Another 3rd Season in SW Colorado!

Well, I put in an application for Colorado Units 711 and 71 for the 3rd season Deer again. I've got a 50% chance of getting drawn for mule deer, but will be going to camp and scout regardless. If I don't draw for deer, I'm seriously considering buying an OTC elk for 711/71. 18hrs is a long ride to shoot rabbits. lol. The only person to see elk last time was my dad and he was in such thick cover he couldn't see the whole herd. He had calves run up on him, spook, and then run. We have some buddies that killed 2 elk in 711 last year during the third season, so I'm hoping (if I don't draw deer) that an elk tag won't go to waste in my pocket. Good luck to everyone during the application process.
34,768
treedagain
good luck with that. I put in for unit 70 with 12 points for the 4th season. I hope to be hunting this fall
0
ABert
I should draw for deer but probably not for elk. I will be hunting both regardless either drawing or left over tags. And I'll be hunting spring turkey tomorrow morning.
0
TexasHunter83
"treedagain" wrote:good luck with that. I put in for unit 70 with 12 points for the 4th season. I hope to be hunting this fall
 Thanks! I don't know what the PP requirement is for 70, but I would imagine 12 points would be plenty. I know 71/711 usually takes 1 to 2 points to draw depending on if you're in that lucky 50% range with just 1 point. Good luck to you!
0
TexasHunter83
"ABert" wrote:I should draw for deer but probably not for elk. I will be hunting both regardless either drawing or left over tags. And I'll be hunting spring turkey tomorrow morning.
 I'm kind of the opposite. I'm hoping I draw for deer, but if not, it'll likely be an OTC bull elk for me. Elk aren't real thick where we hunted, but they're around. Once again, I'll be hoping for CO to get some good snows in mid to late October; last year was pretty warm the first few days and the deer simply weren't down from the mountains yet.

I imagine you're turkey hunting as I type this, but good luck regardless.
0
ABert
No turkey this morning but I've got until May 22. Funny thing is we've have about 20 turkeys crossing our land at the same time in the morning for the last couple of weeks. I guess they knew this morning was opening day. Looks like I might have to venture out in the NF if they don't start showing back up.
0
TexasHunter83
"ABert" wrote:No turkey this morning but I've got until May 22. Funny thing is we've have about 20 turkeys crossing our land at the same time in the morning for the last couple of weeks. I guess they knew this morning was opening day. Looks like I might have to venture out in the NF if they don't start showing back up.
 Funny how that works. lol
I think these animals are smarter than we give them credit. Good luck. I'd like to see a photo when you get one!
0
9er
Good luck in the draw. Should have some good hunts over there this year with the dates.
0
TexasHunter83
"9er" wrote:Good luck in the draw. Should have some good hunts over there this year with the dates.
 Thanks! You're about the 3rd person to tell me that; gives me hope! Even convinces me further to get an Elk tag if I don't draw deer.
0
Default Avatar
We'll be there again this year finally. We should have drawn last year but my dad screwed up his application and fouled up the whole group. It's pretty much a guaranteed draw this year.

It was nice meeting you 2 years ago Brian, and I'm sure we'll see you again this year. We'll have our normal group of 6 this year, not just my buddy and I like when we saw you 2 years back. Might add a few more with OTC elk tags like you are talking.
0
TexasHunter83
"bh107" wrote:We'll be there again this year finally. We should have drawn last year but my dad screwed up his application and fouled up the whole group. It's pretty much a guaranteed draw this year.

It was nice meeting you 2 years ago Brian, and I'm sure we'll see you again this year. We'll have our normal group of 6 this year, not just my buddy and I like when we saw you 2 years back. Might add a few more with OTC elk tags like you are talking.
 Awesome man. We'll be there for sure, just not sure what I'll be hunting. It was nice meeting you guys as well. Always kind of neat running into people you converse with online. I have to give you guys credit. My buddy and I were joking about you guys on the way back home. We were talking about how we were strapping on backpacks and walking a few hundred yards of trails at 6,500ft and thinking we were doing "all the good" until we met you guys and heard y'all were hiking 10 miles + a day up at 9,000ft-10,000ft. The joke was mainly on us... lol. We'll probably be camping in the same area this year.
0
Default Avatar
Well just like I though our group drew tags. How about you guys?
1
TexasHunter83
"bh107" wrote:Well just like I though our group drew tags. How about you guys?
 Congrats man! I drew for Mule Deer! I'll be the only one hunting deer in our group. A couple other guys may decide to go the OTC elk route. I've already been on Google Earth doing the digital scout thing...lol You draw for 3rd Season?
1
Default Avatar
Yes, we'll be there 3rd season.

