Colorado early season high country

0

00rowe

Member
Messages
8
Has anyone hunted 82,86,861 early season rifle? I have limited knowledge of the above timberline areas of these units, how is the access? I know there are some nice deer that hang out up there, just looking for anyone with first hand experience hunting at those elevations in early september. Thanks.

Mike
 
Tick, Tick, Tick....

Boy the deadline brings out the newbys, don't it. Yes, I hunted it. Yep, there are some good bucks. Yes, it is VERY steep. No, the access is not good. But then the big ones don't hang out in the nonsteep, good access areas.

Probably worth the points if you do your research. Beyond that, I can't help you. Decisions, decisions........

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
I have spent some time in the unit on pre-season scouting trips and I have to say it is a steep, miserable mountain range. The access is horrible and unless you have horses and some knowledge of where the deer concentrate, a guy could spend a lot time spinning his wheels. It takes a decent chunk of points to draw and I think that if I were you I would go experience it first hand before just applying. Just my two cents. Good luck!
 
I already applied, depends on how many nonresidents jump in, I have a decent chance with 8 pp's. I've checked out a couple areas lower elk hunting, just hadn't made a trip to check out the muleys. The guys I've talked to while in the area had nothing but to say but how big some of the bucks were up there. There appears to be some roads that go up pretty high from the east side, I'd like to save some energy for going after the deer not just climbing. Thanks for any info.

Mike
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-06-10 AT 06:21PM (MST)[p]Yes, there are some roads that go up high on the east side, but that also means lots of hikers, backpackers, rock climbers, etc, and less deer.

And, unless I am missing something, you haven't done your homework on points. Nonresidents haven't been able to draw that hunt with 8 points since 2005. And it has gone up one point each year since then so that last year it took 11 points and only 66% of those with 11 got a tag (nonresidents). Sorry, but looks like you will be getting another point!

That is, unless you are a resident? In that case, it doesn't matter how many nonresidents apply, you would still have a chance at the tag.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
I'm a nonresident and I might be reading too much into the drawing summaries, it did take 11 last year but there aren't many guys applying with 8,9, or 10 points. If nobody "new" applies this year I'd be the 7th in line for the 6 nonresident tags. I know thats a lot of assumptions but it is possible that a few guys ahead of me apply in another unit or just apply for points. In 2008 12 nonres's applied with 10 points, 4 got drawn and then 2 dropped out in 2009 since only 6 applied with 11 points. Anyways, I do realize that easy access will mean more people but I'd rather drive up high and let my optics do some of my "legwork." I've packed out an elk solo for a few miles, but not at 13,000 feet and not in the type of terrain found in these units, but I'm definitely not afraid of putting on some miles off road.

Mike
 
I see your logic, but it will be a hard one to pull off with only 6 tags for nonresidents. Good luck, but I doubt if you will be that lucky. When I was chasing that unit, I was just putting in for a preference point, until I had enough to draw it, so it only takes a couple of those guys to throw you out of the running. Hope I am wrong, but wouldn't buy a backpack yet.

As far using your glassing, that is great, but what I found in that unit is I had to get far from the crowds before I got within glassing distance of the big-uns. We saw deer and some bucks from the easy places, but nothing worth using 8+ points on. We ended up hiking in 5 miles where horses can't go. 29 inch 8x7 to show for it though.

The best kept secret in Colorado though is that that same area can be drawn with 0-1 point with a muzzleloader. So if I wanted, I could hunt there almost every year. Something to think about after you spend your points.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-06-10 AT 08:20PM (MST)[p]I can't seem to download the picture, but if you copy and past this in the address line, I think you can see my buck


file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/David's%20Sangre%20buck.JPG
 
00ROWE..your screen name makes me assume your last name is rowe. You sign out with "Mike". So you must be Mike Rowe of the Discovery channels Dirty jobs. That guy is hilarous so if that is you let me know!!!. I will take u hunting and guarantee u a chance at a 180+ buck.
 
