More on Colorado GMU 44

I thank you very much friend for your kind words about my post. As you know I do recommend to wait for the herd to bounce back because I didn't see that many deer, but the bucks I did see (other then mine) had good potential for this year. So there is the chance for some good deer but my guess is your group will maybe bag one the size your talking about and maybe some 18-20 inch wide 4 and 3 points if you hunt hard. There are a few 2x4's running around that the locals tell me they would like thinned from the herd so if nothing else maybe you can lend a helping hand. lol . If you pack in the chance for bigger bucks and more of them will improve but dont expect deer on every ridge and the cover is so thick you better plan on doing some glassing and a lot of brush beating. You may get lucky and get a big snow storm and then your hunt will get 10 x better If you dont pack in then bring your ATV it will come in handy.

I grew up in Eagle but moved away a few years ago. I have to agree with primal215 on the deer herd in 44, it is significantly down from what it once was. People look at the record book and see Eagle County is a top producer, I guess they automatically assume they all come from 44. Funny thing there are quite a few units in Eagle County (35,36,44,45,444 and parts of 25 and 26). There is a hand full of good deer killed in 44 every year but I really think the biggest bucks in Eagle County don’t come from 44.

I think there are a lot of factors in the decline in 44. Bad winters, increased pressure on the top end bucks (I think 4th season is a horrible deal), and development on winter grounds. I remember in high school seeing tons of deer in the winter where Costco and other business now sit. Not to mention all of Eagle Ranch where hundreds of homes now make up prime winter grounds. I really don’t know if the herd will ever rebound.

Deerhuntenokie, why did you decide on 44? Was it a recommendation from a magazine?

Anterless is so right about the winter range, there is none! I have only spent a limited amount of time there but I can see that the price of land out wieght the price of wildlife to somebody. :>/
The 4th season with only 25 tags isnt a problem, Its solely a enviremental issue of bad winter range and bad care for trapped animals during the bad winter Also the area has a high predetor population and Dow may say otherwise but there are some wolves roaming though the area. I came across a few wolve tracks here and there then asked some locals to confirm that the wolves made it here. The bears are very aggresive as well, I hunted some aspens one day with a local named Scott and while working our way through the trees a big black bear started fallowing him and circling him, Scott almost got a free bear! DOW sure has there work cut out for them trying to get the herd back

Primal, Congrats on your buck! It is the best public land 44 buck I have heard of. I don’t have a problem with 4th season in an area that can handle it but with 44 on the down hill slide shooting buck when they are rutting is not wise in my mind. I think 44 peaked around 03-05 and looking at tag numbers I think the DOW would agree. In 05 3rd had 128 tags and 4th had 25 tags. In 09 3RD had 25 tags and 4th had 10 tags. Harvest success for 4th is usually very high, so your telling me in a unit with only 35 tags shooting ten buck while they rut has no effect on the herd?
Deerhuntenokie, looking at draw stats for 09 I don’t think you would draw 44 with six points if they keep tag numbers the same.

Thanks Primal215 and antlerless for all of the information. We choose GMU 44 because of its past reputation as well as the amount of points it required, however we are not obligated to that unit by no means. Primal215 got such a nice buck that it got my hopes up but we are open to all suggestions. There are only 2 of us that have been aquiring points. We have been hunting together for the last 15 years and started packing in about 6 years ago. The last trip we made in Colorado we packed in to Geneva lake over by Marble. I bet you know where that is. We loved it but didn't have any luck. We are just looking for a good hunt and was hoping 44 would provide it. Do you think we should wait or maybe go to a different area. We thought about an early rifle season but most take more points than we have. Again, Congratulations Primal215 on an outstanding buck as well as some great reading and thank both of you for your help. If you ever head to Oklahoma on a whitetail hunt maybe I can repay you.

Antlerless, I believe there is a lot more then 25 big bucks roaming around gmu 44 and most of the wintering (rutting grounds) ground is not public so Its hard for 25 hunters to bag 25 big bucks in so much country before they are over a fence and off limits. I have to say without weather good luck finding a big boy in the fouth season, the deer have already had 3 rounds of hunters smartening them up and you only get 5 days to figure it all out. As I said earlier I hunted one day with a local that said before hunting started there were a few monsters he had his eye on but now he couldnt find them smart old boys anywhere. There out there just not under every tree hunt hard and good luck!

Primal215, Antlerless was right, we will have to hunt the 3rd season instead of the 4th with only 6 points. How much difference do you think there will be in the quality of the hunts. The 3rd season is a little longer but I am sure there is a better chance of getting the weather in the 4th season.

deerhuntenokie, I don't think you will draw 3rd season with six points. In 09 only 25 tags were issued for 3rd, so with the 60/40 split(I think they still do that in CO) there will only be 10 non res tags for 3rd. I would do like primal said and wait it out for a few years. If you hell bent on going hunting pick a differnt place. You can look at draw odds on the DOW website.

the deer herd will bounce back but it does need a couple years there are still big bucks runnin around but like primal said they are hidin good or goin to private during the first few seasons they are pushed into either private or into the deepest areas they can find. what they need in the later seasons is some weather so that will move outa the holes and start movin around with less tags the last 2 seasons they arent as pressured. but here are a couple pictures of a buck that was in 44 monday afternoon. good thing these genes made it to be passed on...sorry not the best pictures but you will get the point :thumb :thumb these 2 pictures are the same buck so he has mass and width

I am taking my son hunting in 44 this year fourth season. He has saved points all thru college. I would appreciate any help trying to get a nice buck. He is in good shape and not afraid to climb anywere. We do not know were to go. Thanks for any help.