Unit 66 deer 2nd season

huntfishall1 · Mar 27, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Mar-27-17 AT 01:24PM (MST)[p]I'm tired of building points and sitting somewhat in no-mans land for both deer and elk. I have 11 points for each. Preferably would like to use points then find a unit I can hunt once every few years and get to know.

Thinking of using my deer pref points on unit 66 second season. I'm fully aware of the bad winter and deer kill in the gunnison. Who would go for it in 2017 and who would sit it out and wait?

I've looked at draw odds, harvest stats, tons of posts about the unit on multiple forums, looked at maps, etc. Not looking for ant honey holes but just general opinion on unit, or if you would select another different unit. I'm not a huge fan of the units where elk is OTC, and units where it tough to get away from roads or people. Any thoughts are appreciated.

muleymaddness · Mar 27, 2017

I hunted 67 2nd last year. I wouldn't use 11 points on a 2nd season tag unless you were intimately familiar with the unit and were after a specific buck. Otherwise, I'd try and maximize the points on a 3rd season tag somewhere.

HiMtnHntr · Mar 27, 2017

That's some sound advice. If you do decide on 66, shoot me a pm.

2f350s · Mar 28, 2017

I've hunted 66 (southern border) and you can find big elk/deer in that unit.

2f350s: Hunt hard, hunt ethically.

mntman · Mar 30, 2017

If you can scout a lot, I prefer 2nd season. The bucks are still in a pattern and you know where they will be and when. 3rd season the patterns are breaking up some days they keep them some days they don't.

Also, I have figured out that bucks in the same area keep same patterns. The younger ones learn them from the older ones, so now I don't even have to scout specific deer.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

LoneWati · Mar 31, 2017

Licensing recommendation meeting held yesterday has 66 and 67 cutting Buck tags by 50%. More in 54 and way more in 551 and 55. 4th season tags were like 10 instead of 15, except 54 did not change for 4th season. 55 and 551 each have 5 tags.

Unit 66 2nd season went from 120 tags in 2nd season to 60. Just a FYI.

Tomichi · Mar 31, 2017

Yep..words can not express how much I agree with the Deer tag #'s for this Basin...CPAW my hat is off to you guys...going to be a tough recovery with the last three and next two fawn recruitment years. I am impressed the way you are managing our deer after (January 2017) Thank you .

huntfishall1 · Mar 31, 2017

Thanks for that info, much appreciated. I assume chances are pretty good they will go forward with the reduction for 2017 seasons?

LoneWati · Mar 31, 2017

>Yep..words can not express how much
>I agree with the Deer
>tag #'s for this Basin...CPAW
>my hat is off to
>you guys...going to be a
>tough recovery with the last
>three and next two fawn
>recruitment years. I am impressed
>the way you are managing
>our deer after (January 2017)
>Thank you .

I agree. Wish the Doe tags were 0 but I understand that they already had the codes in the brochure so they have to offer a few licenses.Some of those Bucks they have out there now have to survive the next 3-4 years in hopes they have a good crop of fawns in 2018 Spring and 2019 Winter. Should be interesting to see the post hunt populations the next 3 years.

Tomichi · Mar 31, 2017

The commission rarely changes staff recommendation. After a winter like this and the last few years survival rates i don't see any way these proposed #s won't stick. There will be supporters of these cuts testify at the May meeting.