051 Archery

SierraFool1969 · May 30, 2017

Drew 051 this year for archery deer, time to learn a new area. Any help would be appreciated. I can help with 10,13,16,17.

Best of Luck!!!

SierraFool1969 · Jun 8, 2017

Anyone??

3blade · Jun 8, 2017

I hunted it yrs ago and saw a very nice buck on the north end up top. We didn't stay long but I have been told there are more deer down low around the hay fields than on the mtn.

6x7 · Jun 10, 2017

Seen a buck or two years ago close to the Oregon border while antelope scouting nothing to get excited about,open grass land country up there.

bullskin · Jun 12, 2017

Plenty of bucks in 051. My experience there is limited to the mountain, but I guess you will have no trouble finding deer almost wherever you hunt. Find a good vantage point to glass from, and don't be surprised if the bucks are not holed up in the same canyons as the does. There are a lot of aspen patches up high that are difficult to hunt. So, find deer instead in the open, rocky hillsides where you can make a stalk. With a week to scout and hunt, I would expect you will see at least some deer in the 22-24 inch class, but there are bigger ones in there. I will be curious to hear how it goes. Good luck.

SierraFool1969 · Jun 12, 2017

Thanks for the info...I'm excited to learn a new area, trying to narrow down my search and get into areas that have less pressure.

Pueblo · Jun 16, 2017

First post on this site, Hi!

I'll tell you a little, but not where exactly to hunt.

I've hunted 51 numerous times with bow since the early 90s. Not what it was then (like just about everywhere), but finding deer is usually not a problem. Best combo is get away from people and be in good habitat, which is lots of the unit. I'd stay away from the main stem of the Santa Rosas at the north end of Paradise Valley; locations like Mullinex,and Solid Silver with roads up the creek as they are hit hardest, as well as the areas close to Lye Cr Campground. Good habitat and deer there, just too many other people. Best bet is the wilderness or other fringe areas that are not along the main forest service road.Don't waste your time in the huge Mahogany and pine thickets, the deer are in more open areas in August.

Good bucks are high and low, but like all these mountains the numbers are up higher.

SierraFool1969 · Jun 16, 2017

Pueblo....PM sent

bpnclark · Jun 27, 2017

PM sent

SierraFool1969 · Jun 30, 2017

Anyone here hit up the west side of the Santa Rosa's?

Wanted · Jul 6, 2017

Pick a finger ridge and start up it. The deer stay up in the rocks until belly deep snow pushes them down. I had the rifle tag last year. We hunted both sides. Plenty of deer on either side.

TurdyPointBuck · Jul 12, 2017

Pm sent

TurdyPointBuck · Jul 17, 2017

Pm sent

bullskin · Aug 2, 2017

The toughest part of hunting the Santa Rosa's is getting away from all of the ORVs. It is huge country, but there seems to be no point that someone cannot drive to, and hunters have already been hitting it pretty hard to scout. The wilderness will get you away from most, but it is tough country. Keep us posted on your hunt.

SierraFool1969 · Aug 4, 2017

Thanks. I leave Tuesday for some last minute scouting before the opener. Any last minute help would be greatly appreciated...Pm me

Waterdog · Aug 13, 2017

Im hunting this unit now since it opened, we haven't seen many deer at all. We have checked the hay fields and have hunted up higher. Paradise area, Eden Valley. I dont think there are many deer here in this area. Where are they?

GSJ · Aug 14, 2017

051 is pretty far from a top tier area. They give tons of tags out in that unit. Get high. The wilderness area has the highest density and very few hunters. Tough country though.

the artist formerly known as "gemstatejake".

SierraFool1969 · Aug 14, 2017

Lots of deer in the area. I just got back , was up there since last Tuesday. I saw some nice bucks in the agriculture fields but so did everyone else. This is not a trophy unit but overall a fun unit. Saw lots of bucks up high. My partner shot a 3x3 which was his first deer.
This was my first year in that zone, huge unit with a lot of potential. I'd say the only downfall of this unit is that there are to many road hunters. You have to get off the roads to see the deer.

bullskin · Aug 22, 2017

PM sent.

fortheloveofit · Aug 23, 2017

I killed this buck in there on the third day of season. A buddy of mine killed a GIANT la week ago 35" wide all out of area 051. They are there just have to put the time behind the glass