Unit 61 Report

Longshot349

Longshot349

Active Member
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160
Now that the Archery and Muzzy seasons are done, I wondered if anyone had a report on 61? Did the fire have much effect on your hunt? What about the drought? Give us a report on your hunt here or send a PM if you prefer. I'm headed that way soon for scouting and a rifle hunt. Thanks
 
Sounds like the bull draw fire flared back up and took a couple thousand more acres over the wknd.


#livelikezac
 
Muzz is done, but archery doesn't finish until Sunday the 23rd....I bet those not tagged out on elk are giving it a go right now.
 
9968020180919185546.jpg




#livelikezac
 
DW, it is BOGUS that we have to choose to get either a refund or PP's back, not both. After 20 years of drawing, I don't wanna lose my points, but I also don't have $650 bucks to flush down the toilet either.

I don't know of any other business that runs this way. It'd be like ordering a new pickup from Ford that burns up before delivery and they tell you to pay for it and order another one.


If I turn my tag back in, I'm not killing an elk or using any of their services, so how do they justify keeping my money? Where I come from we call that stealing.


Now I know somebody's gonna say, "well you took the chance, blah blah. Fires are out of our control, blah blah" Hogwash to that !


The only fair and right thing to do is refund the money and the PP's and everybody start over.


At this point, I guess I'll just go hunt, although the area I'm familiar with is the area that burned and is currently closed.
 
yes, I never looked at it from a non- resident point of view. I agree with you in this case the fire is out of your control. I do not think you should have to choose. That is alot of points and money to lose. Have you called CPW and asked of that is actually the case in this circumstance? I can see not getting a point for this year but that would be it. They should refund your money and put you back to your point prior to this year. Id call if i were you.
 
I dont live down that way and of course I was just passing on the info I found. Have you been down there or spoke with someone who lives down in that area? I'm thinkin they might be bunched up. I also know they'll filter back into ground they're familiar with pretty quickly. I also agree with you in under these circumstances they should give you yer points and $ back. I'm gonna bet if you return yer tag there'll be a local with some insight that'll snatch it up quicker than a kid and a candy bar!


#livelikezac
 
Longshot that is a legit beef..for us ressies it ain't much you got a right to be pissed

If its any consolation...long story I got screwed out of building points in AZ for elk 10 years and lost it all at 150 per year and my lifelong dream to hunt elk in AZ flushed...told them all I wanted was my points I would donate my license to a wounded warrior or a kid or anything and they said nope for the love of god we could never do that and the next year they started doing it...don't seem like a bright group down there...their way to get a extra PP point is by attending from afar some orientation class...give me a break anybody serious enough to travel all the way to AZ for a preference point could teach the dam class....sorry for the rant but these people work for US!!!!!

Colorado has all sorts of "that ain't fair' issues with their licenses...not gonna make everybody happy...but lots of flaws...
 
Wow, that sucks. I dumped the tag but am a resident and lost my money and that seemed fair, but didn't even think about the NR side of things. That's alot of cash to simply walk away from.

Glad I dumped it, fire still going. Ended up shooting a nice bull OTC
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-22-18 AT 07:39AM (MST)[p]I appreciate that many of you understand my point of view on it. Since I'm not a wealthy man, and since there's no guarantee I'd draw the tag again next year with point creep, I guess I'll go hunt it and try to learn some new ground out of the burn area...

Here's some positives and negatives I've been thinking about.

1. There could be more elk congregated in a smaller area making them even easier to find, however the hunters will also be congregated likewise in the same areas. I hate that part.

2. It's possible the fire area might green up some by then and draw elk back sooner than expected. However, with firetrucks and choppers buzzing around, I dunno?

3. many of the elk may have displaced into unit 62 (which is good for them) but bad for 61 hunters.


So in the end, I don't have much choice but to hunt my tag and do the best I can. It just wasn't the scenario I had hoped for when I started drawing 20 years ago. But maybe dumb luck will swing my way? Alot of it is luck anyways.
 