>00ROWE..your screen name makes me assume
>your last name is rowe.
>You sign out with "Mike".
>So you must be Mike
>Rowe of the Discovery channels
>Dirty jobs. That guy is
>hilarous so if that is
>you let me know!!!. I
>will take u hunting and
>guarantee u a chance at
>a 180+ buck.


that, and his profile says his name is "mike rowe"
 
If its you Mike Rowe I have a dairy farm you can come film on than you can take me hunting .
 
No, but we're a lot alike, still want to take me huntin? j/k I grew up in a town that has "Dairy Land Days", a bunch of holsteins ain't scary to me, but I don't like sticking my arm up their butts either, if you've seen that "Dirty Jobs." My pack is well broke in so no need to buy one, and I'm not counting on getting drawn, I was just surprised at how few people apply, unlike many other units for both deer and elk, where there are hundreds applying with way too few of points.

Mike
 
I can't get the picture to open, sounds like beast though. Thanks for the suggestion on the muzzy season, hopefully in the next few years I get drawn for this hunt and if it doesn't kill me I can come back with the smokepole or bow.

Mike
 
Most people just don't want to work that hard for a good buck.

For me, I just love the timberline country. I have hunted that kind of country for the last two years with my muzzy. Two years ago missed a 170 class buck and this year my son got buck fever and missed a 160-170 buck. Not in 82/86 though.

As far as sticking your hand up the rear of an animal, I do that a lot! I am a veterinarian, so comes with my "dirty job"

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
LAST EDITED ON May-26-10 AT 11:05AM (MST)[p]In response to post #6 above: There are plenty of really great units in CO that be drawn with only a point or two for the muzzy season, including 82. Problem though is that it's dang hard to get into range with an open sighted muzzleloader in that type of nasty terrain for a muture muley. Just getting within 300 yards with a scoped rifle can be a challenge itself. Therefore most guys aren't willing to burn the points for the muzzy season as shown by the draw results.
 
Maybe not, but I am hooked. Been in muzzy range of a 160+ buck for the last two years above timberline. Hey, archers do it every year, and I feel comfortable out to 150 yards with a good rest. Lot of glassing and planning a stalk though.

Funny too, because my big buck in the Sangres I killed at 100 yards!

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Try this one:

2385davids_sangre_buck.jpg


txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
txhunter58 - nice buck! Thanks for sharing the pics.

Like you said, most people aren't willing to work that hard for a buck. You (and I) are in a very small minority - we love to go far and high to get to the animals. Most people want something within a mile or two of a road, and no more than a 1000 foot climb. Take the average hunter to the Sangres and they would buckle within a day in that type of country.
 
Where he sits is 5 miles from the truck! Truck was at 7000, buck at close to 12,000.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
He measures out at 183 and change (gross). 29" wide. Surely the best buck I have ever taken. Best eating too!

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Great buck there, txhunter58. I like all the extra's he has. Real nice pics. Thanks for sharing. Congrats
 
Nice Buck with pretty country around him.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 

Similar threads

Founder
Looking to trade intel on CO units 82/86 and 74
Replies
2
Views
705
dhoshauer
D
V
Looking for a great mule deer unit in Colorado for youth (my son) with 5 points (last year as a youth)
Replies
4
Views
1k
VWiddi1
V
a3dhunter
Unit 68 4th season deer info needed
Replies
10
Views
1k
liecabucks
liecabucks

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos

Member Gallery Photos and Videos!

Nice Bull Elk
3145848F-B899-486C-A4EF-4412EE529529.jpeg
F9243DE3-43A2-411A-9366-2E5FE05060FC.jpeg
8F81CED6-ADEA-4909-B47C-94CA3629B0DA.jpeg
Screenshot_20220312-182218_Gallery.jpg
CD5A4306-B133-47F1-B67C-EF61BA0DD186.jpeg
C62DA2B7-3C9B-482D-BFF9-864493C0EC8B.jpeg
Pictures1 648.jpg
28EA2A30-4936-40E0-96A8-4CAB4B23E2C8.jpeg
20230814_203944.jpg
Wide Buck 5-18-23.mp4
68941641-3862-4122-A351-8D270B03FDC9.jpeg
Back
Top Bottom