Gunnison or Eagle ?

buckhorn

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2,651
Which county has the biggest bucks right now?
Who has hunted these counties recently and what have you seen for quality?
180?
190?
200?
Any particular units stand out?
 
Unless you can hunt 44 late, it would have to be Gunnison. Neither is what is was a decade ago (11 years - before the winter of 07-08 in Gunnison). Eagle County is not what it once was. Too many licenses and too many hunters that are dead serious going there. Areas 35, 36, 361 used to be good 12-15 years ago. They just are not that good any longer.

Gunnison is not as good as it was either, but I still think it holds more potential.

Best of luck.
 
I've kept my eye & interest on a couple of Colo units (including Gunn Basin) for some time now hoping for the chance to burn my current 20 NR points. Things go in cycles so much that when you hear of something, you're pretty much too late and like ICM said, some units aren't what they used to be.

I'm kind of looking elsewhere.

Good luck,

n
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-22-18 AT 05:43AM (MST)[p]>Unless you can hunt 44 late,
>it would have to be
>Gunnison. Neither is what
>is was a decade ago
>(11 years - before the
>winter of 07-08 in Gunnison).
> Eagle County is not
>what it once was.
>Too many licenses and too
>many hunters that are dead
>serious going there. Areas
>35, 36, 361 used to
>be good 12-15 years ago.
> They just are not
>that good any longer.
>
>Gunnison is not as good as
> it was either, but
>I still think it holds
>more potential.
>
>Best of luck.


Id have to disagree... guided the gunnison for 4 years and still spend alot of time there and i would take eagle county any day of the week. The fact of the matter is nothing is as good as the most recent glory days of pre 2007/2007. But with that being said the gunnison basin has had severe problems rebuilding the herd for the past decade. Units 54/55 are down right sorry anymore and have continually struggled keeping a healthy population of mature age class deer. Whether it be poor management by the CPW or rough winters sending bucks to their graves post rut. 66 and 67 have maintained much better over the past decade but i would bet my last dollar that eagle county has a whole holds more mature deer in the 5 plus age class than the gunnison basin.
 
Eagle has big ass deer. They are not easy to kill. Gunnison still hurting from punishing winters.

I think your best chance to get a big buck on the ground is to go high with a bow opening day. After that, you need the weather to help you out by the time rifle season opens and you'll have too much pressure from archery elk hunters.
 
Buckhorn, its honestly a crap shoot. Sure the two counties you've listed stand out in the record books but just about any county in the state produces record book class deer each year. Alot of giants that have been killed as of recently have came from under the radar units in "unfamous" counties. Have you perhaps looked into an early rifle tag?

Coloradoboy
 
And if you are looking at a guided hunt, some of the eastern plains areas produce studs every year. Access is tough unless you are connected. But I know people that stack up big deer there almost every year.

Keep the faith and good luck.

As has been written, if you can go 4th season, Eagle is better (if you are in 44). I'd still avoid the areas north of the interstate if I had to burn many points.
 
If you have the points 35 or 36 4th rifle is a good hunt. I've hunted 35 and 36 on 2nd and 3rd rifle hunts and we do pretty good. I'd look at Bull Gulch with a later tag or around the Colorado River. Hunted 54 with my brother in law 5 years ago and saw 3 really nice bucks that we couldn't connect on. Good luck!
 
This year Gunny may have the biggest buck, but Kobe's lovely town has more number of big bucks.
 
YB0
I never have been a Kobe fan But I'm looking forward to hunting there this year with my son on the second season buck hunt.
I know by reading some of your posts you have been trying for the same unit.
My big dilemma is what to apply myself for. Maybe just a preference point and wait until we see how his hunt goes.
Then next year I will have 15 points. Do you think it's worth burning them on that second season hunt?
Please PM. Thanks
 
That's a tough one. I'm shaking my head wondering what the hell I'm doing collecting points! Honestly, I'd say find a 3rd or 4th season with 15 points. 44 2nd is a tough hunt even though some giants have been killed in the second season. Colorado Boy would know better than myself and could give you some very sound advice. Yes, definately a third season hunt elsewhere.
 
The decisions have been made and applications are in.
Thanks very much to all of you that participated with your comments and suggestions. Your input has been very helpful in helping us decide where we will be trying to hunt this year.
Good luck to all in the draws.
 
Good luck bud.... I know this one has been maddening, and watching the comments confirms what I thought, in that there's really no silver bullet.

We make our choices and we take our chances....
 
Good luck in the draw and hunt, regardless of which area you chose.

As others have mentioned, there are slammer bucks taken from both areas each and every year. I have hunted the Gunnison basin and Eagle county areas a few times each. Before 2008, I would have told you to hunt the Gunni basin. Probably, because that is where I was spending my time in turning up good bucks. But I have to think someone could turn up a good buck in almost every unit in Colorado, providing they dedicate the time, and patience to do so.

Hope your decision and season plays out well for you!
 

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