2011 CO Unit 54 Mule Deer

[western expedition]

I'm headed into the West Elk Wilderness area outside of Gunnison for mule deer this year. Colorado Unit 54. Drew the muzzleloader permit good for Sept. 10 - 18. Anyone hunted that area and have any pointers? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[CouesWhitetail]

I don't have any info for you but I hope you have a great time and take a bunch of pics to share with us

[western expedition]

Thanks Amanda. I've been holding out five years for this tag. The unit is mostly roadless and offers excellent backcountry hunting opportunity. I've got an outfitter hired to pack me in on horseback but am on my own after that. Expecting to see the mulies up high yet and plan to work mostly behind 15x and 10x binocular. Colorado muzzleloader limits you to open sights, loose powder and conical projectile. Built up a new TC Encore for the hunt using X-S ghost sights and am shooting 100 grain Triple-7 under a 348 grain Powerbelt. The set-up is good out to 100 yards with a steady rest but pretty much falls apart beyond that. My eyes just aren't that good anymore to effectively work open sights beyond 100 yards. Any pointers from others in the forum would be greatly appreciated. I've not hunted mulies that high before and only have one day prior to the opener to scout and orient myself. Not my favorite way to hunt but given that it takes 12 hours to drive there I don't have many options. Any input would be great. Thanks again.

[yotebuster]

I looked into dumping my points on that hunt some years back but ended up with a conflict due to elk hunting so I didn't pull the trigger. Always wanted to do a high country backpack hunt like that, good luck with it! I've got 12 points now so I'm holding out for a 4th season rifle tag of some sort but will likely try that high country thing once I burn my points. I don't have much advice for you on the iron sights thing, its a tough deal, my bro missed a 190+ buck at 100 yards last year with an iron sighted muzzy in unit 201, wouldve been a slam dunk with a scope!

[BOHNTR]

That unit (and 55) lost about 70% of their deer herd in the 07/08 winter. According to a buddy of mine who backpacks both units all summer long, it has been VERY slow to recover. Bowls he used to see 15-20 bucks in have been almost vacant the last few seasons. He's seen a few decent bucks, but nothing like it was prior to the winter kill. Be prepared to be extremely mobile (backpack) in order to locate deer. Beautiful country for sure.

[Guest super jumbo]

We have hunted 54 at least 4 diff years in the last 8 years, but not since the die off. Unit 54 has some giant deer in it and in just the 4 years we hunted it we shot 3 deer in the mid to high 180s and a 196 typical and a 215 non typical. The unit is only half as good at most as it used to be and i have good friends that have ranches in the basin. The reports over the last few years are that if you are lucky enough to see a buck in the 180s you better shoot it right away. Your in for a tough hunt and i wouldnt expect to see more than 5- 10 bucks a day . Your outfitter is probably taking you up into the west elk wilderness, as there are 3 big cones up in there above timberline above rainbow lake. Also up by altmont near crested butte is wrth a look. Awesome country, and lots of public land which is where we shot all of our bucks. Good luck.

[western expedition]

Thanks BOHNTR and super jumbo. I've been watching this unit since before the winter kill and know that it will be tough. I'm hoping that the history of good genetics and time will offer an opportunity for a decent deer. I think my expectations are pretty reasonable given the circumstances. Luckily I'm pretty patient (stubborn) and that helps in situations where there isn't a density of animals. Question for you... I'm guessing that the mornings will be the best time to glass up a buck on the move. Any suggestions for making the midday and afternoons productive? Several guys on monstermulies have said the afternoons are dead. But there must be something to do. Any thoughts, even crazy ones, would be appreciated. Thanks again!

[BOHNTR]

Thanks BOHNTR and super jumbo. I've been watching this unit since before the winter kill and know that it will be tough. I'm hoping that the history of good genetics and time will offer an opportunity for a decent deer. I think my expectations are pretty reasonable given the circumstances. Luckily I'm pretty patient (stubborn) and that helps in situations where there isn't a density of animals. Question for you... I'm guessing that the mornings will be the best time to glass up a buck on the move. Any suggestions for making the midday and afternoons productive? Several guys on monstermulies have said the afternoons are dead. But there must be something to do. Any thoughts, even crazy ones, would be appreciated. Thanks again!

 

Well, I've arrowed most of my alpine mule deer in the late afternoon.......they'll usually get up about 3:00 pm to start feeding. If you've watched them bed from afar, you should be able to get into position, with the wind right, by the time they get up to feed. Keep after it and have a good time up there.

[Guest super jumbo]

There are alot of deer of the rainbow lake road. The last 3 miles has big canyons running on both sides if it. Super gnarly timber but very still huntable all day long, and you can glass across both while you are still hunting either side of the road. Also try going up to flat top mesa north west of allmont. There is a huge basin up their with private in the center. Try north of the private and the slope of flat top moutain. I would still hunt all day in that stuff, and could see it being very rewarding in the evenings. If you are stuck in the west elk wilderness then i would think that a fella could do pretty well about 3-4 miles north of the lake. Good luck, and pound that timber with your 10 powers.

[GRAYLIGHT]

You might have some good luck up at the top of Rainbow Lake Drainage as well as Mill Basin... There's still some bombers up there, hunt above 12,000 ft. if the bucks are still in velvet! Good luck and hope this helps...