Was there while fire was burning in August. Divide road closure is biggest pblm. Lots of land to hunt. Fire area is not that big, but if road is closed it limits access innsome areas. Hopefully divide road open as Oct gets here. I dont think the Elk go to 62, too much pressure, and plenty of places to go in 61. Just my two cents . Ill be up for first rifle.
 
Yeah John, I sure hope they get the road open too. If anybody is up there and hears about it, let us know. It sure would be a huge help if it'd start raining too and put out the dang fire for good.
 
I am a DIY guy as it sounds like you are too...with the complications...road closures...elk movement....20 years in the game...might be a time to get a guide five days can go by quick
 
There is a huge plume of smoke coming out of there today, looks like it has blown up, again.

Hasbean
 
Beanman, the Facebook page for the Bull Draw Fire says they are doing burnout operations today. That's why there is a huge plume of smoke today. They are trying to burn fuels between the fire and Divide Road so the fire will die down. However, the only thing that will extinguish the fire for good is a "season ending" event, i.e lots of rain or snow.
 
Got a report yesterday that the fire is 95% contained and hoping by end of week to be 100%.

With that said, how quickly do you guys think elk will move back into the area ? Would you focus on areas surrounding the fire for 1st rifle or?
 
how quickly do
>you guys think elk will
>move back into the area
>? Would you focus on
>areas surrounding the fire for
>1st rifle or?


Whew, good questions.
 
I've looked at some of the burned spots. I don't think elk will move back quickly without rain to grow new grass. Rain has been elusive.

Hasbean
 
Thanks for sharing 12 point. Did you see any animals ?
Any suggestions based on what you saw for those of us heading that way?
 
Didn't see any animals in 61, I was hunting (calling) coyotes in 62. Visited with Jody weimer On Thursday and he said he rode the bench trail from his house to Campbell point and saw 2 really good bulls but didn't give me specifics. I think that whole area is still closed to hunting. He said deer numbers were down. Said he found 2 dead cow elk about 100 feet apart that he thought got caught in the fire. There are still a lot of spot fires burning between long canyon and windy point, some are burning right next to the divide road. Sorry I couldn't be more help.
 
Sorry I couldn't
>be more help.

That was helpful. Thanks for the pics too.

I thought some bowhunters or Muzzy guys would reply to this thread, but nuttin but crickets so far.
 
That's good to hear . I was wondering if Jody?s place servived..
He helped us pack out a bull a few years ago. Good guy!
That's great info and thanks for sharing !
 
Looks bad, cows have eaten and tramped it down to the dirt. Saw only 7 bucks the whole time I was there (2 weeks). 2 small 4s and the rest 3s and forks. When I got home (about 7 pm) to IA I've got a 2&1/4 mile drive off the hiway to my house on a gravel road and saw more bucks (and 3 bigger) in that stretch than the entire time I was out west.
 
12point

What part of 62 were you hunting in? I have 3rd season tag. I know it's bad but holding out for a little hope still. Thanks
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-10-18 AT 02:42PM (MST)[p] I have 3rd
>season tag. I know it's
>bad but holding out for
>a little hope still. Thanks

Osprey, contact me after my 2nd season hunt and I'll tell you what I learn about Deer.


12 Point; is there many coyotes or grouse up there? I have a buddy that is looking for something to do while I'm elk hunting. :)
 
Hunted long point and brushy ridge. Saw quite a few grouse on long point just past long point mtn. on the right side on the road. Didn't call in many coyotes, killed 3. Heard very few at night.
 
Phenomenal day up there today helping a friend scout .
Only saw 18 bulls water everywhere and some snow.
All you guys that turned back in your tags you were crazy antler growth is phenomenal this year.

Oh well!
 
