DonVathome
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I finally drew. I still have to get my Maps but I'm pretty excited so let's hear your thoughts or any picture you have a buck taken there.
CO 4th rifle 035, 036, 045, 361
- Thread starter DonVathome
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Coloradoboy
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Solid tag. Those are my thoughts
Coloradoboy
Coloradoboy
littlebighorn
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My thoughts are, somebody is pretty lucky but how do you manage a late NV elk with a late Colorado deer tag?
Somebody best be getting lots of honey dos done right now so November is free!
Congrats man.
Somebody best be getting lots of honey dos done right now so November is free!
Congrats man.
BluffGruff
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I would hunt 36 personally if I had this tag. Get where I could see where the aspen fingers poked down into the edge of the sage, and watch doe groups. I have found lots of sheds in those units (mostly in 35). Hunted high country deer during muzzy season too, without pulling the trigger.
I've spent a fair amount of time in those units hunting/shed hunting. PM me if you want more info. That area gets hammered hard the 2nd/3rd seasons with muley plus OTC elk hunters. Hopefully the weather cooperates. There are some resident bucks but it definitely helps to have lots of snow to drive the big bucks out of the high country. There are some nice bucks available but you'll likely have to work for them. 5 days will disappear before you know it! You may want to get there well before the season to snoop around. It hasn't had much winterkill for a number of years but deer numbers are still slowly but surely recovering. Piney Valley Ranch owns a lot of the prime country. Be ready for some of the worse mud you've seen in your life...can you say gumbo! Bring 4 chains and a shovel! If it's a full moon and warm weather it can be very tough. You may have to get well off the beaten track to find the bigger bucks. Pray for deep snow and cold weather!
>I've spent a fair amount of
>time in those units hunting/shed
>hunting. PM me if
>you want more info.
>That area gets hammered hard
>the 2nd/3rd seasons with muley
>plus OTC elk hunters.
>Hopefully the weather cooperates. There
>are some resident bucks but
>it definitely helps to have
>lots of snow to drive
>the big bucks out of
>the high country. There are
>some nice bucks available but
>you'll likely have to work
>for them. 5 days will
>disappear before you know it!
> You may want to
>get there well before the
>season to snoop around.
>It hasn't had much winterkill
>for a number of years
>but deer numbers are still
>slowly but surely recovering.
>Piney Valley Ranch owns a
>lot of the prime country.
> Be ready for some
>of the worse mud you've
>seen in your life...can you
>say gumbo! Bring 4
>chains and a shovel!
>If it's a full moon
>and warm weather it can
>be very tough. You
>may have to get well
>off the beaten track to
>find the bigger bucks.
>Pray for deep snow and
>cold weather!
+ 1
>time in those units hunting/shed
>hunting. PM me if
>you want more info.
>That area gets hammered hard
>the 2nd/3rd seasons with muley
>plus OTC elk hunters.
>Hopefully the weather cooperates. There
>are some resident bucks but
>it definitely helps to have
>lots of snow to drive
>the big bucks out of
>the high country. There are
>some nice bucks available but
>you'll likely have to work
>for them. 5 days will
>disappear before you know it!
> You may want to
>get there well before the
>season to snoop around.
>It hasn't had much winterkill
>for a number of years
>but deer numbers are still
>slowly but surely recovering.
>Piney Valley Ranch owns a
>lot of the prime country.
> Be ready for some
>of the worse mud you've
>seen in your life...can you
>say gumbo! Bring 4
>chains and a shovel!
>If it's a full moon
>and warm weather it can
>be very tough. You
>may have to get well
>off the beaten track to
>find the bigger bucks.
>Pray for deep snow and
>cold weather!
+ 1
DonVathome
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Thanks guys! What's amazing is I had a friend drop this hunt with two points in 2003. It took me 17!
This tag cemented that I have to drive up with my own truck. I will start in north eastern Nevada for Elk. If I have time I'll check out my mule deer area in Nevada then head to this hunt three or four days early to scout. Probably stay out west three weeks
And YES A lot of kissing up to the girlfriend! I still have not broke the news I won't be home for her birthday.
Naming which units you would hunt also helps a lot so please do so. besides the white river what national forest Maps do I need?
It's going to be a great year!
