16 res points 44-4th or?

oldmossback · Mar 7, 2017

I am wanting to use my 16 res deer points this year . I would like opinions and advice please. These are my thoughts.
A. apply for unit 44- 4th season and scout like crazy. I have never set foot in 44 and don't know where to begin other than maps and talking to CPW. What are the chances of getting to much snow 4th season and not being able to get around in this unit?
B. Apply for the 4th season hunt in the unit we have been hunting 3rd season in for years. It is a mediocre unit and can be hit or miss but at least I know the unit well. This unit takes about 14 points for 4th season.

What would you all do?

kickerbuck · Mar 8, 2017

With that many points I would go hunt the unit you have been waiting all these years for! I realize units change in 16 years so maybe 44 was not what you originally had in mind, but if that's the unit on your radar now why not go hunt it during what should be the best dates possible!

It is hard to step out of our comfort zones sometimes and try a new unit, but I think in this case you would be doing the right thing. If you know the unit you are hunting now really well then you would know if one week would make a world of difference in the caliber of buck you could get.

I say go to 44 if that's what you've been waiting for! Good luck

oldmossback · Mar 8, 2017

Thanks Kicker but actually I starting building points for a certain unit in Colorado that went down hill drastically in the last 5 years so I just kept gaining points. I have heard all the hype about 44 and thought it would be my next choice. I don't know the terrain or the amount of public VS private.
My sons have been hunting another unit that takes 2-3 res points and having decent success. I would like to use up my points this year and hunt with them in 2-3 years.

Has anyone hear hunted 44-4th in recent years? What was your opinion of the hunt,access and bucks?

270Whatelse · Mar 8, 2017

44 can be tough if you don't know where to go, good luck.

Dikndirt · Mar 8, 2017

My son hunted 44 third rifle a few years ago and it was a warm dry year and the hunt was not anything like it was hyped up to be....Very weather dependent and best bucks we seen were on Private.
Tough call for sure and I would think long and hard about burning that many points on 44

k22hornet · Mar 8, 2017

Back in 2010, I burned 14 PP for a December Mule Deer hunt in Unit 142.

I held out for at least a 190", and came home without one.

All-in-all, I had a great experience, saw 140-150" bucks, both Whitetail and Muleys I would have killed in any other Unit I hunt, but, again, I was holding out for Mr.Big.

I guess my point is, hunt the Unit you want and enjoy the experience.

txhunter58 · Mar 8, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Mar-08-17 AT 07:19PM (MST)[p]Facts: There are some whoppers in 44. There is plenty of public land. It always takes some luck to get a big-un.

You would have drawn with 16 in 2015, only 17% drew with 16 last year. That said, due to late dates this past year, many put in so you might have better odds this year? Not a sure thing though

That said, 44 is a basin kind of like unit 55. Tough winters don't give the deer any place to go. Might ask the local wardens how this winter has been there.

txhunter58

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

jims · Mar 9, 2017

I doubt if you will need to worry about too much snow in 44 the 4th season. I would be more concerned about lack of snow. 44 is highly dependent upon migration and if there isn't much snow the bucks may hang out in some of the deep timber pockets up high. I hunted the 4th quite a few years ago and ate tag soup. I wanted 190+ or nothing. There was little snow, full moon, and was a tough year. You obviously have to be willing to pass up nice bucks to get a whopper and that's what happened on that particular hunt. Toss a coin because it's hard to say how much snow there is to push bucks down to where they are easier to find!

oldmossback · Mar 14, 2017

Well, since it appears that with 16 res points I am on the bubble or drawing 44-4th or not, I may have to result to 4th season in our "go to" unit. I will be burning about 2 more points than it takes(14). Guess ill just bite the bullet

txhunter58 · Mar 14, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Mar-14-17 AT 03:15PM (MST)[p]I had a 4th season cow tag this year in unit 70 and hunted with a friend who had a buck tag. Warm, dry, not much rutting and he ate tag soup. And that was with the latest dates you will see for a while. So, if I had that many points, I would hesitate to hunt a mediocre unit unless you have seen some whoppers in the 3rd season.

You could certainly draw the 3rd season in 44, where the success rate is almost 60%. Took 12 points. And you could get lucky

txhunter58

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

Coloradoboy · Mar 19, 2017

I think many of us know that killing large mule deer is no cake walk. Whether it be in a top unit or a 2nd choice tag. Personally i would do 44 over about anything if i had a boat load of points. In my opinion it has the best genetics and has the best numbers of older age class bucks. Can it be tough? Yes but what can't be tough when the weather is garbage like it has been the past two Novembers. The glory days of driving oil field roads and looking at 200 plus head ofdeer and killing a 200 incher out of your front seat in 21 are all but over. Glassing buck after buck chasing does in the gunnison basin and trying to decide which one you want is for the most part has been over since 07. Point being there is no golden unit left. The best thing you can do, which many of us have done is burn your points on a hunt like 44. Hunt your butt off, it may work out. It may not. Then select a unit that is easy to draw like your boys have and hunt it year after year or every other year and get to know it well. Every unit in this state can throw giants, its been proven time and time again.

Coloradoboy

2f350s · Mar 20, 2017

Our group of CO natives hunts big game all over CO on public land. We almost always hunt a different area each year. Can't confirm that reduces pressure but at least we think it does. My point is with that many points it doesn't make sense to wait any longer. There are hunters everywhere in this state so just pick a place, make a plan, and hunt there!

2f350s: Hunt hard, hunt ethically.