So are you guys going to move higher where the elk are? How many guys this year?
1
TexasHunter83
"bh107" wrote:Yes, we'll be there 3rd season.

So are you guys going to move higher where the elk are? How many guys this year?
 Haha I wish I could go higher. My lungs can barely handle where we hunted last time at 6,000ft. We plan on camping in the same place as last time, but I've got a couple of different spots I want to try in addition to where I hunted last time; mostly around Disappointment Creek and the slope going down to it. There's a pretty densely vegetated valley near our camp that seems to hold elk. There was plenty of sign and my dad ended up having a herd run up on him while he was deer hunting. If he decides to get an elk tag I'm sure he'll head back to that spot. A group from my hometown went to the same place last year and killed two elk pretty close to where we camp; west about a mile. There are 6 going in our group, but I'm the only one who drew a deer tag. The other two guys may purchase OTC elk tags; which would put the hunter total at 3. I also got word from a family friend that will be camping next to us in the 3rd season. He's looking for a landowner deer tag as an option and/or a leftover cow tag. I'm sure if he really wants to go he'll get an OTC bull tag.
1
Default Avatar
Right on, I'm sure we'll see you then. The late opener should be good as long as there is a little weather.

Interesting that you guys saw elk. We saw a few cows last time we deer hunted there, but that was the only time in 30 years of hunting down there that my dad had seen elk. Usually being there that late all of the elk have tucked back up high once the rut is over, especially the bulls. Over where we were hunting, we never saw elk below 10,500' because it was so warm.

On your deer hunt, just be careful down by the creek, as it is the actual unit boundry. If you get caught on the wrong side the wardens usually aren't real happy.

We'll definitely stay in touch and hope for weather!
1
TexasHunter83
"bh107" wrote:Right on, I'm sure we'll see you then. The late opener should be good as long as there is a little weather.

Interesting that you guys saw elk. We saw a few cows last time we deer hunted there, but that was the only time in 30 years of hunting down there that my dad had seen elk. Usually being there that late all of the elk have tucked back up high once the rut is over, especially the bulls. Over where we were hunting, we never saw elk below 10,500' because it was so warm.

On your deer hunt, just be careful down by the creek, as it is the actual unit boundry. If you get caught on the wrong side the wardens usually aren't real happy.

We'll definitely stay in touch and hope for weather!
 Yessir, my dad saw elk in 2014 and in 2015 two of our buddies each killed an elk; 1 cow and 1 bull. Thanks for the head-up. I definitely don't tend to hunt too close to the creek as some of it is even private in places. Most of the area we hunt is actually public all the way up to the creek; the other side being unit 70. Probably about 90% of the spots I hunt are actually in the fingers and slopes heading down towards the creek.

I'll keep my fingers crossed on the weather!
1
fishcarver
I cant wait to hear about your hunts. i love that area. I wish I was going back there this year. There is always a chance at a nice deer there. Thats what keeps it exciting.
1
Default Avatar
Well things changed a little for me, and I will be driving SOUTH to hunt in Colorado. I moved to Bozeman, MT last week to take a new job. Unfortunately I won't have tags of my own this year, but I'm looking forward to spending some time in the mountains learning for next year. But the bright side is that I will still be able to make it down to CO for 3rd season.
1
TexasHunter83
"fishcarver" wrote:I cant wait to hear about your hunts. i love that area. I wish I was going back there this year. There is always a chance at a nice deer there. Thats what keeps it exciting.
 I've seen some nice deer taken out of the area, I hope to get on the trail of one this year. With any luck I'll have some good photos or videos to share with all of you.
1