This tag cemented that I have to drive up with my own truck. I will start in north eastern Nevada for Elk. If I have time I'll check out my mule deer area in Nevada then head to this hunt three or four days early to scout. Probably stay out west three weeks
And YES A lot of kissing up to the girlfriend! I still have not broke the news I won't be home for her birthday.
Naming which units you would hunt also helps a lot so please do so. besides the white river what national forest Maps do I need?
It's going to be a great year!
ICMDEER
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Like the old Toby Keith song these areas "aint as good as they once was." That said, there are still some great bucks taken in these units. I've hunted it most years since 2002. My thoughts:
1. Maps are great, but you should also get a GPS landownership chip. It'll really help. But the private lands are also well posted.
2. Hunt the public-private interface. But don't set foot on deeded lands. But many of the best bucks I have seen come off private and get whacked just on the public lands.
3. I think you're a seasoned guy, but be sure to have a good spotting scope and tripod and use them diligently.
4. Don't get hung up on a single spot. A big buck can turn up at lots of places in these units.
5. An ATV will really help. Some of the roads just are not good for pickups on that 4th season. And you'll need really warm clothes for a ATV before daylight in November.
Best of luck and I hope to see a pic of a big buck in November.
1. Maps are great, but you should also get a GPS landownership chip. It'll really help. But the private lands are also well posted.
2. Hunt the public-private interface. But don't set foot on deeded lands. But many of the best bucks I have seen come off private and get whacked just on the public lands.
3. I think you're a seasoned guy, but be sure to have a good spotting scope and tripod and use them diligently.
4. Don't get hung up on a single spot. A big buck can turn up at lots of places in these units.
5. An ATV will really help. Some of the roads just are not good for pickups on that 4th season. And you'll need really warm clothes for a ATV before daylight in November.
Best of luck and I hope to see a pic of a big buck in November.
DonVathome
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Thanks! I have the GPS chip with ownership. I plan to rent an ATV and flatbed somewhere out there for the trip
Downrange
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hunted this unit in 2015 3rd season, hunted 6 days hard as hell and glassed sun up until sun down everyday. Not only did we not find any shooter bucks we had a hell of a time finding deer. It was really warm for 3rd season that year we never had frost on our truck windows the 6 days we were there. We hunted the last 6 days of the season. Make sure you have onx maps on your phone lots of private land and onx will save you some headaches. We hunted 35 only and spent no time in other units. We hunted where the private meet the public and spent time is the castlecreek wilderness area and bull gulch wilderness area to no avail, just no deer i was very disappointed in this hunt. It is the most beautiful deer country you will ever see. Talked with some local hunters out of eagle on the mountain and they said they had a bad winter kill the winter before and that was the reason it was so tough. They also said if they get 18in of snow on the ground up high that this place comes alive so pray for snow. 4th season should be a good hunt for you. We passed up some 24in 4pts hoping for something better but it never happened we were looking for 180in deer but couldnt find any. No rutting activity that year either. We found a group of 8 does in a very secluded spot close to the bull gulch wilderness area, we checked those does everyday of the hunt to see if a big buck moved in on them but nothing showed. Would i hunt again? yes in a heartbeat. We had a blast and looking forward to going back next year, but this time we will spend some time in unit 36 looking around. Good luck and post some pics when you get it done.
270Whatelse
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Good write up Edward. Never hunted the area but have driven thru it, very beautiful. I love that kinda country, good luck Donv
BluffGruff
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When I said check doe groups, you really need to be on the group at prime time every evening on the travel routes off ridges coming from higher country. 4th season is still pre-rut, and big bucks will cruise through them, but won't be stopping long, then he will keep on going. He might be making loops, or he might be on his way to winter range. Hot weather will have them higher up, snow will have them in their usual winter range.
A 24" 4x4 should be a 160" deer - a great buck in anyone's book - or it could be a 180" deer. Spread means almost nothing for score (if you're into that)... I would shoot that unless you're 100% confident in finding him again the last day, or you're okay with eating the tag.
A 24" 4x4 should be a 160" deer - a great buck in anyone's book - or it could be a 180" deer. Spread means almost nothing for score (if you're into that)... I would shoot that unless you're 100% confident in finding him again the last day, or you're okay with eating the tag.
DonVathome
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Thanks. I decided I am driving out with a tacoma 4wd, good tires and rear chains just in case. Not going to have an atv - do not own one, pain to trail all that way and crazy expensive to rent - I am going for 3 weeks.
