Unit 61 / How has the hunting been for deer?

rmanwill · Oct 26, 2017

Headed to unit 61 next Friday for 10-days of deer hunting. I have hunted this unit 3 times and know where I will be camped and hunting.

Just wondering how the first 2 seasons have gone or what the elk hunters have been seeing for deer this year.

I have heard several people stating that they have taken bucks in Colorado and said they were already starting to look interested in the does or had been following does and licking there lips. If this is the case, I'm getting a little excited. Pretty early!!!

It will be a blast to be over there for 10-days and all 3 of us hunter's are willing to wait until the end of the hunt looking for a few bigger bucks to come down low looking for the does.

Hopefully in the next year or two I will use my elk points in this unit.

Simo42 · Oct 26, 2017

I haven't been there after deer but know you will have fun when you draw the elk tag. Good luck, hope you get some weather.
John

BeanMan · Oct 26, 2017

I've got two friends hunting elk right now. They have been having a hard time finding much of anything. They know the unit fairly well too. I keep waiting for the call to come and help with a pack out.

coloradoman · Oct 26, 2017

I have a buddy hunting elk also. He saw 3 bulls on Sunday one of them was a good one. Haven't heard from him in a few days so he might be working.
I will ask him about buck sightings.

rmanwill · Oct 26, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-26-17 AT 04:58PM (MST)[p]Thanks Simo and Beanman. I've talked with both of you a few times over the past several years on this unit. 2 buddies hunted elk there 3 years ago.

r270 · Oct 26, 2017

Weather has been hot and dry... does not go well with hunting. Knowing your areas will help. Give me a call if you need a hot shower or help packing out.

rmanwill · Oct 26, 2017

Thanks Chuck

Texan · Oct 26, 2017

I just returned from there deer hunting, and it was tough. The weather was hot and dry, and the deer were up high and way back in the canyons. We seen plenty of around town but never seen a deer until we got up to the northern part of the unit.I only saw 1 deer killed while we were there and it was a 150class 4x4.

rmanwill · Oct 28, 2017

Thanks for the info, Texan

jvgunner · Oct 31, 2017

We just got back from 2nd season, hunted all nine days, I was only one with a deer tag out of 3 & we all had Bull tags, Yes unit 62 but patterns are what you are looking for.

we hunted on top of the divide, we had a trace of snow opening day, bulls where talking that sat morning and only that morning,

hunting was tough, we hunted hard for the first 7 days up top, should of had 2 bulls by Friday but you know how that goes.

Deer where like the Ghost they are up top, 1 sighting of a 30" buck mid week by camp ( other hunters) on (top) Well I could not get a sight of him for the next couple of days. Only seen 2 small bucks the first 7 days on top.

Went low on Sat (pinons/sage) Got into a 180 buck early in morning & gave me the slip, got back into them about 1 hr later & shot the smaller buck by mistake. (split second decision ya know)

Sat eve back on top I jumped the 30" buck that was in the area (figure that) tag was full but was good to see, also jumped him again later that day before dark.

Sunday Sucked, Hot, no movement, No elk or deer except on small 4x3 on the way out that eve.

Hunt hard on top for a timber buck & you may get lucky but hunting lower I think would get a better chance to harvest a bruiser, I love unit 61 but will probably not wait for that tag again.

Pray for weather. Good Luck

rmanwill · Nov 1, 2017

Thanks jvgunner. Headed out Friday morning. Will be there 10-11 days. Plan to camp low, but can go on mesa's, mid mtn or up several roads/trails to divide road. What ever it takes. I know deer numbers have not rebounded from 11 years ago with the predators in 61. Ya, this will be my last deer hunt in 61 for myself. Will find unit that I can hunt ever few years. Hoping for weather and some pre-rut action to start. 10 days on the Mtn is better then any 10-days in the city!!!

FrontRange · Nov 2, 2017

Hunted 2nd season for elk, only saw one buck (150 maybe) in 8 days of hunting. Saw him on the Thursday before 2nd season started while scouting for elk at the end of FS road 512.1A (near Sanborn Park Road/Hanks Valley Road). My hunting partner had a Bull Tag, I picked up a returned Cow tag. I had a 1st season bull tag last season. Very disappointing hunt this year, and we know the unit pretty well. Hanks Valley, Little Red, Red Canyon, Craig Point, hunted these areas hard. Had a few elk in the atv headlights at 5:00 am one morning including one small bull. Talked to a bunch of hunters, nobody was seeing elk or deer. Went to higher elevation mid week and stumbled into a small herd with 3 bulls (bugling) at State Draw (FS road 549) on the Red Canyon Trail (118). Made a solid play on them the next morning but got busted by a Cow Elk while my partner was setting up on a 200 yard shot at first light. Left camp before 5 am and returned after 8 pm every day and the hunting sucked, I hate hunting in shorts in late October. I'd like to hear if the guys hunting Houser Road, Paridise Ridge, and the forty seven road area found the elk. I'd mostly like to thank Fred (Beanman), Vince (Frijoles), and a few other members on this site that have been so helpful the last 3 years by sharing their knowledge of the unit with us. Fred, best of luck in Unit 62 3rd season this year, maybe we can share a camp again someday.

Waygoner · Nov 6, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Nov-06-17 AT 10:57AM (MST)[p]I helped my brother who had a 1st season bull tag. We started on the south end, Sanborn/Hanks Valley. After 2 days of scouting and being discouraged, we moved north and hunted Houser/Columbine Pass. He missed a shot on a running bull on the 2nd morning. Found a great spot next to camp on Tuesday and saw a bunch of elk, but nothing big enough. Little to no bugling all week. He did not fill his tag.

Saw a hand full of deer the entire week we were there. Biggest was a 3x4 near Dead Horse Point. I would not spend the points to hunt a buck there.

He had a bear tag too. Didn't see a single bear or much sign. Early scouting on the south end showed lots of bear activity, but the north end was a bust.

3404barrel · Mar 19, 2018

Interesting

Longshot349 · Mar 19, 2018

>Interesting

Yep, everybody's colleting points for 20+ years, then ya read this. lol

Elk_Nuts · Mar 20, 2018

Need to find someone that will sell trespass fee's around Nucla.

_____________________________________
"Life's tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid."

-John Wayne

Longshot349 · Mar 20, 2018

>Need to find someone that will
>sell trespass fee's around Nucla.

Well ain't that just great. You draw 20 something years and still get to dole out some $$$ so you can find elk.

gopher1 · Mar 20, 2018

lol, ain't that the truth

Elk_Nuts · Mar 21, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Mar-21-18 AT 08:44AM (MST)[p]Except he said that he is Deer hunting.

_____________________________________
"Life's tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid."

-John Wayne

Elk_Nuts · Mar 21, 2018

There are some huge bucks that come into the hay fields near town. Just saying.

_____________________________________
"Life's tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid."

-John Wayne