Colorado GMU 3/301

wooduckman · Oct 22, 2015

Anyone have any 3/301 advice they'd be willing to share? My fiance has a 3rd season buck tag and we're going to go out Nov 5 and hunt the second half of the season. We went out in early June to get the lay of the land. Checked out quite a few areas and spent most of our time up by Maybell. This is her third deer hunt, but would be her first big game animal. Not picky about size, just would like to get her a decent first buck. Thanks in advance.

stinky · Oct 22, 2015

Yep,

Be prepared for cold weather...it may not be wet, but I bet that it is cold. If wet, you better have chains and other assorted items for your vehicle.

They predict and El Nino...which means moisture, and warm weather. That means gumbo.

Get a GPS w/the private land chip in it. You can also use the GPS in your car's GPS.

I don't really know anything about the area. I've been in w/my kids (Ranching for Wildlife). But, there is plenty of deer in the unit.

Call the CP&W and ask for the Game Unit Manager (Warden of the game unit). They can give you all sorts of tips.

Before you leave Maybell, get gas.

I hunted in Lay one year, and drove a GEO Tracker...it got 20-25 mpg. But, it only held about 10 gals, I tried to hunt, more than once in a day (I had to run to town to get something) and that taught me to get gas, even when I'm sitting on 3/4 of a tank.
John 14:6

wooduckman · Oct 23, 2015

Appreciate the advice. I have all of the above covered, but the recommendation of calling CPW is a good one. Never done that before, so might as well give them a call and see what they have to say. Thanks again.

bettr2blucky · Oct 23, 2015

Sent you a PM

wooduckman · Oct 25, 2015

Appreciate it!

slcmuley · Nov 3, 2015

So what's the gameplan?
Looks like there might be snow and should make for a good hunt. I've hunted just across the border in Utah before and have been interested in this unit myself.
Keep us posted!

wooduckman · Nov 4, 2015

Heading to Craig tomorrow once I get off work (hopefully the mountain roads aren't too crappy). Going to hunt Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Will post up a report once I get back!

tailchasers · Nov 4, 2015

Bring chains and long Jon's. Been wet and gonna get cold.

"Courage is being scared to death but
saddling up anyway."

tylercreek2 · Nov 4, 2015

thinking about heading that way ,,,, interested to hear how you do

wooduckman · Nov 10, 2015

We are back from the hunt and happy to report it was a successful one. We saw an incredible amount of deer, but bucks bigger than a forkhorn were tough to come by. I'd estimate we saw 300+ deer in the 3 days we hunted (most were on private, but there were still a lot on public), and only saw 4 bucks total that were 3x3 or bigger. My fianc? got it done on the last morning of the hunt and ended up taking this 4x4 with a perfect double lung shot at 120 yards. This is her first big game animal and she is hooked! Believe it or not, this is the biggest deer we saw all weekend and are more than excited to have brought him home. Thanks to all for the advice and tips!

Camper_A1 · Nov 10, 2015

Congrats sounds like a good hunt especially for her first hunt.

sjhgraysage · Nov 10, 2015

Congrats on a great first deer!

sageadvice · Nov 10, 2015

That's better than my first Colorado Buck, a 19" 4x3 taken back in 1977, Ha!

May it be the first of many to come, Congrats!!

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"