21/30 colorado/ 61 Colorado vs / Vernon/book cliffs or something else comparable

Tharackman · Jul 10, 2015

I was just curious which unit you guys think would produce the best chance at a 180 mule deer archery. I have enough points next year to probably draw one of these. From your guys experience which one do you feel has the best access and the best circumstances to look over a few deer without to much pressure. I know Colorado has OTC elk hunters this time of year so I have considered that also.

wildwilderness · Jul 13, 2015

I would have to say whichever one you know the best and will spend the most time in. Colorado has definitely taken a hit the last few years on those units, but hopefully they will be back sooner than later.

tooele · Jul 13, 2015

Tough work finding 180 plus on vernon or book cliffs. They can be there but not common.

bownutcolo · Jul 15, 2015

Id go to 61,,,,, Ive hunted 21 for years, the last couple years, I've not seen a 180 buck on public, now on private, it's a different story!!!

Tharackman · Jul 15, 2015

Thanks for the responses. I was leaning 61. What do you think causes an area like 21 to die off so fast? For years I thought that was the cats meow For big buck hunting.

bownutcolo · Jul 16, 2015

21 will come back,, certain years the bucks are very vulnerable during hunting season, and were easy pickens.. if the weather stays good the bucks , along with does will be spread out over the whole unit, and not quite so easy!!! there are still some good bucks , but private controls the access!! good luck in 61!!

wildwilderness · Jul 16, 2015

I haven't seen many big bucks in 61 the last few years, but then I was chasing elk with friends. Once again I saw more deer down by the ag fields but that's private.

They say the bad winter in '09 killed the mature bucks, then a few years of bad drought '10 to '13 hurt recruitment. Lots of elk though, some say may compete, and Feral Horses in 21 doesn't help. The oil/gas boom increased traffic/pressure in the areas as well. Probably a combination of a lot of things.

Have you looked toward the Gunnison basin?

Califelkslayer · Jul 19, 2015

No OTC elk hunters in 61 archery.

Huge unit, doubt you'll see another hunter other than on roads.

Tharackman · Jul 19, 2015

Wild wilderness. I'm not familiar with units in Gunnison basin. I have to admit I get a lot of my info from eastmans and the huntin fool plus Google. I know that's not the complete limit of where a guy should pick up info. That's why I thought I would try you guys. I just thought with no OTC elk hunters that 61 would be a good opportunity. There's a couple landowner tags I'm looking at I'm thinking about purchasing one. What do you think that a archery voucher in 61 or something similar is worth in 61????

wildwilderness · Jul 21, 2015

I don't think a 61 archery voucher is worth much unless the private land you have access to has deer on it during that season and you see some good ones.

61 gets a lot more pressure than you think- During archery season the bucks like to be up high, which puts them near Divide road with tons of traffic from 62 and 61. A fair number of rifle bear hunters will be in 61 at the same time as well. The deer off divide will get a lot of pressure because other archery guys will see them too.

Also the elk hunters usually have a group with them calling and hunting since its a premium tag. Yes, you can get away from it, but the deer don't like the thick draws an nasty holes like the elk do. Yes, good deer are killed (I know a taxidermist with private up there and gets a dandy every year) , and hopefully its coming back, but its not a slam dunk.

Personally I would rather a 62 voucher for a quarter the price and same quality of deer.

wildwilderness · Jul 21, 2015

A friend had the tag a few years ago and this is one of the better bucks we found on the trail camera. He was trophy hunting unfortunately did not fill his tag. (He did kill a 200" last year on a 2nd choice tag though. I had put this pic on another thread on 61)