hunted every major deer unit, INCLUDING the eastern plains? I understand you're young, and think you know everything, but in about 10 years you'll figure out how asanine that statement was. Post after post you preach how you and Tenderfoot outfitters don't hunt the Gunnison units for deer because of the hard winter. Two years later you are quick to label the top units in the state, most of which are still rebounding from the winter. Look up the numbers, they are dismal compared to before the winter. There are big bucks in every unit, and a few more big bucks in the historical "big buck units", but it is still nothing to spend 19 pp's on, and you should be responsible enough to know it. You may be surprised to know there are many, many very smart people on this website, many are lurkers, that know and study mule deer throughout the west, Tex is one of them. It is appreciated that you give information freely, but every time you give info on the WWW. based upon your young knowledge, and don't back it up with the numbers and stats, you aren't helping elkhunter57 nor the units in question.
And don't even go there when you talk about the Eastern Plains. There are alot of experienced guides out here who wouldn't have made that statement, nor think they really know this 1/3 of the state.
Again, your information is appreciated to many residents and nonresidents alike, but rein it in when you start calling out other members on this site.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-22-12 AT 08:42AM (MST)[p]Hey elkhunter57,
I had the same dilemma that you face last year with 18 pts, and I decided to just cash them in on 21. You may have seen a picture of my buck floating around on this site, but I ended up finding a 200" typical (195 net) in that unit.
I have to say that I was pretty darn lucky to find him and he was much better than most of the bucks I saw.
I also have a buddy that had a 44 4th season tag last year and he killed a 210 gross buck, which is also a dandy. We both hunted hard and both came home with "bucks of a lifetime". That being said, I think it is a gamble, regardless of where you choose.
I like Coloradoboy's idea to go look this year if you can. My friend with the 44 tag pre-scouted last year a week before the hunt though, and just about turned his tag back because he wasn't seeing what he wanted. So it may be key to go during the hunt, if you want to really see what it is like. Then weather changes from year to year as well, so you just never know.
I am also from Utah and I am glad to share any additional info if you want to PM me. I am sitting on a butt load of Utah elk points, so maybe you can give me some elk pointers.
Drop me a line.
 
Zeke,
Didn't mean to step on your toes or anyone elses. If you came out and spent time with me I think you'd see I know a thing or two about the smoke I supposeably blow out my ass. I spend the time in the units I talk about. last time I checked my birth certificate said ill be 21 in March. I live to hunt if you haven't noticed.. just because someone is 40 plus years old doesn't make them a better hunter in my opinion. One can say age makes a good hunter, I think time spent in the hills and passion for what you do makes some one good and knowledgeable. I appreciate those who challenge me on my young age, because it only motivates me to get better and prove the doubters wrong about my ability and knowledge. I don't kill big animals year in and year out because im completely lucky.. its because I bust my butt and do my homework. Deer numbers don't mean crap to me and the DNr's numbers don't either. my comments and knowledge comes from my own research, not what I read on a computer at work. As far as the eastern plains goes... both sets of my grandparents along with family members own a healthy portion of land that way and i have hunted it plenty. Did I miss anything?
 
44 can be more weather dependent. About 8 years ago I shot a 193 buck and my cousin shot a 197 typical. 193 net. We were very fortunate with a 3rd season tag. It warmed up during the 4th season and I know 4 hunters who hunted. One filled there tag with a 200 inch buck, the other 3 had tag soup. They just didn't see anything 185 or better. Good luck, what ever you decide. It's tough decision when you have that many points.
 
Get the right weather and 44 would be hard to beat in the 4th season. If not, you won't see the numbers of deer you would see elsewhere.

Colorado: Did I understand you that the buck in the picture was killed by a hunter you were with? If so,what date was that buck killed on?

