Colorado Unit 10 - 3rd rifle season

woodturner

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OK.....New here.....I looked around many years ago....but little chance to hunt Mule deer.....So, I have been hunting Blacktails.....Northern California.

I have been putting in for deer hunts in Colorado for many years. Never getting drawn. Collecting points....getting older, I put in for Unit 10 third season. Got drawn.

Anyone have any info that might help me?
I am looking for any info I can get.

Thanks for helping me out.
 
kelieckslayer and DW,
Thanks for the input.
I did try to search for unit 10 and ended up with a huge number of threads.....I have not had time to go through all of them. I can only spend so much time on the computer. But will try again and look some more.

DW....thanks for the link. Good stuff.

It would be really nice to have a discussion with some who had been there and if a guide is needed? Or can one do a hunt on private lands only....with success.

If you know of anyone....send them this way please.
Thanks
 
There is a lots of public land in unit 10. If you can afford it and want to go with an outfitter great, but it's not necessary in my opinion. The deer population is down a bunch in the northwest corner, but the buck/doe ration is very good in 10. You can find deer just about anywhere in the unit, but you will have to look. Will you have an opportunity to scout this summer or just before your hunt?
 
Colelk,
I have not figured everything out yet.
Just found out I will get the tag on Friday.
I am heading to the BLM office tomorrow in Sacramento to get maps.
Right now I am just trying to get as much info as I can.
Any suggestions of parts of the area to look more than others?
I will try and talk with the Game Warden in the area and see what he/she has to say.
It is a two day drive for me to just get there.....so the plan right now is to get there just a couple of days ahead of time and scout for a couple of days before the hunt.
Third season....This far out, I do not know what the weather will do either. Lots of unknowns.
Just looking for any info I can right now.
Thanks.
 
Woodturner,
I can give you some help, but I'm leaving on a fishing trip for most of this week so it will be next weekend at least. Look at some maps and send me a private message with some more specific questions and I'll try to give you some ideas.
 
Colelk,
Thanks. I went to get maps today and turns out I need to get ahold of BLM in Colorado to get what I was after. I am in the process of looking on line. But will continue the search.

Give me a few days and I will come up with questions.
I hope you have a fun time fishing for a week. Nice time of the year for that. Most of the rivers in California are running pretty high due to all the snow we had. But we needed it badly.

Thanks.
 
Hey my family and I drew the same tag, same time. My mom, dad, brother and I will be up there. I was up there 10 years ago when my dad last drew the tag. They are driving up from the Santa Rosa area and I will be driving from Washington. If you want pm me and we can exchange numbers.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-05-17 AT 09:36PM (MST)[p]Several small pockets of deer. North slope Moosehead always has potential. Tanks Peak in and around the rim rocks. Round Top has it's fair share of deer too. 3rd season weather can be iffy too so come well prepared.

"Courage is being scared to death but
saddling up anyway."
 
And here I thought this one died a long time ago.
Cool!

Tailchasers.....thanks for the info. If you think of any more, send it on please. I have been pouring over maps and Google Earth almost every night. I am really looking forward to this trip. Any good hot spots will help.

From what I can get off the computer about the weather.....November does not have a huge amount of rain or snow. But, I think that with a little water, the roads will get pretty slick. I hate getting stuck. I have been walking everyday to get in shape. Hopefully if it rains or snows, the roads will dry out quickly.

Anyone else want to chime in here.....go for it.
Thanks.
Woodturner
 
Duckgitr.......I will try and send a PM.
Interesting that there are only two non resident tags and they both ended up so close......I am only a short distance away from Santa Rosa.....Think 25 miles or so.
Now I just have to figure out how to do a PM.....
Woodturner
 
Click on the letter behind that person name on your post.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
You might contact Kenton Stevenson of Blue Mountain Outfitters who advertises on this site. He knows that Unit as well as anyone and has access to some private ground, I believe. Once you get there, if Laura's Corner is still open in Rangely, you might check with Laura and Deuce. They were extremely helpful and kind to this old Texan when I hunted there several years ago. Laura gave me a tip that led me to a beautiful 192" typical. It's been a while since I hunted there, so I don't think anything I could tell you would be of relevance now. I know by the stats the DOW publishes every year that the current deer population is under 1000 animals now, which is very low for that size unit. The last big winter kill, increasing elk populations, poaching and predators have all taken their toll. The Unit still has great genetics though and I'm certain still has a few giants. If I had enough pref points, I wouldn't hesitate to go back for a 3rd season deer hunt.
 