Thanks 12point. Much appreciated Longshot.
Longshot, I will be there the last weekend of your season. Might not be able to reach you. I had the feeling 12point was in the area he was when he mentioned a lot of cattle. Escalante Cattle Co and Weimer's run the most cows up there. I was there mid June and it looked real bad then as far as grazed down grass looked. They had very little snow pack and spring rains so grass never really grew. Bad enough that Escalante had a lot of cows still down in the canyon where they could feed them.

I've hunted that area since the 80's. Just about every year. From Long Point north to Dominguez Ridge, Sow Belly, Tatum Ridge. Pretty much from Divide Road to above Gunnison River. Know it very well. I was deer hunting there when there wasn't any elk in that area. Been through bad times and good. It can be a great place to hunt deer but as soon as it's good the state will issue more tags and screw it up.


I'm hunting in the unit this year but down south for the first time. Taking my son on his first out of state hunt. For the last ten years or so I've stayed in a cabin up there around Snipe. I want my son to learn how to do it by tent since he can't afford a stay in a cabin and I'm getting up there in age. Want to hunt in an area I don't know at all so he gets to learn that part of being challenged instead of me just taking him to areas I've hunted for so long and know so well.


Anyway I won't go on about it but if you are hunting those areas Longshot and don't know it very well send me a PM with name and number and I'll give you a call. I've never used PM so give me a tip if you can on how to use it. I get busy and don't get on here often but will look at the post the next few day's to see if you reached out. Good luck up there.
 
I may not be much help to you if we leave out before the last weekend. But I'll be in a grey F-250 4 door and camped in a white wall tent. if you see us, stop in and we'll compare notes for sure. Best of luck to you.
 
Sounds good Longshot. We will be hunting 3rd deer. A few in our group will be elk hunting. Good luck and have a safe trip. Don't overlock the PJ's if you don't plan on hunting down there. Most people leave early. We like the last three or four days best when all gets calm.
 
>Long shot, are you hunting 61
>or 62 for deer?

61 for elk 2nd season. Headed that way in the morning. Maybe I'll have a picture when I get back. :)
 
Sorry Longshot. For what ever reason thought you were in 62. Good luck on your hunt. Maybe we cross paths. I'll be in white ford with topper.
 
Sorry I didn't run into any of you guys. Just got back from my hunt and killed a fairly good 5x6 on day 5. I passed at least eight 5x5's and only saw one 6x6 (310-ish) and I missed it. We hunted Tabaguache basin and Cottonwood canyon mainly. Elk were in the scrub oak mainly and it's hell-ish thick. I did hear a fair amount of bugling. Alot of cow elk hunters but they don't leave the road and didn't bother me at all.. The bottom line is ; it's a good unit with several elk and several bulls, but it's not even close to being worth 20 points to draw. I had a good time, killed a decent bull, but it's not worth 20 points imo? I'm glad to be done with the points game...

It's too bad the unit can't be drawn with 5-6 points, but it's once in a lifetime for non residents. I'm willing to help anyone drawing next year with any info I have, but others that hunted may have even better info than mine.


I'm very grateful to the good folks on this site that helped me out.
 
By the way , the fire was pretty much a non issue on my hunt other then causing to hunt another area. The unit is huge and has plenty of ground to hunt even with the fire damage.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-18 AT 09:07PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-18 AT 09:00?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-18 AT 08:56?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-18 AT 08:52?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-18 AT 08:50?PM (MST)

I could not agree more , hunted first rifle. Was into elk every day. We saw. A 7 point we could not get a shot on, killled a 5x6 and 5x5.only saw one Hunter the whole time, so that was unique. Definitely not worth the 20 plus years for quality. Worth the the great time with a good friend and a successful hunt.( hard to get 2 elk and pack them both out in a 5 day

 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-18 AT 09:00PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-18 AT 08:56?PM (MST)

Congratulations for your success! The weather was beautiful the first couple of days. I previously posted a pic in another thread but I decided to add a different pic to this thread.
9296720181020185615.jpg
 
That's a good look'in bull GJ. You saw way more bulls than I did if you saw 80. I'd find from 20-40 elk a day with only 3-4 bulls amongst them. Mostly younger bulls.

