Colorado Hunt

[Jq23]

I was hoping someone could give me a little information about unit 18/28/37. I'm thinking about putting in for the third season rifle hunt this year as a second choice and hopefully can draw it. How is the deer herd in those units? I know there is pressure in the third season because they give out around 1400 tags, but with 3 units I was thinking you could get away from some of the crowd. Has anyone hunted the third season in these units before? Any information would be great


Thanks.

 

[sage_sniffer]

I've hunted those units third season for the last four years.
I've yet to kill anything big. 18 and 28 are very dependent on the weather. Most of the units are covered in thick dark timber. If you get heavy snow to push them down the hunting can be good.
2014 third season was warm and mostly dry. We did not see many deer and very few bucks.
The country is also very steep. If you are not in good shape you will have a hard time. Along with all that the timber is near impossible to walk through due to all the pine beetle killed trees falling down.
Having said all that, I have seen some very nice bucks come out of those units both in the second and third season. I also see good bucks on the winter range every year. So they are there and it is possible. I don't know why they issue so many tags? It can be a little crowded on the roads.
PM me if you have more specific questions.

 

[sage_sniffer]

You should also try posting in the Colorado section.