Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, CO?

[Prism]

Looking for any info on the early hunt in 14, 16, & 161? Any info, good or bad would be appreciated. I'd like to discuss via email- [email protected]

I'm getting nervous that the Colorado DWR is going to change the tag allocations for nonresidents and am thinking about using my points in 04.

Thanks!

 

[cohntr6]

What do you mean by the early hunt? Bow, muzzloader, 1st rifle?
I believe those areas are pretty easy to draw even for nonresidents. I havent hunted in the Zirkels but I have done a lot of backpacking and am familiar with it.
Jeff

 

[jims]

I imagine you are referring to the early high rifle hunt? From what I've seen of the Zirkels, the muley population is pretty darn low. You'll need to cover lots of country to find the bucks...especially what I would consider a keeper. Many of the early high country hunts are classified as "quality" hunts. It is considered quality because of the time of the year you will hunt them plus there are very few rifle tags allocated for those hunts. Obviously, some of these early high country units have better quality bucks available than others..

I really wish the DOW would rotate the units with these hunts every couple years so the old age class bucks weren't hammered so hard year after year after year. With 20 to 30 HCB tags handed out a year it really takes a toll out of the old age class bucks. Many units with wilderness that are outside these units actually may have better quality bucks available than many of the units that are in the program.