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
i agree with everyone here, every unit has good bucks but finding those good bucks is a whole different story. hers my take again. the 4th season hunt is very weather dependent the gypsum creek valley with much snow has little deer because they hit the hay fields closer to town and they dont come off. the bucks in the brush creek valley go into eagle ranch on private am i saying all the bucks are on private no but a majority are. the deer along squaw creek usually jump ship and head into the brush creek valley. and lake creek is hard to hunt due to all the private. coloradoboy your 20 im 23 not saying i know either but i have been hunting this unit and this unit and ones surrounding it since i was 5. i have watched the bucks fall i have seen them climb. the unit isnt what it was 10 years ago thats for sure. it has been over hunted to many people hunting roads or jus off roads nobody hardly hikes anymore. im the type of guy that wears out boots every single year jus during hunting season cause i hunt or help in every single season. am i a professional of the area no but i know alot about it. i hunted my honey hole all archery for elk. did i see my big bucks hell ya i did but im not the type of guy that likes to tell anyone where i hunt. close friends are lucky to hunt with me cause peoples mouths run to much around here. i ride my horses all over the unit all summer. i know all the local areas i know where they used to be, where they are usually and most of their migration routes. i will give insight to anyone that asks i will give them general areas to hunt. i wish the best of luck to anyone that hunts in this area some get tag soup some kill good bucks. alot of the locals are tight lipped on their honey holes. i support the local and non local hunters

$MAVERICK$
 
I know nothing about unit 44. But I do know that in 2011 at least 1 resident used 16pts for a 4th season tag and in 2011 at least 1 nonresident used 18pts for a 4th season tag. So I don't think using 19pts on the 4th season would be a waste of points.


"Go hunt for meat at Walmart."
 
Colradoboy did you ask the people that took the pictures of those two dead bucks if you could post them on the www.? You definitely are a little green under your collar, and why don't you answer TX hunter's question of the date u killed the buck in the lower picture.
As for your aptitude of being famous, your nearly there. I can't wait for the articles to start showing up in magazines such as Trophy Hunter, Muley Crazy, Field and Stream etc... No biology and no reason of thought, just good ol road pounding and arm chair knowledge. Good on ya.
What happened to the Tenderfoot Outfitters signature at the end of all your posts, did you grow apart?
Let us all know when your first article is to appear. I am dying to read it so I can utilize the article as an information source of where to be.
P.S. How was your Cougar hunt with Marcus
 
Hey Guys,
The one thing i see in the return posts is a couple young guys loving to hunt deer, i am proud of ya, i am an old man that spent a lifetime with deer. I am happy to see and read about people that truly want to protect the sport of hunting, good job guys young or old we all have work to together, I wish Utah didnt trash our deer herd like they have its all about the money. I have had many deer tags in my pocket, most without cutting, couple good bucks b and c or not just one more and i will hang my hat. Once again thank you guys and may the deer gods shine on ya all
 
Yep it is Cole!

Hey Cole what ever happin to that muledeer hunt you had for me? You talked a big game about some ranch you had leased, I talked to you several times about my dad and I hunting with you and you said I had to send you a deposit for the vouchers, also you told me to buy a elk tag since the elk stack up on the ranch from public land pressure.

I think you got a little ahead of yourself before you knew the details on the ranch because you still haven't returned my call or tex from 2011!!

Just sayin!

Sorry to bust in on the post!
 
