Colorado Units 15, 35, 36 & 45

nripepi

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I am sure others are in the same boat as I. Did not draw out first choice because it took more points this year than last, but ended up with my second choice:

Units 15, 35, 36 & 45 for the 3rd season.

Does anyone have any advice on this unit? Numbers of deer, size of deer, how bad is the hunting pressure (lots of tags available).

Like many others, I was hoping to draw my first choice and had done all the homework with regards to the unit I applied in...

Thanks for any help or advice in advance.

Nino
 
LAST EDITED ON May-31-05 AT 04:12PM (MST)[p]The best advice I think you're going to get is to give Jeff Coldwell (Deerking) a call. He's in Africa right now, I think he gets back sometime next week. He's the man when it comes to Colorado info. You may also want to look into the Colorado hunt info here on MM. I doubt many guys will say much in an open forum anymore, and I don't blame them.
 
Thanks for the info.

I have read through the write-ups here on Colorado Hunt Report and that is one of the reason's I applied for these units as my 2nd choice (it was recommended for early high country, archery, muzzleloader and 4th rifle). The biggest concern I have is pressure from other hunters during the 3rd season (lots of tags available) and was wondering if anyone could elaborate on the hunter density...

Feel free to PM me. Thanks. Nino
 
I have a question about the Colorado draw that maybe someone could help me out with. So, if you don't draw your first choice you can still draw your second choice and continue to get points for your first choice? Is that correct, or am I wrong on that?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

BowHuntr
 
That is correct. The only way to draw your 2nd choice is if there are more tags then 1st choice applicants.
 
Try Bull Gulch WSA in unit 35. Backpack or horse area, no vehicle access. A few nice 180 + bucks come out of there every year. Another good area is the western border of the Piney Valley RFW in unit 35. A lot of good bucks get pushed into the pinions after the 2nd rifle/ late October RFW hunts.
 
I believe the CDOW handed out 1,500 tags last year in those units. You better have a good set of legs and lungs if you want to get away from the crowds! It is pretty remarkable that the CDOW combines that many units into one draw of 1,500 tags because it covers an area from Rabbit Ear's Pass (just SE of Steamboat) to about 50 miles south of Vail (almost to Leadville). How the heck can the CDOW expect to manage that many hunters and the deer herd in such a vast area? Obviously some parts of those units get hammered more than others and in some areas it is almost like a war zone! If you've seen the camps set up along Milk Creek and Muddy Pass Roads you know exactly what I'm talking about!

I don't think a lot of guys are complaining because the tags are fairly easy to draw. What is amazing is that there are a few good bucks that make it through the season. If the CDOW managed 35/36 for trophy quality bucks can you imagine what kind of bucks that area would produce?

That hunt can be mighty frustrating if you don't know what you are doing and have good hunting conditions (snow). It is everything but a quality experience once you get within a mile of roads!
 
Thanks to everyone for the advice...sounds like there are a lot of hunters, but a lot of ground and some good bucks around.

Dinkshooter, that is definitely not a dink.

Nino
 
GMU 35 and 36 are some of the best units in Colorado, and always have been. As for hunting pressure, pressure is good, it gets the bucks moving. My advise... get totally away from where the other hunters are hunting, and get away from roads. If hunters are high, hunt low, if they are low, hunt high. Hunt opposite to where all the other hunters go. Chances are the big bucks are too!! I like hunter pressure, they move game to where I find almost no hunters and ironically the bucks. Hunt all day, and especially be out where you want to be at dawn. Muley bucks do not hang out around hunter camps, roads, or local restaurants, or taverns. Just hunting all day will increase your odds immensely. 35 and 36 have produced some of the largest bucks in Colorado. Have fun.
 
Unfortunately 35 and 36 have some private ranches on them where many of the smart ole bucks end up spending the season! Lots of pressure and obviously that is where some of them go. Hunt hard though and you may find one of the big'uns in a hell hole where no one else ventures. I decided to fore-go all the blaze orange this year and opted for an archery hunt where I can have some solitude!
 

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