54 or 55 3rd?

Bolt · Mar 1, 2019

I have been debating on which of these two hunts to apply for. I was researching them online and here is what I think I know right now...I have 11 NR points....

3rd seasons

54: good unit, lots of private on lower areas. By third season bucks are down but likely on private....good harvest rates...but I am wondering if most bucks get taken on private

55: same as 54

or ... totally different area

61: good quality and harvest rate but lower harvest and smaller bucks than 54 and 55

So, can I get a buck on public ground on 3rd season 54?
Is 61 a better unit for good bucks?

Thanks for your help...

YukonDall · Mar 2, 2019

GOOD UNIT CHOICES, I WOULD APPLY FOR 54 OVER 55. BUT EITHER UNIT KICKS OUT SOME DANDY BUCKS IF YOUR SLECTIVE. SEASON 3 LAST 9 DAYS...?..HOLD OFF AND LOOK AT SOME BUCKS..... LET THE WEATHER WORK FOR YOU...?...YD.

buckhorn · Mar 2, 2019

pm sent

The_Coloradoboy · Mar 2, 2019

Wouldn?t honestly dabble in 61. 54 and 55 can produce good bucks but they can be tough hunts.

Coloradoboy

tmbr_hntr · Mar 2, 2019

How would you compare those to 21 2nd? Thinking of burning my points there so I can take my teenage son elk hunting at the same time.

Thomas11 · Mar 2, 2019

I sent you a PM

AspenAdventures · Mar 2, 2019

Coloradoboy, tough physically? Or tough as in not many bucks?

And thanks much guys!

buckhorn · Mar 2, 2019

How many non-resident points are you guys sitting on for deer?
Thanks

The_Coloradoboy · Mar 2, 2019

>Coloradoboy, tough physically? Or tough
>as in not many bucks?
>
>
>And thanks much guys!

It could fall under both. But primarily low numbers of deer comparably to 10 years ago. I've guided a couple 3rd season 54 hunts now and all of them have been grinders. Still good bucks to be had but you definitely have to work to find them. Best thing you can have happen is get a lot of snow to pile up in October and drive deer out of 53 into the country north of Blue Mesa. I'm pretty sure a good number of the deer that CPW count on the winter range aren't even resident to the unit that they issue tags for. The main issue in 54 has been not a lot of bucks live past their 3rd birthday. A lot of guys feel the pressure early on in the hunt and dump a 150 to 170 inch deer primarily because they haven't seen much up to that point:

Coloradoboy

The_Coloradoboy · Mar 2, 2019

>How would you compare those to
>21 2nd? Thinking of burning
>my points there so I
>can take my teenage son
>elk hunting at the same
>time.

I had that tag 10 years ago and it was awful tough as far finding a good buck. Lots of young deer and good numbers per say. Could be a different story now but I doubt it. If you aren't really picky or critical a 160ish type deer is par for the course.

Coloradoboy

tmbr_hntr · Mar 3, 2019

>>How would you compare those to
>>21 2nd? Thinking of burning
>>my points there so I
>>can take my teenage son
>>elk hunting at the same
>>time.
>
>
>I had that tag 10 years
>ago and it was awful
>tough as far finding a
>good buck. Lots of young
>deer and good numbers per
>say. Could be a different
>story now but I doubt
>it. If you aren't really
>picky or critical a 160ish
>type deer is par for
>the course.
>
>Coloradoboy

Sorry to hijack...

I'm really more of an elk hunter than mule deer. I'm just looking for a place I can burn my 10 deer points and take my son on an elk hunt at the same time. A 160" deer and a decent bull for him would be a success. 21 looks to have some good steep canyon country which is to both our liking and what we hunt mostly.