21 points 2018 Deer NR

inthrut · Nov 26, 2017

Getting ready to cash in, just looking for my best options out there.

Guided or no guide??

3rd or 4th season??

Any help is greatly appreciated....

Country · Nov 26, 2017

As for guided or no guide, it really depends on how much research and any scouting you are able to do. If you don't have time to do any research once you select the unit and cannot spend any time in the unit looking, then you should consider a guide. Personally, I would rather go unguided and do it myself, so it is totally up to you. As far as units go, I would try and focus on a unit that is not entirely weather dependent, obviously weather helps in any unit, but the last few years have been so dry in third and fourth season, that you want a unit that holds a lot of deer all year long. Fourth season will provide a better opportunity for the bucks to be rutting, but it's only 5 days long. Third season you get 9 days to get it done. Just a lot of things to consider that really only you can answer that best fits your hunting style and preferences.

Awesome · Nov 26, 2017

21 points. Wow! 21 years. Lot of pressure to get it done. You dont want to waste them. It will be hard to focus knowing you have 21 years and all that $$$$ in it....

21 years!

Will there be snow?

How will this winter go?

Oh man Im getting stressed just thinking about it.

Good luck!

txhunter58 · Nov 26, 2017

Looks like you can pull just about every tag except 4th season in unit 44.

That unit, and the next one in line: 55, are pretty dependent on snow bringing then out of the high country. That is a LOT of risk. See the current thread on 44.

Or you could pull a tag for a unit up in the northwest part of the state, where you could plan on looking at lots more deer, and get a decent buck, but probably has less top end trophy potential

txhunter58

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

Prime_Beef · Nov 28, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Nov-28-17 AT 09:14AM (MST)[p]With that many points, you have to maximize your opportunities. Outfitters generally know the country well, and the habits and patterns of the game. They're usually in a position to put a lot of people in the field looking for animals, which is a tremendous advantage. Based on my recent 4th hunt experience, the guided hunters took bigger deer than the non-guided hunters did - the difference between a 180" buck and a 160" buck. Those differences do not come cheaply, however.

I don't know that there's much advantage to the 4th season. It's shorter, the odds of getting inclement weather isn't any different, and now that the seasons have been pushed back a week, the bucks are getting into the rut during the 3rd season, anyway.

Coloradoboy · Nov 28, 2017

Unit 44 PM me

Stubaby · Nov 28, 2017

I'd pm coloradoboy before I reach out to an outfitter and I don't even know him.

Just sayin.

"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

goforbroke · Nov 29, 2017

More about what experience you want. If the largest deer is most important - go guided. I personally do both, but prefer DIY with family the most. Good luck and have fun. I'm at 13 points and seems like point creep is going up faster than my points!

BeDawg · Nov 29, 2017

Having fun is the biggest factor and for me that fun is going DIY 100%. Even if it means sacrificing a couple of inches just way more satisfaction by a DIY with friends n fam.

Coloradoboy · Nov 30, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Nov-30-17 AT 05:29PM (MST)[p]>LOL unit 44 is junk I
>would talk to the guys
>that hunted it this year
>and get there input on
>the unit. As far as
>Coloradoboys ?knowledge? of the unit
>wouldn't trust it.

You are so right. Where is unit 44 again? Question my credibility all you want but ive remained quiet on forums and PMs the past couple years on shelling out freebie info and gps coordinates of spots for friends and families sake whove had tags... however those hunts have gone and past and im not even close to ever drawing it. Just want to give guys honest help in making good on a tag that takes almost two decades to draw.

Coloradoboy

crcountry · Nov 30, 2017

What an incredible response coloradoboy....No joke, your the real deal and I've never met you. Helping others out on a once in a lifetime tag is what its all about....especially if someone is truly a solo/partner DIY hunter. I had an angel during my WY elk hunt last year when I drew 54-1 in Cody, WY with max points, and he was an extraordinary help during my 9 month research project. and I took a real nice bull. I only have 11 NR elk and MD CO elk points, so I'm in proverbial no-mans-land. Although I ran into a solo hunter this year in unit 33 4th season that really got me thinking of unit 61 3rd season. Keep up the good help...it all circles back in this life or the afterlife.

COLOelkman · Dec 6, 2017

Just looking at the numbers, one other unit he can't draw would be unit 2, 3rd season. I have no idea if that's a better hunt than 44, 4th season as I'm not familiar with the NW units. I'm sitting on 17 R pts and trying to decide what to do and when to pull the trigger.

inthrut · Dec 6, 2017

Thanks guys for the info and help. I will be contacting a few of you that have reached out with your contact info.

