6 points and no clue

porchdog · Dec 19, 2017

My son and I have 6 points for deer. When we get together for Christmas our conversation will turn to where can we hunt that we will see deer and possibly harvest a 160 type buck. We would love to have any of you be a part of our talk. What do you have to say? We are DYI hunters but do appreciate advice. HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

DoeNob · Dec 20, 2017

Archery?

Rifle?

You in shape to hunt vertical high country and sleep at 12,000 feet or looking for something a little less onerous?

Wilderness spike out?

details man, details....

160 should be doable in most units if you know how to hunt it.

porchdog · Dec 20, 2017

We do rifle, and although I will be 68 next hunting season I'm in good shape. Do a lot of hiking and horse camp hunting. I have had the above timberline tag Northeast of DelNort back in 2001, I believe it was unit 81. Camp was at 12000 and hunted up to almost 13000. I also had a tag in unit 53 3rd rifle in 2012 with success on both hunts, but our points won't those units. I'm a serious hunter who will put in the time, I just need some direction on public land hunting in Colorado. I live in Washington State and have no opportunity for scouting.

Joe2Kool · Dec 20, 2017

I'm right there with you. I have 5 points and have accumulated a hundred little sticky notes about different GMU's. I'm starting to compile them and compare them to the draw reports.

ByeByeObamas · Dec 24, 2017

I would look at 4th season. No matter what people say. After what i saw this year, later is better. I saw the best bucks all year rutted up around Nov 25th....

porchdog · Dec 25, 2017

Not sure 6 points could pull a pair of 4th season tags. May have to do a few years of point building.

ByeByeObamas · Dec 25, 2017

Check out toprut.com.

There are units.

Prime_Beef · Dec 29, 2017

You're not getting any younger. I wouldn't wait too long to cash in those points. Find a 3rd season hunt you can live with and go for it.

I don't think it pays to keep building points for a 4th season tag. Since they've pushed the seasons back almost a week, the bucks are starting to rut during the 3rd rifle anyway; plus, you get twice as much time in the field. Finally, if you're thinking that you'll get weather further into November, you're just fooling yourself.

ByeByeObamas · Dec 31, 2017

I thought the same thing until i went on a 3rd (for the last 5 days i may add) and saw 0 rutting action, blue skies and 58 degrees during the day= no deer moving for 85 percent of the time I could hunt.

It still hurts so i dont want that to happen to someone that has options.

ORIONTHEHUNTER · Dec 31, 2017

You also had a full moon if you cashed in this year for 3rd season, that never helps either

Ridn9high · Dec 31, 2017

I think the rut will depend on the unit you hunt during 3rd season. I had a tag for a unit this year and saw rutting activity the three days I was in the unit from fri-Sunday. Had bucks chasing does pretty good. On Monday we went to another unit for my brothers 3rd season tag. Saw a ton of deer and pretty much zero rut activity.

porchdog · Dec 31, 2017

I am not opposed to hunting 3rd season. I just need to figure out over the next few months a unit that we can see a good deer population with a potential for a 160+ buck. My son is not one to travel for hunting trips so I want to make sure he has a great experience.

Prime_Beef · Jan 1, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Jan-01-18 AT 10:18AM (MST)[p]I hunted the 4th rifle this year and had the same exact weather, until right at the end. I think the weather has been similar during the 4th hunt for the last 2 or 3 years.

The bucks in my unit were likewise showing rutting activity the last weekend of the 3rd hunt.