Colorado GMU 371....

Hello all! For the last two years, I have hunted Colorado GMU 371 for deer. We went in last July to scout for a week.....came up with no deer but saw some really nice bulls. We were anywhere from 10,000'-12,000'. We went to a couple different areas, one was up around slate lake, and another was up near boulder lake. Some incredibly gorgeous country up there!! We ended up pulling two deer out of there this year, but nothing to write home about. I was just wondering if any of you have any info on this area? I am NOT looking for anyone's honey hole....I am just trying to figure some stuff out before the application deadline!! Feel free to PM me also!

Thanks-
Chris
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Here is some pictures from our trips......
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Here is some of our actual hunt......
This deer had busted off EVERY one of his points....pretty unique!
This deer had busted off EVERY one of his points....pretty unique!
Coming out heavy!! We had to come down early to avoid a incoming snowstorm.
Coming out heavy!! We had to come down early to avoid a incoming snowstorm.
Mule deer #1. Just under 11,000 ft.
Mule deer #1. Just under 11,000 ft.
We were fortunate to wake up to snow the first morning....beautiful!
We were fortunate to wake up to snow the first morning....beautiful!
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MuleyMadness
Don't have help for you, but enjoyed your pics. =D>
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Hiker
Good job on the bucks. I use to hunt west of there by Deluge Lake, in the Gore range, which is close to the same elevation. The deer hunting is pretty tough in that part of the state. Thanks for the photos and sharing your hunt with us.
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Never hunted Colorado but those are some great pics. That's gorgeous up there in July! Looks like you guys had a fun hunt.
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Great pictures.

I've never hunted in Colorado but did go elk hunting in the Rocky Mountains (Alberta) this year and saw a few mule deer out there. With me only having 8 days to hunt elk and the rest of the season to chase mule deer I never did try to hunt any up there but did watch them for a while. All of them were up near the top of the tree lines and were seen still moving around close to 10 a.m in September. The ones I saw were coming out of the lower areas and moving up to bed in some thicker brush on the South faces just outside of the trees. I'm not sure what time of year you are hunting up there and I'm sure things would change as the weather gets cooler too. I hope this can help a little.
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Thanks guys...yea it is very cool country up there, why do I live in minnesota again?? Well, as of now I am starting to consider a different unit. I am thinking maybe an archery trip this year.....
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sneekeepete
Looks like an amazing place to hunt or just spend any time! Thanks for sharing :thumb
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Ok guys I think I am going to do a solo high country archery hunt in either 82 or 86. I have been fortunate to harvest one mule deer with my bow, not my biggest one but it is the one I am the most proud of. Anybody know how the deer numbers are in those areas? I am very willing to put in a ton of miles and to go as hard/high as it will take!! Thanks guys appreciate the feedback!

Chris
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BOHNTR
80 units? Deer numbers shouldn't be an issue....the terrain where they're at will. Some are in areas darn near impossible to reach safely. (archery season) You'll earn one (physically) in some of those areas where the better ones hang out.

As for 371 (archery season), they are there in isolated pockets near the 12,000' range.......what's sort of unique in that unit is you can glass bowls that has everything a mule deer needs, yet it can be void of deer. A few more bowls later in your long divide hike, you may find several nice bucks in a small, out-of-the-way bowl that often gets overlooked. They're there......once you find them it's a good hunt. They will generally summer in the same bowl year after year.
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I have a cow tag for GMU 371 this Nov22-30th.
I've been hunting elk in Oregon for years, haven't done solo back pack hunting but am plenty capable.

Could someone please give me atmospherics of this unit that time of the year?
How much snow is on the ground usually?
General area to look for elk that time of year. I'm guessing they aren't up as high later in the season?

Thanks,
Joden
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