Unit 55 deer 3rd season

[lots2hunt]

I'm looking at burning a decent amount of points for a 3rd season deer tag in unit 55 of Colorado. I've never hunted there & what I've read this unit it had lots of winter kill ~12 years ago so has it recovered? Also, how much pressure is there with all the OTC elk tags hunting at the same time.

Thanks for some insight.

 

[Waygoner]

I hunted OTC elk in 55 for 3rd last fall. I hadn't hunted OTC rifle for years and I was shocked at the number of camps/hunters I saw. Saw a handful of deer but nothing like the old days prior to the winter of 2008/2009. Based on what I'm seeing, the deer numbers are way down.

 

[lots2hunt]

I hunted OTC elk in 55 for 3rd last fall. I hadn't hunted OTC rifle for years and I was shocked at the number of camps/hunters I saw. Saw a handful of deer but nothing like the old days prior to the winter of 2008/2009. Based on what I'm seeing, the deer numbers are way down.

Thanks! That's what I want to know as I don't want to burn points just to have a huge crowd on the mountain.

 

[idhunters]

From my experience in Colorado last fall (not this unit) I would say that if there is an OTC elk hunt going on there will be a huge amount of people on the mountain. A sea of orange unless you get away from the easy spots.

 

[fullthrottle]

Most the people will be gone by Tuesday after the opener. Probably as good as it’s going to get. Colorado deer is nothing like it was 10+ years ago, not even close.