Holy smokes when it rains it pours. Hornfish, sorry the deal fell through with the that particular ranch on me chose to go to guide else where that fall instead of starting that deal off, thats business and things fall through, catering to your needs and wants wasn't in my cards that fall . I am more finically settled now and am looking to start my own deal up in Eastern Colorado on God Parents place east of Limon in the next couple years. Im sorry I didn't get back to you I get swamped during the hunting season buy you are welcome to call me anytime, I perfer it more than a text. Guys pick at me all you want I don't really give a rats@ss. I know what I do in the woods every year and I kill and hell kill my fair share of animals and I work damn hard at. As far im concerned I don't need to lend my help or knowledge to "older" more "seasoned" hunters. I feel those who have had the chance o hunt with me or be guided by me know I am stand up guy and work damn hard at what I do and I am extremely passionate about it. Piss on me but haters only motivate me more to go out and do what I do each and every year and thats fill tags on mature animals. Sorry I come off as I "know too much" but if you guys truly understood the amount of time, money and effort I put in each and every year traveling this state and others guiding, scouting and hunting for myself you'd get why I know what I do. I challenge any doubter to call me up and come out with me and I think by the end of it you'll have a different opinion. I share info in trophy areas because realistically they are once, twice in a lifetime tags. I want to see guys be successful and I love getting to be part of watching a guy fulfill a life long dream of taking a trophy class animal. I call it being an unselfish hunter who lends a hand to others who share the same passion.. someone of you must see it as being negative. Honestly I get great gratification in helping others, just the nature of the beast and there isnt a soul sitting behind a computer screen who doesnt even know my name or who I am change that in me. Just keep it coming guys this only fuels my fire to keep hammering the hills and keep proving myself. Maybe if I was "25" you guy would take me more seriously but I sleep good at night knowing what I accomplish year in and year out. I don't think there are many individuals out there my age that have seen what Ive seen, been where I've been, done what I've done and have the same passion and drive that I have. One the side note, I don't have the time to sit on here and answer a million questions for you guys. If you guys want to contanct me on a more personal level and perhaps sit down and have coffee with me here's my info;

Cole Ullom
970-319-6139
[email protected]
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-12 AT 05:57AM (MST)[p]

First of all, I like Coloradoboy's passion. Young or not, right or not, we all should have that kind of passion over hunting. Doesn't mean we can't disagree about the best unit! It is just fair to let people know that some people have a few years knowledge of some areas, and some have decades.

I have heard from a reliable source that there are some wallhangers coming out of 44 in later seasons. But from what I know, it would still be a hit or miss proposition and very weather dependent. And I have seen people with over 10 points put in for a unit that only takes 2-3 points to get picked! Many reasons why: tired of playing the waiting game or wants to hunt with a group, etc. But it doesn't neccessarily mean the uint is "worth it".

Bottom line is that people have to make up their own mind. And, there is always the option of drawing the tag and getting there early to scout. If you don't see what you are after, turn the tag back in and get your points back. Yes, that takes a tag from someone else, but it also preserves a buck in a unit where it is questionable whether or not they should even be issuing 4th season tags. I know a guy who knows this unit intimately who did that very thing a couple of years ago because the weather didn't cooperate and he didn't see anything near what he wanted to shoot.


And I realize that he doesn't have time to answer "millions of questions". But he is promoting this unit and the date a big buck was killed is very pertinent to the question at hand. So I will ask a third time. What was the date the buck in question was killed.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-12 AT 07:14AM (MST)[p]Bottom line is that the web is only one source of information and anything suggested or read on here should be validated by other sources. I used to hang out on a varmint board when I was doing a lot of coyote hunting. There was a guy that was an expert on everything give advice on the best this and best that. One day I got a PM from him asking if I could take him out when he was going to be traveling in my area. I offered it up and took him out. Came to finds out the had "Never" killed a coyote in his life. Worst part was during the hunt when he wanted to give advice cause he didn't like my calling and wanted to use his high dollar electronic caller.
 
Tx the buck was taken in December. I started scouting for bucks in 44 in the third season. Like everyone keeps kicking the dead horse over, weather dependent... but thats the case with many public land units as far as im concerned. Just because you have 19pp doesn't make you entitled to a BC deer. All a guy can ask is to be able to hunt in a unit where he has a chance at a monster
 
All u need to do is answer 2 of the 3 questions, plain and simple. As far as the magazine article goes I could give a rats@ss about that. I'm callin you out right here that way everyone on the www. can see the bucks you've been seeing in the last year!
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-12 AT 08:29AM (MST)[p]I have had the opportunity to speak with Cole on several occasions. He and his family have been nothing but helpful and happy to share first hand information and local knowledge. What does age have anything to do with the now and what is going on in a particular unit today? I would take first hand experience and knowledge of a unit coming from any age anytime over a desk jockeys calculated numbers. Keep it up Cole your results speak for themselves! Thanks again for all the help!
 
