A
archerymuleyslayer
Guest
LAST EDITED ON Nov-08-08 AT 07:05PM (MST)[p]Well just got back from Colorado and tried a new unit this year. Friends chose this spot (Unit 4) due to past results from previous friends that hunted the area. Had friends do research during the off season due to the bad winter last year in the gunnison area, figured we had better check out and make sure the deer herd where we planned on hunting wasnt effected.
So after MULTIPLE phone calls to D.O.W. biologists pretty much we were told that the deer WEREN'T effected and that it should be great hunting. So five of us get there couple days before the season to do some scouting and as usual pretty warm, but hey we have been used to that in another area we hunt and have done very well even with the hot temps.
Well after two days of scouting, my group cant even turn up a deer, let alone a legal buck. So opening morning comes, whether is getting colder and a winter storm is in route, you would think that this would be the ticket to seeing some animals moving. Well after 7 days of hunting, between 5 guys we maybe saw 5 bucks (2-forkie and 4x4 were killed, and 1 (little forkie) missed) and maybe a total of 40 deer the whole trip.
Now this is where the BS comes in to play, the day before the season ends, our group is visited by a BLM employee, who let us know the truth about the situation. Apparently over the past winter the deer in this area were just devastated to nothing. Not only was last years winter a close to 70% loss, but the same deer herd took an approximate 40% loss in the winter of 06.
Now I dont know about how some of you feel, but to me I spend a grip of money to go hunting and to be constantly lied to by the Division of Wildlife for colorado, to me is just a kick in the crotch with a steal toe boot. I understand that yeah their budget is based on license sales, but to allow a unit that the deer have been devastated to almost nothing t be hunted and to pretty much pull the wool over hunters eyes, to me is just wrong.
I am just curious if any of you experienced the same thing. Sorry about the rant, but something needs to be done about this, for I guarantee you I know a lot of hunters that I talked to aint going to be spending their money in the Craig area next year.
So after MULTIPLE phone calls to D.O.W. biologists pretty much we were told that the deer WEREN'T effected and that it should be great hunting. So five of us get there couple days before the season to do some scouting and as usual pretty warm, but hey we have been used to that in another area we hunt and have done very well even with the hot temps.
Well after two days of scouting, my group cant even turn up a deer, let alone a legal buck. So opening morning comes, whether is getting colder and a winter storm is in route, you would think that this would be the ticket to seeing some animals moving. Well after 7 days of hunting, between 5 guys we maybe saw 5 bucks (2-forkie and 4x4 were killed, and 1 (little forkie) missed) and maybe a total of 40 deer the whole trip.
Now this is where the BS comes in to play, the day before the season ends, our group is visited by a BLM employee, who let us know the truth about the situation. Apparently over the past winter the deer in this area were just devastated to nothing. Not only was last years winter a close to 70% loss, but the same deer herd took an approximate 40% loss in the winter of 06.
Now I dont know about how some of you feel, but to me I spend a grip of money to go hunting and to be constantly lied to by the Division of Wildlife for colorado, to me is just a kick in the crotch with a steal toe boot. I understand that yeah their budget is based on license sales, but to allow a unit that the deer have been devastated to almost nothing t be hunted and to pretty much pull the wool over hunters eyes, to me is just wrong.
I am just curious if any of you experienced the same thing. Sorry about the rant, but something needs to be done about this, for I guarantee you I know a lot of hunters that I talked to aint going to be spending their money in the Craig area next year.