Crazy thing is...I've got 21 NR Elk points as well

DON'T LAUGH!!!

WiscoKid · Dec 11, 2017

I would also reach out to Coloradoboy and I do kind of know him...I think that should say enough

Good Luck to you!

BJH · Dec 12, 2017

I am laughing at the 21 NR points. But not at you, with you. I am currently sitting on 22 NR points for both and have no idea what to do with them. It seems that I will never draw the elk tag and the deer herds are not what they used to be. I have spent a lot of time on the Western Slopes over my life and the hunt quality seems to be slipping downhill ever year.

MuleyKiller · Dec 14, 2017

I cant believe there are people out there that would build this many deer points for Colorado. you Guys could have hunted some really good units 2nd or 3rd season probably 10 times by now and had at least 4 or 5 180 class deer to show for it.

Prime_Beef · Dec 14, 2017

I can believe it. I was in the same situation. Regret not cashing 'em in 10 years ago. Oh, well.

PLK · Dec 14, 2017

Come on guys. There's no pressure. What you have is an opportunity that most won't ever enjoy. If I were you, I would concentrate on drawing a 4th season tag in one of the prime units in Colorado. Although the season is only 5 days long you can arrive early and scout for a few days and figure out where you want to be on opening morning. You will most likely have limited competition although there may be some elk hunters depending on the unit you choose. You might even be fortunate enough to have an elk hunter tell you where they saw a big deer.

I burned a bunch of points 2 years ago and had a great hunt. Forget about score and enjoy the experience; bring a friend or 2 and make some memories. Just my 2 cents.

Paul

oldmossback · Dec 14, 2017

That is exactly why I burned my points this year. I could have hunted 3rd season at least 5 times and killed just as good of buck as I did 4th. In my opinion you have just as good of chance to kill a good buck in a unit that takes 3-5 points as you do in a unit that takes 15-20 points. Plus you can hunt the lower unit more often.

BJH · Dec 14, 2017

That is exactly my issue. I don't believe there are any "Prime" units left. I think you could kill a great buck in any unit in the state, but you don't really increase your odds of doing so in any particular unit. I am 35 and started putting in as soon as I was old enough because I spent a lot of time in Unit 10 when I was younger (back when it was a "Prime" unit)and unit 21. Now I sit with 22 points, no hunts to reflect on, and no idea what to do. I am not terribly concerned with score. But I want an old bruiser of a buck. And I just have not seen many of them over the last 10 years. I am ready to cash in and have some fun. Guys with 2 to 5 points are going out and killing awesome deer every few years and having a blast doing so. And I am sitting on points. Seems kind of foolish when I think about it. And my feeling is that no matter where I go, I will be disappointed if a particular score is my end goal. That's is not what hunting is to me. I don't care to go kill a young (2-4 year old) buck. I would like to use the points I have foolishly acquired to at least try for an old "trophy" buck.

headshot05 · Dec 15, 2017

Dang BJ, that is a lot of points. I think any unit you choose you will have fun. Colorado boy does know lots of good areas. Just search his name in posts and he's posted up some great deer. But knowing who you are and your family I don't think you'll need a guide as you're all pretty savvy when it comes to hunting.

cowhitey · Dec 19, 2017

My advice to guys looking to build a bunch of points to hunt 44 or 55 is don't. You're much better off building up 2-4 points and putting $1K in the bank per year and going on an outfitted hunt in eastern CO for big muleys. Yeah, it's not DIY and does cost a little but why waste 2 decades waiting to hunt a big buck and then pray for snow, good luck and a local to help you out which you will need. Every year there's a chance that winter kill could be devastating to the herd in 44 and 55 and take years to recover. Too many variables when you're waiting for 2 decades. A lot can happen. I'd imagine that within 20 years Colorado will change it's preference point system too which is something you need to consider. You don't need a ton of points to hunt big deer in CO.

Doc970 · Feb 3, 2018

I've found that points give you a better opportunity but doesn't buy you anything. Don't it get the best of you. Hunt a unit with plenty of animals with few hunters and have fun.

270Whatelse · Feb 4, 2018

My 2 cents.....pick a unit,research it, go hunt. Give it all you've got on your hunt and have fun. If you get one great, if not we'll that's why it's called hunting! Lots of people get stressed out on these high point hunts and ruin the experience for themselves. ( I know from personal experience)