It's a fun hunt, but the scrub oak I hunted is a freaking nightmare. But that's where I found elk everyday. The bull I missed was only slightly larger than yours. I had glassed him from above, then made a move on him and flushed him. I had a 2 second opportunity and couldn't find a rest on a dang thing and just flat out missed him at about 300 yrds offhanded.


But I got to cull several other bulls and shot a 5x7 a little smaller than yours. I'll try to figure out how to post a pic.


I don't regret using my points for this hunt, and I'm glad to be done with point chasing. It's just sad that it takes so long to draw these tags. I almost feel sorry for non res that have 18-20 points and cant get drawn. It's an endless application process.
 
only
>saw one Hunter the whole
>time, so that was unique.

That was the good part for me too. Alot of people running up and down the roads looking to shoot a cow elk, but nobody actually in the woods. I basically had the mountain to myself once I got away from the roads. And yes the weather wasn't too bad. Some nice sunny days with a snow or rain shower on a couple days.
 
>I previously posted a pic
>in another thread but I
>decided to add a different
>pic to this thread.


He's a pretty bull Huntfishman. It's an odd feeling knowing we have zero points now. :(
 
All great bulls guys and thanks for the update and pics. A lot of people will want advice then never come back with how they did. Thanks again.
 
It was fun. I was surprised that I didn't see anything over 310-320. I have seen many up there before. I just wasn?t patient enough.
 
You got a nice bull. Sounds like you had a good hunt. That is a lot of bulls. WE did not see that many, we did get into elk every day. Packing out 2 elk was the best/ worst part. Well earned dinner!
 
>One more thing, found the bullet
>on far side of my
>elk. 140 grain trophy bonded
>tip out of a 280
>rem.

Since you mentioned bullet performance, I'll also give my 2 cents. I've spent my life with a 300 win mag and nosler partition bullets from Grizzly to elk and moose with no issues...... BUT, I bought a 270 win and was "concerned" about elk hunting with it, but the thing shoots 1/2 inch groups all day long with Accubonds, so I called nosler and ask about the accubonds on elk vs's partitions. They said "No worries- use the accubonds"...

Well, I was worried, but it was all for not... I drove two accubonds clean through this elk at 370 yards leaving an inch and a quarter exit hole each time. He took two steps and fell. I've only hunted with accubonds for 2 years but this makes 5 deer and an elk with no issues. I don't know about accubonds in other calibers, but the 140 grain 270 is a killing machine that I'd put up against the partition head to head. Just thought I'd share...


John, I've always heard the Trophy bonded are good bullets as well... Good info to have.
 
I always like bullet reports. Accubond is a very good one. I always stress over picking the correct bullet , ie construction, size , etc. There are so many good ones now, I don't think it really matters, pick a premium one that shoots well in your gun and go hunt!
I have a 300 win mag and I chose my 280 as it is my favorite rifle, thought about 160, 156 oryx, or 140 gr bullets. Decided on 140 gr trophy bonded tip, they were Fantastic and got the job done,my bull did not go ten yards. Shot him right behind shoulder from about 150 yds and he he made a small circle to his left stumbling and I hit him again as he was falling. ( still standing-still shooting?)
Thanks for the input.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-18 AT 10:47AM (MST)[p]Heading out this week for a 3rd season deer hunt in 61. Curious if anyone has seen any good bucks? Maybe some of you elk hunters or even a second season deer hunter has some good news/advice? Thanks in advance. I've been enjoying all pics of some nice bulls coming out of 61. Any good bucks taken that your willing to share? Congrats boys!
 
>Heading out this week for a
>3rd season deer hunt in
>61. Curious if anyone has
>seen any good bucks? Maybe
>some of you elk hunters
>or even a second season
>deer hunter has some good
>news/advice?

