Help? CO Units 15, 35, 36, 45

[CountingCoo]

I have a niece coming out for her first mule deer hunt this year and we have leftover tags for 15/35/36/45 - second season. I live and hunt in Unit 65 and have no experience in these other units.

I am trying to narrow my scouting down to 1 or 2 of the units above and need help! Ideally looking for an area that will allow us to access hiking trails and get a mile or 2 away from the roads each morning. My niece is from Florida so I need terrain that is not going to kill her, but she should have no problem hoofing it in over fairly flat rolling terrain.

If anyone can point me to some general areas, or at least help me rule out those areas that are going to be swamped with hunters it would be much appreicated!

Thanks!

 

[jims]

If you look at the draw stats you'll notice that those units have a pile of tags. During the 2nd season there usually isn't much snow and even if you hike a couple miles you may have difficulty getting away from the crowds. Those units are also unlimited elk units so that adds to the number of hunters. I sure wish the CDOW would get their act together and restrict tags in those units because that particular area has some of the best deer genetics in the state. Even with high pressure there are still a few big'uns shot (mostly on the Piney Ranches) but if they handed out fewer tags it would be one of the premier units in the entire west to hunt!

With that said I really don't know what to tell you about getting away from all the hunters! You may want to wait until the last few days of the season and there "may" be fewer hunters in the field. I would prepare yourself for war-zone conditions with orange on every hill!

 

[COHunter]

When I hunted there before, they had hundreds of leftover tags and it was still way too crowded. This year they sold out all the tags for 2nd & 3rd rifle at 1800 tags for each season!!!

I can't imagine what its gonna be like now. :-(

 

[InterpolNY]

I agree, if they limited tags more so this could be the premier area in the entire west. Bull Gulch is a good place to try that doesn't get too much pressure. It's only a few miles from the FR's also. I hunted elk up in that area back in the day and always saw some great mature bucks. Of course it has slipped in quality but I have talked to a few board members here that still hunt it and see good bucks every year. That area is void of water in a lot of the better places so take that into consideration. Good luck, lots of deer in that area.
Paul

 

[cohntr6]

Countingcoo,
I have the same exact same tag! i wanted 3rd rifle but I they sold out and so I got 2nd rifle. i have been doing some research as this is my 1st time in that area. I hunted Kremmling the year before and didnt draw this year so this area is filling in. I am from Fort Collins and plan on at least 1 scouting trip as soon as elk archery is over for me. I know unit 35 has a good amount of blm and have noticed the 2 blm wilderness study areas that are of limits to vehicles. That interests me. A friend of mine is the new dwm for eagle north district (most of unit 35 I think). i will be picking his brain! Also another friend has a 3rd rifle for that area so he is doing a bunch of research.Here is my email:
[email protected]
Jeff

 

[CountingCoo]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-12-05 AT 08:11PM (MST)[p]Thanks for all of the feedback guys! I am heading up next weekend for 3 days of scouting. At least now I have a couple of areas to focus on. Jeff, I will send you an e-mail.

Paul, Is Bull gulch located in near Dotsero?

Don