I've been watching some of the advice and requests about where to burn a boatload of points on Colorado mule deer this year. I thought I would throw my .02$ in the mix and take it for what its worth but it is worth considering. No alterior motive here, just boredom on a snowy morning waiting to take my daughter snowmobiling when she gets ready.
1)The winter of 07/08's effects will continue to be felt for years in some areas.
2) The strongest youngest bucks during that winter were the primary survivors in the buck numbers and are now turning 5 to 7 years old.
3) A great majority of yearlings died in areas experiencing serious winter conditions and the birthrate and fawn recruitement from does that were pregnant during that winter is bound to be dismal. That is potentially a loss of two years age class from the herd!!! Those deer would be 3-4 this year and the lack of middle age bucks is evident in areas I have observed deer in.
4) Pre 2007/2008 winter the B&C records were re-written with entries from CO with Gunnison and Eagle counties leading the pack. Since that winter here is some interesting and telling information on what happened there.
B&C entries 2000-2007 Eagle and Gunnison counties 42 with 36 typical and 6 non-typical. No seperation for awards and all-time just total entries.
B&C entries 2008-2010 Eagle ande Gunnison counties. Just 2 !!!!!!!!!! WOW!
While this isn't a scientific evaluation of the overall herd health, this anecdotal shouts information in your face.
5) Mesa County had 5 non-typical entries during the 2000-2007 period and none since. B&C non-typs are freaks and it usually takes an older buck to make B&C as a non-typ than a typ as non-typs tend to add a little more extras with time. Mesa county didn't experience as harsh of a winter as the Gunnison units, Eagle county and the Northwest units but what it did experience is a steady ratcheting up of buck tag number in the last decade and quite simply has been over-hunted. Tags on the Grand Mesa are way too liberal and the bucks have been hammered out there. 61 produced some whoppers but the tag numbers were increased there too and the area recieved alot of pressure from trophy concious hunters.
6) Looking at the B&C records since the 2007-2008 winter, one can quickly see that entries are scattered from all over the state with no smoking-gun hotpsot. This means that a B&C buck could come from anywhere and can be just as likely come from a 1 point draw area as a 10 point draw area.
Burning your points in Colorado is a total crapshoot gamble right now. There will be big bucks killed and a handfull of true giants but I wouldn't want to put an X on the map for anybody. Using your points is at your own risk no matter what anyone or any infomation source tells you. Be prepared to be dissapointed as for every guy smiling with a whopper in a magazine, there will be hundreds at home complaining about the lack of quality and quantity.
On the bright side, the 4th season opener has very attractive dates for catching a big buck rutting does and these whoppers come out of the woodwork after the first few seasons. I would be more concerned with getting a tag with these dates then one that has been hyped for other reasons. Good historical gene pool with lower winter effects and a 4th season would be the 3 factors to look to combine. This shouldn't take too much research to figure out but it is still an educated gamble.
Buyer beware...........
1)The winter of 07/08's effects will continue to be felt for years in some areas.
2) The strongest youngest bucks during that winter were the primary survivors in the buck numbers and are now turning 5 to 7 years old.
3) A great majority of yearlings died in areas experiencing serious winter conditions and the birthrate and fawn recruitement from does that were pregnant during that winter is bound to be dismal. That is potentially a loss of two years age class from the herd!!! Those deer would be 3-4 this year and the lack of middle age bucks is evident in areas I have observed deer in.
4) Pre 2007/2008 winter the B&C records were re-written with entries from CO with Gunnison and Eagle counties leading the pack. Since that winter here is some interesting and telling information on what happened there.
B&C entries 2000-2007 Eagle and Gunnison counties 42 with 36 typical and 6 non-typical. No seperation for awards and all-time just total entries.
B&C entries 2008-2010 Eagle ande Gunnison counties. Just 2 !!!!!!!!!! WOW!
While this isn't a scientific evaluation of the overall herd health, this anecdotal shouts information in your face.
5) Mesa County had 5 non-typical entries during the 2000-2007 period and none since. B&C non-typs are freaks and it usually takes an older buck to make B&C as a non-typ than a typ as non-typs tend to add a little more extras with time. Mesa county didn't experience as harsh of a winter as the Gunnison units, Eagle county and the Northwest units but what it did experience is a steady ratcheting up of buck tag number in the last decade and quite simply has been over-hunted. Tags on the Grand Mesa are way too liberal and the bucks have been hammered out there. 61 produced some whoppers but the tag numbers were increased there too and the area recieved alot of pressure from trophy concious hunters.
6) Looking at the B&C records since the 2007-2008 winter, one can quickly see that entries are scattered from all over the state with no smoking-gun hotpsot. This means that a B&C buck could come from anywhere and can be just as likely come from a 1 point draw area as a 10 point draw area.
Burning your points in Colorado is a total crapshoot gamble right now. There will be big bucks killed and a handfull of true giants but I wouldn't want to put an X on the map for anybody. Using your points is at your own risk no matter what anyone or any infomation source tells you. Be prepared to be dissapointed as for every guy smiling with a whopper in a magazine, there will be hundreds at home complaining about the lack of quality and quantity.
On the bright side, the 4th season opener has very attractive dates for catching a big buck rutting does and these whoppers come out of the woodwork after the first few seasons. I would be more concerned with getting a tag with these dates then one that has been hyped for other reasons. Good historical gene pool with lower winter effects and a 4th season would be the 3 factors to look to combine. This shouldn't take too much research to figure out but it is still an educated gamble.
Buyer beware...........