Colorado Unit 43 "HELP"

I Have decided to do a backpack hunt this season in Unit 43, for Mule Deer. I have decided that since this is my first trip to Colorado I will be going during either the black powder season (Sept 12-200, or the 2nd or 3rd rifle season. My group will be 2-4 guys in excellent shape. Does anybody out there have experience with this unit. Any help would be great. We plan on spiking in 3-5 miles. Being that we have no points the 4th season is not an option. What season do you guys think would be the best, and what region of unit 43 should we direct our efforts. We will most likely get a bull tag but would like to concentrate on some BIG MULEYS. Thanks GUYS.
Tony
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2nd season. once 3rd and 4th hit its nothing but snow snow snow lots of it. or do the blackpowder
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BOHNTR
I have a friend who now lives in the unit.......says the winter of 07/08 had a HUGE impact on the deer herd (winter kill). Saw a quarter of the bucks in the high country last year than he normally sees. Might be something you want to consider as well.
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I hunted this unit with a bow for the first time last year. I spent about 12-14 days in the backcounty searching for muleys. I saw on average about 10 bucks a day and only one that I would call a shooter(about 180"). There is some awesome country up there at 12,000-14,000 feet but felt I should of seen more for the amount of effort I put in. As stated earlier this area got pounded last winter. On the upside there were alot of elk, and towards the end of my hunt I started looking in lower elevations and found more quality bucks. That being said I'll probaly be back next year as I can draw the archery tag without losing my points.
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Muzzleloading season would definately be my first choice.
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TheGreatwhitehunter
There is a Early Rifle hunt (Sep 12-20 th)that is good but it takes quite a few points so Muzzle loader would be probably the way to go if you were wanting to use a firearm.
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magnum72576
Thanks Guys for all the replies so far.
I spoke with one of the Department of Wildlife guys regarding unit 43, 35, and 36. He told me that for some reason he always see's the biggest bucks taken during the 3rd rifle season. His thoughts were that the muzzle loader season was a great time to be in the woods but a hard time to find a big muley. He thought my best chance was the end of the 3rd season. So now I'm on the fence. It's either 3rd season or Muzzle loader.
Thanks Tony
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But ask the same guy where you can find deer on public land in the 3rd season. I hear that many are down on private by then. As I recall, most of the lower country in 43 is private. Maybe in 35 or 36
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Hiker
Keep in mind also that 35 & 36 had a bad winterkill in 07-08. Many of the unit 36 deer winter in 35.
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35 had a heck ton of deer last year same with 36 we were in deer every day last year and now every where you look theres a deer.
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Hiker
CB, You must have found the honeyhole. CDOW cut the number of tags way back. They use to give out 1100 doe tags and last year they gave out 100. They cut buck tags by half. Hopefully they'll keep the tag numbers low and those Eagle County genetics will get a chance to grow.
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How about unit 44, how is the population there?
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Hiker
TX58, I'm not familiar with 44 other than it use to be the great rut hunt unit. I don't think they had many die in the 07-08 winter.
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