1st season #61, Co????

Califelkslayer

Long Time Member
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Anyone hunted this hunt the last few seasons? Tired of playing the points game. 47 now and just figured I'd be at least 59 before I drew the hunt I've been waiting for. Rather archery hunt every other year than wait another 12-15 years to get THAT tag. Any advice, good/bad would be appreciated.
 
"Fullcry" had that tag last fall and had a difficult (weather) but successful hunt. My dad had the tag in 1999, and we had a great time, weather was nice and the bulls were still bugling on opening day. I hunted deer in the 3rd season 2005 and saw a couple of 6x6 bulls while looking for deer, they were 300 to 320 type bulls, others in mny group saw one maybe a little bigger. If you're after a 350+ type bull you will have a tough hunt and only five days to get it done, it is possible though. Have you considered the muzzle hunt? If you get 1st rifle try to be there 4 - 5 days prior for scouting. If you do draw I would be happy to help with suggestions on places to start your scouting. Good Luck.
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-29-07 AT 10:43AM (MST)[p]I've done some research and one scouting trip in 61 a couple years ago. From my research, the best opportunities are during the ML season. Longer season and the bulls are in rut or close to it. And they have not been chased around.

But I believe the ML tag is harder to draw (more PPs required). What the above gentleman says about first season is accurate with what I have heard. There are big bulls in there, but they hide out pretty hard after the ML'ers have chased them around. The place is so roaded up too that it's hard to find areas away from crowds unless you are willing to walk into the deep / steep canyons. I'm still personally considering 61 on my list, but am hoping to learn ML hunting on a cow this year (in another to-be-decided area) to see if it's feasible.

ElkScout
Colorado Springs, CO
 
That looks to be the same for the first rifle.

Residents: 9 points,
Nonresidents: 12-13 points

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Currently takes 14 pts to get you that muzzy tag. W/ a ton of guys sitting in the 9-13 pt range, I could easily see that jumping to 16-17 points over the next few years. I think a lot of the guys who were waiting on 10(or the other 3 big ones), are giving up and settling for the second rate "trophy" units.

Our group has 9 pts burning a hole our pocket, and we're kinda in the same boat as you. 1st season sounds good, but your looking at 13 pts to guarantee you a tag (40% chance w/ 12 pts). Plus, you're only gonna get to hunt for 5 days. I can't speak for you, but a 5 day hunt ain't go do it for me after 10-15 years of waiting. Second season sounds OK (only takes 10 pts to guarantee you a tag; 16% w/ 9 pts), and it's a few days longer, but I'm not sure it's gonna be worth 10+ years of waiting either. A couple guys in our group are set on a rifle hunt. I'm thinking I might have to break out of the group and try the archery. Either that or get a muzzy tag in one of the less talked about units.

Like you, I'm tired of this waiting game. Watching the number of points necessary to get a tag in a unit climb to what seem like unreachable levels, is killing me. Time to cash in the chips!
 
Yeah, I've got 12 and both of my partners have 13. All of the ones above me drew last year so i thought I'd be dangerous with 12 but not a guarentee cause of guys changing their plans like me.

Graysage, If I had the points, I'd muzzy it but that would be another 4-6 years wait. I know I could draw archery and my plan was to get there mid-week of the muzzy hunt and hunt till the last of the season, 2.5 weeks. One partner is skepical of using 13 points for archery and the other is also leaning towards rifle too.

I've thought about the 5 day season and know you can't pass a 290-300 bull with only a couple of days left to hunt. I already told them we'd scout from at least Mon on before the season. I even thought I'd hunt archery by myself and come back for the rifle season with them but by myself, 2.5 weeks is a long time. Guess we better decide by this Monday. Thanks for your thoughts.
 
DONE!!!!! No more talking. I applied 1st season rifle with 12 points. We'll see how many others move to this hunt from the NW corner or PP only.

Question: Colorado doesn't average points does it? I don't think so but with 2 13 pointers applying with me it would be nice.
 