Deer were scarce where I was at. I saw about 12 does and only one thinhorned 4x4 buck in 7 days. It's gonna take some work and some luck for you to connect on a good buck. The only good news I can offer is;;; last Monday I was glassing from the road and a guy came driving up to me out of breath asking if I had a buck tag. I didn't, but he said he just saw a 30+ incher 200 yards up the road. He said he lived there and knew a good buck when he saw one and this was the biggest he'd ever seen in his life. I never saw the buck, but the guy was about to freak out telling me about it... So I guess there are a few around.
 
If you don't mind me asking, where abouts where you? What road were you on? That's at least something positive. Thanks for sharing.
 
I only saw two bucks and nothing to get excited about. I talked to another guy and he saw a 1/2 dozen bucks down in the burn but he said nothing over 140. There are 180+? deer and 350+ bulls but that takes a lot of luck or a lot of scouting. I would be willing to hike a mile or two to the highest glassing spots, buy or borrow the best highest power glass you can get you hands on, be patient, be patient, be patient. The top buck in the picture I got archery season 2014.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos_2018/3680453aa2889f0646c3b1496c2f37873703.jpeg

If any of you guys get in a pickle in the grand junction area let me know I will do what I can to help you out.

Andy
 
We saw exactly zero deer, in 5 days of hunting and several days scouting. So I am no help.
We hunted red canyon , little red, clear creek and tabaguache . Saw lots of bear sign , never saw a bear. Surprised we did not see any deer. Good Luck!
 
>If you don't mind me asking,
>where abouts where you? What
>road were you on? That's
>at least something positive. Thanks
>for sharing.

That buck was seen from the road going to Nucla (road 503) from one of the pullouts about a mile from the divide road. The guy said he travels that road all the time and never saw one that big before. He seemed honest and was extremely pumped from seeing it, and the buck was in the road only 20 yards away from him, so got a good look at him.


Also, one of the other guys here mentioned the burn area... I didn't hunt there, but my friend who went to help me and didn't have a tag rode over there one day and said he saw several deer roaming the burn. That may be as good a place as any to look for deer. They seem to like fresh burns... Good luck.
 
Thanks to all that replied. I really appreciate the positive advice, willingness to help and honesty. Should be a fun hunt. Let me know if you see or think of anything else please. Im doing my snow dance. Hopefully it works. Good luck on your hunts.
 
Finally figured out how to post a picture. This is the bull I shot on my final day. I did miss a 6x6 on day three, and also passed up several 5x5's ( some bigger than this bull). The bottom line is the unit has alot of small to midsize bulls, but the big ones are still hard to come by.
 
Very nice Longshot. I hunted second season 61 in 2012 with 16PP's, took a good enough for me 6X6, and got myself out of the PP chase/race.
 
A buddy and I hunted hard for nine days 3rd season and couldn't find a good buck up high or in the low mesas. The deer numbers are low. Everyone we talked to hadn't seen many deer either let alone a good buck. In my opinion this area is extremely overrated for a trophy deer unit. Don't waste your points like we did unfortunately.
 
I was afraid that might be the case for deer. The numbers are terribly low and it's such a shame because it is classic deer habitat in unit 61.

This thread has alot of good information about unit 61 in it. That's how it should be for all the trophy units, and maybe this thread will help folks decide what to do next year when they draw for deer and elk.
 
Not to hijack this tread but how you doing Beanman since the fall on the ATV?
From your post it sounds like you live in the Grand Junction area. I spent a lot of time there as kid with my Grandparents hunting Glade Park and up on the Mesa
 
Great thread you guys started last year. I was fortunate enough to draw a unit 61 second season bull tag this year can't wait for Oct. I think I'm pretty prepared for it but will take any advice you guys would be willing to pass on. Congrats to all of you who got it done last year.
 

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