Do you think my taco will suffice?
Do you think my taco will suffice?
Founder
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No ATV does limit your options and will slow you down. Those roads can sure get nasty. Hopefully they're nasty down low with 18 inches of snow way up high! That would be the ideal scenario.
But you play the game with what you've got. There?s plenty of truck accessible country.
Brian Latturner
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But you play the game with what you've got. There?s plenty of truck accessible country.
Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
@mm_founder on Instagram
LIKE MonsterMuleys.com
on Facebook!
As noted above that area turns to gumbo mud when wet. I would definitely have chains for all 4 tires...plus an extra 1 or 2 handy in case something happens with the first ones. Don't forget snow plus digging shovels...plus emergency gear. After hunting that country several times I decided to buy a 4 wheeler because my truck took such a beating and got into several hairy predicaments! Quite a few years ago some elk hunters got stranded in that country and they had to helicopter them plus their gear out. Their trucks ended up spending the winter out there!
If it doesn't snow it can be mighty tough hunting..especially being OTC for elk and highly migratory for deer.
If it doesn't snow it can be mighty tough hunting..especially being OTC for elk and highly migratory for deer.
fullthrottle
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Been awhile since that area had one of those hellacious 20? storms during the hunts hasn't it? Seems like it's about due.
Deep November storms during the seasons doesn't happen very often. Thinking back is it's around 1 year in 10 to 15 years that this happens. Not very good odds there will be deep snow during hunting season in any given year. The problem with early deep snow is it sets things up for a long, tough winter....especially when bucks use so much of their reserves during the rut.
HIcountryman
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Seen alot of great bucks through the years there in 35/36 rutting low at winter range. Hope snow puts em there for yer hunt but seems unlikely based on snows last couple years. They re there somewhere though! I ve got mz tag for those units so i ll be up high early. Good luck
ICMDEER
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Just an FYI Don. If you only have 2 chains, be sure to put them on the front of your pickup. Not sure what others do, but here in Wyoming, the front 2 chains are always first and when you go to chains on all four tires, it's time to be careful where you are headed.
nripepi
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LAST EDITED ON Jun-14-18 AT 08:26AM (MST)[p]A lot of the newer trucks manuals say only put chains on the rear tires, better research that a bit and try them on your truck before only putting them on the front...my 2 cents anyways.
Lots of accessible places down low where you won't need an ATV, but you will likely need to do some walking.
Lots of accessible places down low where you won't need an ATV, but you will likely need to do some walking.
cabinfever
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sent you a PM
bigmoose
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LAST EDITED ON Jun-14-18 AT 12:24PM (MST)[p] Your owners manual probably says no chains on the front. You can get a set of Spidertrax spacers for the front and then chain up all fours. As others have said, it is hard to get around in the mud once it rains and snows.
The area has great genetics and there are some great bucks in the hunt unit. Much of the high country is private. You will need weather to get them to move into the public land. Can be a fun hunt but as others have said "it ain't what it used to be". The 4th season will give you the best shot at what the unit has to offer. Good luck.
https://www.amazon.com/Spidertrax-S...0361&sr=1-5&keywords=wheel+spacers+spidertrax
Check to make sure these will fit your Taco
Every hunting season you miss is one you can not make up
The area has great genetics and there are some great bucks in the hunt unit. Much of the high country is private. You will need weather to get them to move into the public land. Can be a fun hunt but as others have said "it ain't what it used to be". The 4th season will give you the best shot at what the unit has to offer. Good luck.
https://www.amazon.com/Spidertrax-S...0361&sr=1-5&keywords=wheel+spacers+spidertrax
Check to make sure these will fit your Taco
Every hunting season you miss is one you can not make up
Gator
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17 points should be worth renting a ATV This could be the only time you will draw this tag.
Check Craigslist and see if anyone around that unit are renting out one or even someone around where you live.
Those roads are Super NASTY with just a little wet.
You will miss out on some best area's to hunt without a ATV.
IMO
"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/]
Check Craigslist and see if anyone around that unit are renting out one or even someone around where you live.
Those roads are Super NASTY with just a little wet.
You will miss out on some best area's to hunt without a ATV.
IMO
"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/]
DonVathome
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Thanks guys will get to pm's soon. I did find a friend near WY who is going to rent me an atv and trailer. Hoping for snow!!!1
Founder
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