>Tx the buck was taken in
>December. I started scouting for
>bucks in 44 in the
>third season. Like everyone keeps
>kicking the dead horse over,
>weather dependent... but thats the
>case with many public land
>units as far as im
>concerned. Just because you have
>19pp doesn't make you entitled
>to a BC deer. All
>a guy can ask is
>to be able to hunt
>in a unit where he
>has a chance at a
>monster

That is what I figured (December). And if I had a governors tag, 44 is definately an area I would hit! But in that unit during the scheduled hunting seasons, there is plenty of high country for the bucks to hang out in if snow doesn't force them down. Sure many units are in the same boat, but there are units where that is not the case. So depending on what you need: a unit where if you don't get the right weather, you many not see much of anything, or a unit where you will see lots of deer and possibly a monster even if the snow is not deep. Either way, I would not pass up a 185-190 deer or you may end up eating tag soup.


txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
coloradoboy so true are your words, a chance to hunt a unit that has a chance, to fish a pond with big fish, hunting is hunting, if we had to have a hunt when everytime a 200 buck hit the ground, i would head back east in a high fenced 200 acre plot with a shooting house, fthat, sorry for inciting a riot, i will pm all fokes call ya and please if nothing else stay with your passion
 
AND THE ONLY WAY IT WILL ALL WORK IS IF WE PASS IT ON MY QUOTE 1977, TAKEN TO THE RMEF, IF YOUR 18 OR 57 PASS IT ON. LOVE YOU GUYS
 
Hey elkhunter57,where ever you decide to hunt,I hope you and your grandson have great memories and you kill your your 200 incher.As far as taking advise from coloradoboy,read his post in the elk section,something fishy going on,hopefully not,and it will pass by.
 
I thought I would chime in here. I have quite a bit of experience in 44 as well. Obviously hunting bucks in December in any unit is totally different than during the hunting seasons! As mentioned in numerous posts above...44 can be a nightmare without the right conditions. There is a lot of dark timber and private land where older age bucks can wait out a season. Quite a bit of 44 depends on the migration/snow to push bucks out of the highest peaks or timber. 44 is definitely weather dependent. I hunted 44 the 4th season around 10 years ago and ate my tag. I saw some great bucks but the full moon, hardly any snow, and warm weather made hunting pretty tough. If you hit it right it can be great but hit the wrong year and you may be eating tag soup just like I did!
 
thanks jims, i wish i could make the moon perfect, and the snow fly on 44 but i cant, please colorado people, promise to pay u back what unit with 19 points would you put in for
 
If you are looking for a consistent area in Colo that produces 200+ class TF type bucks the eastern plains is where it's at! Obviously most of the units take a fraction of 19 pts but year in and year out it is dependable. Unfortunately you likely will need to go guided to access private land. Guided hunters in the plains consistently get mega bucks every year....if you can afford to hunt there!

It is a crap shoot in any Western Colo unit...especially when looking for 200 class bucks. The units mentioned above have potential for 200 class and it's just a matter of putting in the leg work and being at the right place at the right time. If you have access to private land you may double or triple your odds.

Something not mentioned above is early high country hunts...but almost all of them have super low densities of deer and you'll need to cover lots and lots of country. If it snows the bucks above timberline will also likely vanish into the trees. There are monster bucks shot each year in the EHB hunts but they are an incredible amount of work and you better be in shape!

I would suggest picking a unit that doesn't have general OTC elk tags so you aren't fighting the mob of elk hunters and get after scouting it!
 
You are now getting advice from someone who knows of what he speaks.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
My brother-in-law and I have tags for the Nov. 3-11 season in CO, Unit 21. We will be arriving in Rangely on Wednesday and plan on being there for the entire season if necessary.

I read littlebighorn's post from Oct 22 and was hoping for any tips or portions of the unit we should concentrate on for a better chance of locating trophy-class bucks. We have BLM maps and have scanned Google Earth to get a good idea on the topo and access.

Any shared information would be greatly appreciated.
 
if you want some help, i have hunted 21 for over 8 years. have takened a few good bucks from there. 3035885638 Dale
 

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