Rico-Silverton or Hermosa/purgatory

Hey guys! Hope all is well. I know we've beaten a dead horse on unit 74 high country archery bucks, but this is the year I will certainly draw the tag and have a good week to hunt. I'll have a day and a half to scout and set up camp and hunt Sunday thru Thursday or Friday and would love to hear opinions.

I was originally planning on driving the mineral creek road to the rico Silverton trailhead, hiking in and then up to access some basins in there. Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't be closer to the purgatory ski resort or somewhere along the Hermosa Creek trail. I'd like quantity over quality to keep my spirits up as I'll be solo hunting, but I'd like to hunt a buck in the 160 range with the possibility of seeing a real slammer if not getting a chance at him. Any opinions on which access you would use or have used is greatly appreciated and I wish everyone luck in 2019!

Plenty of fires around Purg/Hermosa last summer.


In my experience, the more specific info that appears in public forums, the more crowded the hunt.

You?ll be fine. Get up high, use your glass and you'll find bucks....

Coloradoboy

I'd stick with the original plan.

Hermosa creek can get a lot of recreation traffic on it, you are also in the bottom there and have a good climb from there to the top to glass if you hunt down that.

I think that area is better for elks than deer west of the creek, but I hadn't been in it in 5 yrs.

You will have lots and lots of company out of the rico-silverton trailhead. I would hunt elsewhere.