Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

After reading some of the post from fellow members that didn't draw unit 67 fourth with 19 points or 66 fourth season with 23 points I am curious why unit 551 isn't in that high of demand compared to those other units.
This year I drew 551 fourth season with 15 nonresident points. Last year 11 points guaranteed that tag.
Why that huge difference in points required to draw those hunts?
How does unit 551 compare to unit 54 or 55 as those two seem to take more points to draw as well?
I have already reserved a motel room for the dates of November 7 through the 18th to get some pre-scouting time in and hunt the whole fourth season if needed. I'm going to give this my best shot to find a decent buck. Please post up your opinions.
Thanks

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

Buckhorn,

Just PM me with your questions. Enough point creep in the basin already.

Rich

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

Considering 551 took 6 res points or 12 non res points I'd say you pissed away some points.










#livelikezac

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

>Considering 551 took 6 res points
>or 12 non res points
>I'd say you pissed away
>some points.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>#livelikezac


Yup

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

Dw, If he has a great hunt and/or gets a buck that he's happy with I don't see it as pissing away points at all. He knew what the tag took to draw the year before and by having more points than needed he basically guaranteed that he would be hunting 4th season this fall. With this years moisture I think it was a great move/draw strategy to cash in those points and hunt Colorado.

Just my opinion but EVERY Colorado deer hunt that takes 15+ points to draw is severely overrated. The vast majority that wait that long go home disappointed, empty handed or with a buck you can consistently kill on a 2-4 point hunt.

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

Agreed. Here I sit with over 20 points wondering if I should squeeze the trigger.

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

LAST EDITED ON Jun-09-19 AT 12:23PM (MST)[p]>Dw, If he has a great
>hunt and/or gets a buck
>that he's happy with I
>don't see it as pissing
>away points at all. He
>knew what the tag took
>to draw the year before
>and by having more points
>than needed he basically guaranteed
>that he would be hunting
>4th season this fall. With
>this years moisture I think
>it was a great move/draw
>strategy to cash in those
>points and hunt Colorado.
>
>Just my opinion but EVERY Colorado
>deer hunt that takes 15+
>points to draw is severely
>overrated. The vast majority that
>wait that long go home
>disappointed, empty handed or with
>a buck you can consistently
>kill on a 2-4 point
>hunt.

The way I read his op was there was a big jump in points needed to draw 551 4th season, from 11 to 15. It didnt take 15 to draw the tag was my point. After reading it again I see he was curious of the point difference between 66,67 and 551. My apologies. And I agree, most of the 15+points units arent worth the wait.


#livelikezac

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

>Agreed. Here I sit with over
>20 points wondering if I
>should squeeze the trigger.


You should of along time ago... you missed out on a lot of good muley hunting unless you've been picking up LO tags and left overs.


Coloradoboy

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

Thanks guys for your replies. I think you all have hit the nail on the head. I have been following 551 for years but continued putting in for 44/3rd but realized I was never going to draw that because point creep was putting me further and further behind.
Like Coloradoboy said none of those hunts are worth waiting 20 years for when you could be hunting twice or three times as often. I knew that I would be burning a couple of extra points than what 551 took to draw out last year but I wanted out of the points chase game so I'm going for it this year. And yes I was fully aware I did not and probably never would have enough points to draw another fourth season unit in the basin. With all of the talk of Tag increases in killing off all the big deer I really am glad I drew out this year and will be able to start hunting other units every few years.
I do intend to give it everything I've got and hopefully have some fun as well. If I turn up a really good buck that will be great if not it won't be the first time I've had Tag soup.
Back to my original question. Is 551 really that much worse of a hunt than the other units or why is it not as popular. One scenario I have been thinking is that it's just not in the same area in the big game application book. You have to go all the way to the end to find 551 and maybe a lot of folks just don't even know it's there?
Sorry lost in Oregon if I posted too much that may attract attention. But what the heck I'm never going to draw again in my lifetime. Hopefully I didn't ruin anything for you.
Thanks all and my offer stands that if any wants to come out and hunt with me or help me scout or whatever I'm not asking for any freebies and I do intend to have a good time. If we happen to find a good one that's icing on the cake.
I really enjoy doing the PM thing and I hope to advance it to cell phone text and maybe even phone calls.
Thanks again everyone. Jeff

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

No issues, My dad had a 551 3rd tag last year so I can answer some of your questions, just don't want to do it on a open forum.

Rich

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

LAST EDITED ON Jun-09-19 AT 06:33PM (MST)[p]It took 15 and 16 points in 2016 and 2017....2018 was an anomaly. The biggest issue you are going to have is time I'd say, 5 days can go by quickly. I would recommend finding out from previous hunters that hunted 4th where they found concentrations of deer and get there at the end of 3rd and find those does. Keep on the doe groups and I bet you find a good one in 5 days.

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

Thanks for the comments guys.
I do plan on arriving in Gunnison on November 7 and scouting five days prior to my hunt opener and then with the five day season I will have 10 days total.
I cannot control the weather so I will just have to give it my best shot and I hope it works out. If not I will definitely have fun being out there and trying.
I appreciate any and all suggestions I can get. Thanks

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

I'm a 20 pointer

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

Learn how to use a Fawn-deer-in-distress call.

This call has brought does literally charging towards me when they hear it. If a buck is hanging with them, the buck usually comes as well.

This type of call is not magic, but, when it works, it works very well.

I have called in numerous coyotes with it, which is my main reason for having it, but also bears. It is a fun call.

RE: Gunnison basin Deer Tag demand.

Sounds like that call would be worth a try. I think I'll try to find one. Thanks