Advice on Unit 54 and 55 Colorado elk and mule deer

Gapierce

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I have a friend that lives in crested butte and we are looking into putting in for one of these units and we have never hunted there. Any advice or thought on these units? I live in Georgia and nit used to high altitude hiking. This unit have decent animals?
 
IM from alabama. I elk hunted this 55 unit a couple yrs. saw deer everywhere but no big bucks but I'm sure they were there probably just weren't where we were. U better get ready for some serious terrain if u hunt around Creste butte. It's very high and steep. We were hunting around 10,000 to 11k.
 
Hi there,

Areas 54 and 55 have good animals, I shot a 6x6 there in 2013. There are also a lot of hunters that go to Gunnison CO to hunt, so be aware competition is at least moderate to high throughout the season.

I did not see a single deer in 2013, but that does not mean they're not there. Your hunting success depends on the snows and if the elk are moving. Terrain is hilly to mountainous in both areas so best advice is get yourself into hiking condition.

Good Luck,


2f350s: Spend the money on additional licenses and HUNT more!
 
54 probably has better size for elk in general..West Elks is a good chunk of Wilderness..Lots of competition. I hunt in 55 and you see a 6x6 in the 280 range every so often, but mostly you are chasing 2 1/2 year old bulls. In 24+ years of hunting in 55, I have only seen 1 bull that would make the 300 mark.. I am sure they are there in limited quanities, but I hunted 54 twice and seen 2 bulls on one trip that were over 300. One was a dandy around 350..That is a big bull for up there. The other one was about 315. Both units get good pressure.
 
I would not recommend 2nd or 3rd season. If you can draw first elk, that might keep some of the pumpkins out, but good god, that 2nd rifle elk 54 unit is the most overrun with people of any place i have ever hunted big game.
 
I hunted elk in 55 in 2011 with the Lazy F Bar ranch, an outfitter in CB. Killed a 275 bull in first rifle. From what I gathered, that was top end for that area. Other guys in camp killed much smaller.
Didn't see any big mulie's, but their website has some nice ones.
Hunted at 10,000+ ft. I run about30 miles a week, and about 1 marathon a year and could feel the elevation. Oh, I'm from Knoxville, TN with an elevation of 900 ft.
The Lazy F could accommodate hunters of most any fitness level as they have a few thousand acres in the valley.
I'll post a few pics later
 
That is a good bull for there!! I see them(Lazy F) in the hills from time to time when i am there!! There guides need to be a bit better judging deer on the hoof for their clients as I was watching and spotting next to them and the guide told the hunter it was a 180 class deer and he was about 15 inches off in my book.. When I ran into the guide again I asked if the hunter shot that buck and he said no he shot the smaller one out of the 2 about a 165 buck.. Well the two I was watching were a 140 and a 165 class bucks.. I never saw a 180 on that hillside..But they do kill deer and elk and yes it is some of the most majestic country you will ever see or climb..Can you post up a photo of your elk?? Would love to see it!!
 
Been following along with this thread. Have a 2nd season drop camp with Tenderfoot Outfitters scheduled. It's our first time in a drop camp vs diy in unit 44 so I'm a little nervous to say the least. Guide says we will be 7 miles in on pass creek. Any insight on how much pressure to expect that far in?
 
If you are booked with Tenderfoot I can't imagine you not having a great experience. I've never hunted with them but I hunt by myself out of the same trailhead as one that they hunt out of. I visit with at least some of them every year, mainly on the Friday before first season. Fred is one heck of a nice guy. They always are packing out bulls at the end of the week. If it were me I would do exactly as they say-even out of their drop camps. I seem to see some of the same guides year after year. I'm sure they know elk, and I'm positive they know the area. You are in great hands.
With that said, lots of elk in 54 have permanently moved to private property, in my opinion. It is not unheard of to drive the valley floor in the middle of the summer and see 300-600 elk on the private ranches. It's mostly one ranch.. It is a phenomenon that has increasingly got worse every year for the past 10 or so. If you don't have pack animals, I'm sure there are much better areas. Even with them, you will have to actually hunt for them. The guy going with Tenderfoot will see and most likely get an elk. Those guys are a good outfit. On your own? a whole other story. It used to be a terrific hunt. Now it is so so. I still put in, but mainly because I remember what it used to be, not for what it is now.
 

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