Gunnison Reports

bigsky2 · Nov 21, 2018

Did anyone hunt any of the Gunnison units this year? I am a non-resident and am planning on cashing in my preference points for a Gunnison unit next year. I already have a pretty good idea where I am going to apply but things can change from year to year so I just wanted to stay up to date on my info. I actually drew a tag this year but had to turn it back due to lucking out in some other draws. If anyone hunted any of those units (or know someone who did)and wouldn't mind sharing how their hunt went please send me a pm or e-mail.

Tomichi · Nov 21, 2018

11-14-2018 opening day of the 4th.
325 deer classified.
148 does
121 fawns
24 2pts
32 adult bucks
0 mature bucks.
Didn't do more counts trying to kill one.(did)
I call 2018 good not great. Deer are in excellent condition.
Vegetation conditions are horrible. As bad as 1977
Worse than 2002 and 2012.
Will do several more ground counts in Dec.
Elk were WAY over harvested Baison wide.
We are looking down the double barrel of a lot of winter and poor winter range conditions..glad apps are not due until we know the out come.

bigsky2 · Nov 21, 2018

Thanks for the reply. Would you mind telling me what unit you were in?

Tomichi · Nov 21, 2018

Check your pm.

Coloradoboy · Nov 22, 2018

Pretty sad and disappointing situation/conditions down in the basin for sure. Guided an archery elk hunt the last week of archery in unit 54 this year. Struggled to find elk, rut was almost non existent. Was able to give me hunter an opportunity the second to last day and he wasn?t able to connect. Came back to guide a 3rd season deer tag. Saw very few bucks, mostly young 2 to 3 year olds. With one mature, 180ish typical we didn't end up killing. That took until day 6 to locate. Couldn?t convince me to hunt unit 54 for deer right now from what I saw.

Coloradoboy

marburg · Nov 22, 2018

I would think there will be some boomers killed in the areas that got a lot of snow at the start of 3rd season. Having the whole 3rd season to hunt with 12" or more of snow had to help. The area we hunted did not get that kind of snow and was down from what I have seen in years past.

These late season hunts that require a lifetime of points in Colorado have become a real gamble with the current weather patterns.

Coloradoboy · Nov 22, 2018

3rd season was definitely the bread winner for muleys this year. Second was well, second season with a full moon to boot. 4th season was dry and the rut seemed almost non exsistent. I looked over piles of groups of does without a buck in tow. Took until 9:30am on the last day to find a mature buck rutting does.

Coloradoboy

FrontRange · Nov 23, 2018

Not a Gunnison report but where I was hunting, 3rd season was a bust due to 30+ inches of snow. Started the Friday night before the season started and was basically a blizzard until late in the day Monday. When the weather became huntable we never saw a track on the national forest land. Everything had migrated off the east side of the Zirkels onto private land. Had to chain up all four tires and it took almost 3 hours to get to pavement. Spent more time shoveling than hunting. Took another day to dry out the tents and gear. Mother Nature kicked our butts this year.

Gunnison_Basin · Nov 24, 2018

Not sure about muleys, but after a tough archery season, all four rifle season elk hunters were EXTREMELY successful. This was certainly the most elk killed in the rifle seasons in the 20 years I've lived in the Gunny Basin. It will be interesting to see what is left for bulls for next year.

Author of "Fly Fishing the Gunnison Country
https://www.gunnisonflyfish.com