Thanks Lawrence. I do have the third season. I will keep Kenton in mind. I think I would like to try and do this on my own. Nothing against guides......it just seems better for me. If I succeed.....great. If not....I tried. Of course I am after a HUGE buck.....but would most likely be happy with a NICE buck. Take a 1000 deer, about 45% are bucks.....spread the 450 bucks between the different age groups......not a lot of HUGE bucks in the population. Too far away to go scout earlier. But lots of maps and Google Earth. Going to be a fun trip no matter what.
Thanks.
Woodturner
 
I have a 2nd season tag and just returned from a weekend of scouting.
I was pleasantly surprised on the number of deer we were seeing and that we were seeing descent sized bucks. We did find two that would be shooters and will focus on them next weekend.
The 3rd season could be fantastic, i hope you have a great hunt.
There is a fair amount of public ground but there is a lot of private ground and I saw people on most of the private ground.

I Know Kent Stevenson, he would be a great help to you if you choose to go that route.

Good Luck!
EH4
 
EH4,
If you would let me know how you do after your hunt, I would be very interested. Any help as to where would also be appreciated.

I am really looking forward to the hunt. Took a lot of points. Thanks for the info.....now and then.
Woodturner
 
EH4,

I also have a 3rd season tag and would love to hear how your hunt goes. I have also been doing some scouting and have seen quite a few deer. I have seen a few good bucks and would be happy to tell you where I have been seeing things. I figure they will be scatted by the time I get there anyway. Shoot me a PM and I'll try to help. Good luck!
 
Anyone want to chip in with any news about GMU 10 ????? The second season is about to end tonight. I am heading out tomorrow for a two day drive to get there for the third season. Care to tell me where you saw bucks? Any advise.
Thanks.
Woodturner
 
This is not my thread, but I also had a 3rd season tag. I had a fun hunt and killed a nice buck around "180. I only hunted a couple of days due to work demands, but I saw a lot of bucks. Most were not huge, but I saw 2 others I would have shot the day after I killed mine. One had a bigger frame than mine, but not as much mass, the other was a little smaller. The rut was definitely starting, almost all the does I saw had bucks with them. I think with more time I may have been able to find one a little bigger, but I'm happy with my buck. Overall it was a fun hunt and I was suprised with the number of deer I saw considering some of the comments I saw on here. To paraphrase the great Mark Twain, The reports of the death of Unit 10 have been somewhat exaggerated.

I would post a picture, but I don't know how to do it on this forum.
 
Hi there Everyone,
So....I started this, but that does not mean that others can not add to it...feel free.

I had the 3rd season tag. Got there a few days ahead of time. Scouted around. Saw deer and a lot of elk. Had a good time looking at all the animals. One day, right off the road....on private ground, I saw a 4x4 that was very close to the magic 30" spread. But was missing in mass.

I also found out that I am not the trophy hunter that the rest of you are. I can not seem to hold out for the huge buck. Even with more days to hunt.

I did shoot a buck. I do not know how to attach a picture. I only took a few anyway. It is a very nice buck. My guess is he was about a year past his prime. Really nice back forks and is a 3x4....but basically a 3 point with a cheater on one side. 26" wide. But......really nice mass......through out the whole set of antlers. I am happy with the deer that I got.
Sorry, I will fall for a buck with good mass every time. I have not measured him, but it does not matter. I had a good hunt. Saw a lot of animals of all kinds of species.

So, for all of those who tried to help....thanks. I had a great time.

Woodturner
 
Woodturner,
Where did you see the wide buck without a lot of mass? It sounds a lot like the one I saw after I killed mine. It was also right near the road, but actually on public. It was on county road 16 about two miles east of Harpers Corner intersection. I killed mine near 16 also, but a couple miles west around K Creek. Where did you get yours?
 
The 30" buck had one broken tine. He was just off the Monument Road......right at 16. Actually I saw a couple of nice deer there before the season.

I shot my buck just to the south a bit on the BLM ground.

It was a fun hunt. Golden Eagles, falcons, antelope, deer, elk, sage grouse at about 25 yards away.

Woodturner
 
Not the same one. The one I saw was probably a couple of inches narrower, but he had no busted tines. I got a very good look at him, I agree it was a fun hunt and I saw a lot more deer than I thought after some of the comments here. Did you see any big bulls? I saw lots of elk, and some big herds, but I think the big boys had all split off from the herds.
 
colelk,
I almost hit one in the dark just out of Blue Mountain.
I am not a good judge of elk.....if it has 6 points...it looks good to me. I saw a couple of bulls down SW of Blue Mountain going into the Juniper. Then up higher, saw what I think were really nice bulls. One by himself. The other with a big herd of about 45 other elk......mostly cows and a couple of very small bulls. Fun seeing the herds of elk.
Woodturner
 

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