Well gentleman. It's that time of the year again for applications and homework. I haven't been able to get drawn in New Mexico and have been exploring my options for Colorado and have decided to focus on this mountain range. I know the elevation is pretty gruesome and am willing to work my butt off. I plan on doin a muzzle loader or 2nd season combo hunt. Just like every other unit I've heard the positives and negatives and want to hear you guys thoughts on this hunt. I'm really set on this mountain range and hoping the ruggedness will keep the pressure away. I'm wondering about quantity vs quality. Weather about that time of year. Muzzleloader vs rifle. And the real life experiences you guys have had on this hunt. Any help would be appreciated.
Colorado gmu 74 la plata mountains mule deer
- Thread starter elk_crazy
- Start date
LAST EDITED ON Jan-05-17 AT 10:06AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-05-17 AT 10:05?AM (MST)
Elk_crazy,
74 is some of the steepest territory I ever hunted and I've hunted it several seasons. I've seen nice deer but never taken one, I did harvest 3 bulls off those mountains in as many rifle seasons. The mountains there top out at or near 13K feet and the locals that live there will out-hike you to the deer unless you're in the very best Olympian shape.
There are nice deer up that high for muzzleloader but not many of them. You can get a significantly long shot in those hills, so if you go muzzleloader you need to be pretty stealthy to get close. Don't count on the ruggedness lowering pressure for 2nd season, especially during a combo hunt because you'll be competing with other deer and OTC elk-only hunters, not a ton of 'em, but enough that have to consider/plan for them. Plan for every type of weather condition, I've been absolutely freezing hiking up at 0530am and in a T-shirt by noon, and ran out of dry clothes due to rain other times. Best wishes for a successful hunt.
2f350s: Hunt hard, hunt ethically.
Elk_crazy,
74 is some of the steepest territory I ever hunted and I've hunted it several seasons. I've seen nice deer but never taken one, I did harvest 3 bulls off those mountains in as many rifle seasons. The mountains there top out at or near 13K feet and the locals that live there will out-hike you to the deer unless you're in the very best Olympian shape.
There are nice deer up that high for muzzleloader but not many of them. You can get a significantly long shot in those hills, so if you go muzzleloader you need to be pretty stealthy to get close. Don't count on the ruggedness lowering pressure for 2nd season, especially during a combo hunt because you'll be competing with other deer and OTC elk-only hunters, not a ton of 'em, but enough that have to consider/plan for them. Plan for every type of weather condition, I've been absolutely freezing hiking up at 0530am and in a T-shirt by noon, and ran out of dry clothes due to rain other times. Best wishes for a successful hunt.
2f350s: Hunt hard, hunt ethically.
txhunter58
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 8,529
If you want to hunt the steep peaks, September is definitely the time to do it. No guarantee that you could even get up there later
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
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