Unit 66 4th season muley

Im seeing quite a few threads for early season hunts in 66, but I just wanted to get thread started for late season in 66. Hopefully it will get some good conversations going.

After 19 years of waiting I decided to use my mule deer points on unit 66. I drew 4th season. I'm born and raised in the denver metro, but haven't hunted 66 before. We hunt 54 and 63 for elk and mule deer almost every year, so I'm familiar with the gunnison area. I know that on a give week in November it can be 70F or 0F around gunnison.

My main question has to do with weather and scouting. Since I drew the tag, I've scouted the unit 3 times. I'm scouting areas between 10000 and 8000 feet. During this time of year, I'm not seeing many deer, which I'm not too surprised. I'm really just trying to scout good glassing spots when the season comes around. Is this all I can do? Any recommendations on a different scouting approach? I'm mostly focusing south of powderhorn and driving the roads south of Blue Mesa.

The other thing I'm running into is a TON of blm roads. Im used to hunting national forest where less roads means long hikes can pay off. It seems like there aren't a ton of areas below 10000ft that dont have a road through them. Are guys just driving these road looking for deer from the truck during late seasons? Or are most of these roads impassable in mid November. One area that I'm seeing is fairly roadless is the area above the confluence of the powderhorn branches. Has anyone explored this area? It looks pretty gnarly to get over there, just wondering if it's worth it for a 4th season hunt.

Thanks everyone!

Gonna send you a PM...

As you probably know you really can't pre scout deer in the summer for a November hunt. Best thing you can do is learn roads and the general winter range areas. The powderhorn area will be a good area come November. The biggest thing with 4th season is being mobile and covering the numbers and staying with areas where you are seeing a lot of does. Having only 5 days to hunt is down right brutal when you're dealing with a big unit and you're being selective . Mature bucks will be rather nomadic as they are traveling around checking does. Don?t expect a mature buck to camp on does. More times than not if you pass a buck early in the hunt, you will have a very tough time relocating him if you decide he's a shooter on day 4 or 5.

Coloradoboy

Thanks for the comment Coloradoboy. You summed up pretty much what I'm trying to do. Locate the areas in the winter/migration range with the most deer sign and marking them to come back to in November. I figure where there is a lot of sign in the winter range, even if its last years, will be a good spot to find does/bucks come November. I think weather is going play a huge factor if I'm hunting low or slightly higher. I'm not sure how common it is for the bucks to range high altitude to low based on weather. I'm guessing the are mostly just chasing does and only massive snow will slow them down.

I think your on the right track talking about the Powderhorn area. I hunted Elk 3rd rifle last year. While hunting and then coming out, I saw some Bucks you'd only dream about. Now I know why it takes so many NR PP to draw a tag in 66.I had chains on to get out on November 7th coming out. Really narly in that portion of 66. 4th season, that road I went in and came out might be too bad by then. But then again, that's probably the reason I saw what I saw. Saw some sick racks.

Good to know. Thanks. Ya, the roads north of gunnison in 54/63 can be the same way late season. Glad to hear you saw some nice bucks, that encouraging!

I'll send you a PM as well.

I'm a Co Resident with 11 points for deer & considering next year a try for 3rd deer in 66 since I'll never get the 18 points for 4 th season. It sounds like you really found some big bucks during your 3 rd elk hunt which is great news to hear. I've never hunted that unit, been adding points every year since the wipe out winter of '07-'08. The Powderhorn Area must be a good area that time of year for big deer. Could you please tell me more about the areas you saw these big bucks & what roads where like besides nasty ? I have a 4 WD Dodge Ram Truck to use & usually hunt out of a 21 ft Travel Trailer, but I've talked to some hunters that hunt out of Motels in Lake City. Did you camp out on your hunt ? I'm trying to get a better feel for that area before I gamble 11 points in 2020. I'd appreciate any information you would give me. Thanks so much !'

Jerry Gold
Ft Collins, Colorado
E M Direct Best: [email protected]
Cell number: 307-772-1623

I obviously am not as experienced with this unit as a lot of the guys on this thread since this will be my first time hunting the unit, but getting a trailer into most of the roads that I've driven so far would be difficult. However, there are definitely enough areas to set up a base camp and drive out of your base camp. My father and I hunt out of wall tent and we most likely set up a wall tent in a central location and hunt out from there. I live in the denver area and the drive to the unit isnt too bad. I would recommend taking your trailer down for a weekend and see what you think. Just know that if 66 is anything like the other areas around gunnison, when winter comes roads can go from great to impassable over night. I'm sure you are aware of this though! Hope this helps.