Colorado Unit 61 vrs 44 vrs 10?

[Colorado_Ryan]

My old man is considering the 4th season hunt in these units for 2011.

It seems all would offer a good hunt.

Here is my take on the three units?

Unit 10: Lots of bucks, reasonable top end is around 170-175 with lots of looking. Fun hunt with lots and lots of deer.

Unit 44: Potential for an eagle county monster. Might have some private land issues. Best with more snow. Reasonable top end is around 180 with the occasional monster.

Unit 61: Potential for a monster but maybe down a little from 2007/2008. Reasonable top end is 180ish with the occasional toad.


Any other comments?

 

[Paul_Crawford]

How many points?

 

[Colorado_Ryan]

He has 14 so can draw any of these as a resident. He can also draw some of the Ranching for Wildlife hunts...

Looking at Trenchera, Purgatory, Morgen, and Burns.

Any thoughts?

 

[Coloradoboy]

I wouldn't say unit 10 has 'lots' of deer. The numbers are nothing to that compared to unit 21. Better quality of bucks the in my opinion. There are good bucks but it will take some looking. I'm not knowledgable on 61 deer so I really have no input. 44 is a hurting unit right now. The winter kill really took its toll a few years back. Still produces a handful of good bucks each year though, they just aren't as easy to come by as they used to be. If you get the weather though it could produce. Unit 10 and 44 are equally the same in that the later the better. If it were me id take a unit 10 4th season tag, a lot of big bucks will come off the monument to rut and become vuernerable out in the open country chasing does. Mainly around deserado mine and north of kenny res.
Coloradoboy

 

[Colorado_Ryan]

Thanks for the insight.

How has the gas development been in unit 10?

 

[Buck]

IMO 44 is down from the '07/08 winter also. Another thing, I was looking at the regs and I don't even see a 4th season for these units..

"The value of any trophy from the field depends not on its size but on the magnitude of the effort expended in its pursuit." ~ Aldo Leopold

 

[Colorado_Ryan]

Thanks... I guys the winter probably affected alot of units.

Yeah there 4th rifle tags just no first season rifle tags... The season dates are great!

Unit 10: Nov. 16-20 Buck D-M-010-O4-R

Unit 44: Nov. 16-20 Buck D-M-044-O4-R

Unit 61: Nov. 16-20 Buck D-M-061-O4-R

 

[4000fps]

They need to shut down the deer hunt in 44 completely for a couple years. At least quit issuing doe tags would be a start!

 

[tailchasers]

If ya hunt 10 you will want to hunt late but also realize this is when the majority of cow hunting starts and there is a lot of people chasing cows. Unit 10 gets busy once 4th season hits. The other tough aspect is the sheep flocks are moving into the area during this same time. This is there wintering grounds. Can be a real pain.

 

[Buck]

>They need to shut down the
>deer hunt in 44 completely
>for a couple years. At
>least quit issuing doe tags
>would be a start!

I agree. We hunted it in '08. Expecting a great hunt, we hunted hard for 8 days and it was dissapointing to say the least. I ended up getting one on the last day but I considered myself very lucky.
Anyone hunt it in '09 or last year?

"The value of any trophy from the field depends not on its size but on the magnitude of the effort expended in its pursuit." ~ Aldo Leopold

 

[36moose]

search the net for population for 2006 numbers vs 2010 in 44 and that should make the decision on that one for you.

 

[Coloradoboy]

> If ya hunt 10 you
>will want to hunt late
>but also realize this is
>when the majority of cow
>hunting starts and there is
>a lot of people chasing
>cows. Unit 10 gets busy
>once 4th season hits. The
>other tough aspect is the
>sheep flocks are moving into
>the area during this same
>time. This is there wintering
>grounds. Can be a real
>pain.


Was out there last year during the 4th season and it really wasnt much of problem. Majority of the elk are further north that time of year and most of the deer are in the southern part of the unit around Desarado mine and Kenny Res. (Majority but not all) Also the elk hunters can work to you're advantage if you talk to them and tell them you're looking for buck, majority of them are willing to help and will let you know if they've seen a good buck while out looking for elk.
Coloradoboy

 

[WhiskeyMan]

10 is weaker in the genetics dept for a 180+ buck. There are a few bigger... but a total waste of points. Doesn't have a history of truly big bucks. I have extensive experience in 10 over the last decade, including my 180+ typical.

44 still has a few whacked since the winterkill. Garth showed a 218 that was mostly typical in 2009. Absolute toad. It could happen here. Expect mostly luck, tho.

61 has a number of 185-200+ bucks killed in the unit as that winterkill didn't happen on the Unc Plateau. Check Garvey Bros website. They hunt private......but the bucks are still there on public as well. Lots of country, more deer, great genetics.

I vote for 61. Hunt hard, smart, and persistent.....and hunt does during third season. Great place to see a whopper in this day and age of poor deer numbers. Prolly best late hunt in Colo for a 180+ buck.

 

[4000fps]

Garth's buck was shot on private, and he was the only one hunting the ranch. The ranch is surrounded by public and right in the migration corridor. Throw in a handful of bounty hunters and "guides" and well...

 

[WhiskeyMan]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-04-11 AT 10:09PM (MST)[p]>Garth's buck was shot on private,
>and he was the only
>one hunting the ranch. The
>ranch is surrounded by public
>and right in the migration
>corridor. Throw in a handful
>of bounty hunters and "guides"
>and well...


Naaawwwww.......



Need to make a correction to my second to last post. 61 is the best of the 3 units asked about in this thread for a 180+ buck on public in WESTERN Colorado. There are a number of eastern Colo units that are better if'n you have access. Not to mention one unit in faaaaaar NW Colo that I mentioned previously.....