Resident 44 or 66 4th Season Advice

I have enough points to easily draw either a unit 44 or unit 66 4th season deer tag as a resident. Open to other options. I'm thinking of cashing in next season. I've never been on a guided hunt but might consider it this time. The few outfitters I have talked to face to face try to push me towards a 3rd season hunt, easier on them I guess. Looking for input from MM members that have recently hunted either of these units. The winter has started out pretty gentle so far. Not wanting to hear the "you waited how many years" crap. I'm a healthy 56 year old and can still get up and down most hills. Just looking for some solid advice about these or other units. I'm willing to share my 3+ years of scouting/hunting elk in unit 61, older unit 76 experiences, and even some quality moose encounters in various units.

Thanks, Tim

Personally I have never hunted either unit, however I have a little knowledge of 44. I would not use that many points on 44, but that's my personal opinion. I had a boat load of res points that I cashed in this year and I simply picked a 4th season unit that I new well and stuck with it.

The deciding factor for me to cash in my points was this and I don't think very many people realize this..
In the last 10 years in Colorado, the biggest bucks I have seen taken have came from units that require less than 5 point to draw. None of the hunters used guides. That being said , I could have learned one of these units and hunted it 5 times in the years I spent saving points.

There are a lot of good fellas on here that have a ton of knowledge and are willing to help. also a lot of info on unit 44 in the archives.

Good luck and keep us posted on your hunt.

Hunted 44 this year and got a nice buck. If you end up taking that unit I would gladly tell you everything I know. Did not see a lot of shooters.

LAST EDITED ON Dec-22-17 AT 02:35PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Dec-22-17 AT 02:34?PM (MST)

4th season hunts are a gamble all truth be told. Having only 5 days to hunt when you have a boat load of points invested is nerve racking... plus when you are counting on mother nature to deal you a good hand when it comes to weather, moon phases etc... of the units youve listed your are definitely barking up the up the right tree. 44 and 66 would be my top choices also. Ive grown up running around 44 and my dads been in it since the early 80s. I lived and guided in the gunnison basin for a number of years and got to know those units well. Guys with no prior experience in 44 whom drew it this year honestly dont have/didnt get a good representation of what the unit can be, being that they got delt about the worst weather possible for a mid november deer hunt possible. We still hardly have any snow on the winter range and its almost christmas. That being said i would bet you majority of those who drew killed a 180 plus inch deer. It just wasnt the cake walk, 200 incher behind every tree they invisioned when they put in for it. However if you go drive around the north facing side of hardscrabble or red hill in the middle december you will see alot bucks and multiple in the 180, 190, 200 and even bigger. 66 is a great unit, its battled with winter kill over the years but the numbers have remained strong. 66 has some awesome country and alot more "deery" looking country. If seeing numbers each day means something to you, you will most likely see more deer in 66 than 44. But when it comes to genetics and giant buck potential i would give the nod to 44.

Coloradoboy

LAST EDITED ON Dec-22-17 AT 03:04PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Dec-22-17 AT 02:33?PM (MST)

Thanks for the input so far guys. I'm not a trophy hunter, I'd be very happy with a 160+ Buck as long as the hunt was enjoyable. I have not spent any time in unit 44 or 66 to date, wave at them from the interstate several times each year. Mostly looking for opinions on any outfitters that operate in these units (if I go that route). Also would like to narrow down the units a bit, where do you think the bucks might be during a typical 4th season (in general), and some options if the weather does not cooperate. Would also like to know some access points and places to set up a late season camp or hotel pending on the weather. I'll probably only have about a week this summer to poke around. I'm more than willing to share all my experience in units 61, 76, and moose in units 28 & 421 as I have done in the past with other MM members. Send me a PM if you'd like to share info.

I had a 4th season 44 in 15, went with a buddy in 16 for 4th season and another buddy hunted it this year during 3rd season. We all shot nice deer, mine was the smallest at 179"
Read adventure writers account of his hunt this year it is a very accurate portrayal of how that unit hunts. Access through that unit is relatively easy, so if you take some time during the summer learning your way around, that definitely helps.

I am out of buddies that will hunt the unit in the near future, so I can certainly point out where we found our deer.

As ColoradoBoy said that we(on this site) didn't show good representative bucks of the unit as he does live their and shoots 200+ bucks. And he is right me as an NR show up 4-5 days early and don't have a true chance of knowing the unit. BUT if a 200 incher is not what you are after then I did shoot a 191 with 3 5/8" deduction typical that I am truly happy with and feel good with burning my 23 points on. So determine what you are after and I agree if 200 inches plus is what you are after you may need some inside help, but if not and you spend some time you should get a nice buck.

Take Care
'
MDNDEER

Congratulations on a great buck, I'd be more than pleased if I was able to get a shot at one of similar size. I'll have several long weekends to spend learning the roads and looking at the country but a little inside help would sure be helpful. I look forward to reaching out to several MM members over the next few months.

Decided to add 1 more deer PP this year, that will put me at 20 resident deer points). I appreciate the info I received this winter regarding unit 44. I just won't have the time to put into learning the unit this summer like I had hoped and will just do a 3rd season elk hunt with my hunting partner. Best of luck to those who draw 3rd/4th unit 44 deer tags. I'd like to read your stories.