Colorado Unit 44/45/444 High country hunt.

kurtski25 · Jan 21, 2005

Hello to all,
I've got 7 pref point for Colorado and it's burning a hole in my pocket, so I'm considering applying for an early rifle hunt in units 44/45/444. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to draw, but don't know much about the country. Has anyone hunted this country/area during an early season? Any suggestion on hunting tactics or strategy for this area? Would you recommend this area?
Anything will help and all responses are apreciated.
Kurtski

DeerKing · Jan 21, 2005

Not to bad of an area. Plan on some serious walking and a lot of time behind the glass. Most of the area is void of deer and if you aren't in the right spots you may not think there is a deer on the mountain, but they are there. I've seen a few big bucks hit the dirt up there

AntlerQuest Hunt Consulting

sneakem · Jan 21, 2005

DeerKing is right on the money as usual!! Most of the high country hunts are rough, demanding and you absolutely need to find the deer. Lots of glassing, lots of walking, deer few and far between. Some monster buck if you can dedicate the time.

NMRaptor · Jan 21, 2005

I bowhunted 45 last year and had a great time. Maybe its all relative, but I came up from NM where deer are slim pickens. I saw plenty of deer in 45 and missed an opportunity at a great buck. Was cold and wet....be prepared for anything.
-Raptor

txhunter58 · Jan 21, 2005

Contact Deerking privately. He has a service that can tell you where to go to get into big buck country

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

kurtski25 · Feb 2, 2005

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. I plan on taking an entire week off of work and trying to get a decent buck. If anyone has hunted in this area, can you recommend an area to steer clear of the labor day crowds?

PleaseDear · Feb 2, 2005

I've hunted that exact tag and bow hunt the years I build points to go back and do the HCB tag. It has taken me 5 points both times I have drawn it, non-res. pool. I pack in with my llamapackstring and there still is hikers/tourist getting in there by noon/1pm---- 8 miles in to the Holy Cross Wilderness. The Labor Day wknd is the last big tourist outting wknd-holiday so keep that in mind. Last year while bow hunting, around noon, I had my basin full of 'Mushroom hunters'!! They spreadout along the basin and hiked up gathering some kind of mushroom!!! And they have some footrace that goes for a ways along the trail and over the summit of the area I hunt. It gets worse every year.
I avoid the Labor wknd now and go a week earlier to bowhunt, but ya never know........... Some real good bucks in there for sure!!

kurtski25 · Feb 3, 2005

Yeah, I was afraid the area would be pretty crowded with hikers. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I guess I'll just try to get a ways away from the trails and hope for the best. Thanks pleasedear I appreciate the feedback.