No, Colorado does not average points. In fact, if you apply as a group, you pull them down to 12 points with you. A group goes into the draw with the number of points held by the lowest member. example: 4 guys with 10, 8, 6, and 4 points, everyone would go in as if they had 4 points.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Califelkslayer,
Its a good hunt. Alot of the unit has hellacious oak brush, but there is a lot of aspen too. I hope you draw. Do you have horses/pack stock? When you find out that you have a tag, I'll give you my thoughts on some places to start.
 
Graysage, I will be trying to receive a cow tag for the muzzleloader season. Unit 61 is the unit I am applying for. If I am successful, any advice on "Where to Hunt for Cows In 61 would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Cowtag
 
cows shoild be no problem, anywhere in timber off the divide road during muzz season, after the drawing we can email or telephone about some starting ideas. Good luck. my group is in for points again this time.
 
I hunted this unit in 2005 first season. Only one huge problem. They allow way to many cow elk killers in there for the first rifle season. When I was doing my research the biologist in Delta stated that 61 wasn't managed for trophy quality just a good chance at a bull. My opinion is that they should wait until the last season for the cow killers to get theirs. No problem killing a cow there. When a guys waits 12-16 years for a elk hunt you wouldn't think they they would be competing with 200 cow elk hunters during a first rifle elk hunt. To kill a nice bull there takes alot of work. If you see a 300 class bull I would shoot it. Once the shooting starts those elk take off down those steep, nasty holes looking towards Utah, good luck!! 3 of us went and 1 friend shot a 346 6x8 and the 2 of us had tag soup. We passed on smaller rag horn bulls. If I was to do it again it would be with a muzzy or a string and without the cow killers.
Gary
 
I would like to try it with a sharp stick some year will have 10 points in 2008.That is what I have heard dont pass any 300-320 bulls yes there are larger bulls but getting them is another thing.I might start looking at other units that can be drawn with 10 points in 08 this unit is over rated for size if you ask me from what I am hearing.Not that a 300 bull is small but for waiting that long to draw I would have rather kept hunting other rag horn units every other year dont make the mistake I did for those just starting out get out there on easy to draw units and get some hunting in before you get to old to hunt elk.
 
GraySage, Yeah, I have horses. From what I've heard from friends that have hunted the 3rd season for deer is that access is too good. But I ALWAYS bring the horses on a elk hunt. Although my conditioning for hunting season is hiking the hill behind the house with a 63 lb pack on, I'd rather ride and lead. I'll surely get ahold of you if we draw.

My question would be are the horses worth it for 3rd rifle for deer? I applied with 7 points and feel dangerous there too. Feeding and riding them all year just for hunting season, they don't stay home much but you know how much more trouble they are, especially if you aren't using them. I even thought about leaving them there if I draw both hunts cause hauling them is probably the biggest problem.

txhunter, everybody knew I'd bring them down with my 12 points. I discussed either hunting archery by myself and coming back with them or let them hunt this year with me along so I'd get a feel for the unit. They all agreed for me to apply with them so now its done.
 
61 Deer: 3rd season
IMHO it really may boil down to the weather. The last couple of years that season has been warm and dry, but the second season or even first elk season was snowy or at least really wet. In 05 3rd season we couldn't find any deer high, but saw most of the deer that we did see down near the San Migel river. Thats not to say that there were no deer higher. Anyway as far as horses, there is lots of roads in the unit but in the places that there aren't roads, I think horses would be great. I know from experience exactly what you mean about how much trouble they can be. What was said about cow elk permit holders is true there are a bunch, but I think if you can get away from the roads and 4 wheelers they won't be much of a factor.
 
Check out the post by "Tinytim", He drew 61 2nd season last year for deer. He may have some suggstions.
Good luck!
Jeff
 
Graysage, thanks for the imput.

I PM'd Tiny and he's been helpful. Todays the deadline and i only hope there aren't too many like me that figured out they'd be too old to give the NW corner justice when they drew and changed to this unit and a great bailout. Good luck to all in the draws.
 

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