Colorado GMU 40

[couesbitten]

While driving to CO 2 years ago for deer hunt, I was admiring this unit from freeway, and thinking that it looked like good desert country for big bucks (I love hunting the desert).
Anyhow, I'm already thinking towards next year, and was wondering if anyone might share their thoughts/experience in regards to this unit for a 3rd season hunt. Whats the quality and numbers of deer a guy might expect?
Thanks in advance, Scott

 

[sjhgraysage]

I do know this: there is a lot of private land in this unit.

 

[NickJ1980]

^^^ +1

There are some good bucks in 40. It is mostly private where the deer and elk are but there are some places to access BLM where late seasons may be good hunting. You might scout it out during this year's 3rd season and see if you can spot some interesting bucks on public land before you make a decision to use any preference points.

 

[Califelkslayer]

Only about 10% is public but they take 200" bucks out of there every year. Friend isn't back from the muzzy hunt in 40 yet.

 

[couesbitten]

Thanks for the quick responses. I've been looking at the maps, and you guys are right, there is a lot of private ground in the southern part of the unit. But, the part I'm particularly interested in, and the part that I could see from the freeway, was that lower ground that is all in the Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area/Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness. This is all BLM ground, and must hold some resident deer as well as the deer that migrate down from the higher ground. There is A LOT of ground down there that is accessible by foot or horse only. Just the kind of place where a guy can get away from the crowds and find a big buck that hasn't been pressured by hunters. Maybe do a little float trip down from Fruitam and have a TON of ground to myself.

Thanks, Scott

Scott/sjhgraysage, Good to hear from you. Shoot me a PM and let me know how your hunting season is shaping up.

 

[BeanMan]

Bitten,

I have a friend who works for the railroad. He spends a lot of time inspecting track from Westwater, UT to Fruita and I've seen some of his pictures. I've been having the same thoughts. You would want a boat to cross the river, it would take a lot of the drive out of it.

Beanman

 

[prohunter]

I use to hunt that before all access was restricted. When the first big storm hits there is hundreds of deer down by the utah/Colorado state line near the colorado River. it use to be a zoo in there. I myself would like to someday float across the river. The only problem is the access point across the river is private. Colorado side is wilderness. Utah side is not. The canyons to the east of there hold some big bucks. we took some nice bucks out of there. We hunted on big canyon near the radio towers. It holds some resident deer but not many. hope this helps. Oh by the way the Utah side has a late hunt called the Dolores Triangle.

 

[Gator]

I think this year will be a good time to have a tag for unit 40 to sit over on the Colorado side, because if the weather hits their will be a lot of good bucks heading over into Utah.