CO unit 21 deer hunt or 22

Cahunter805 · Dec 28, 2021

Just curious if anyone drew a tag for 21 this year? Looking at possibly drawing a 2nd season tag in 2022. Also considering a unit 22 3rd season tag. Would appreciate any information regarding the deer herd and hunt. Thanks.

The_Coloradoboy · Dec 28, 2021

22 is in bad, bad, didn’t I mention bad? Shape. 21 is a better hunt as far as numbers go, but you will be hard pressed to find something that breaks the 150-160in mark.

JakeH · Dec 28, 2021

Both units are struggling.

nocwalker · Dec 28, 2021

I drew a 21 archery tag. I did a recap in the muledeer section. Try a search. It may come up if your interested

nocwalker · Dec 28, 2021

If trouble try searching. “ unit 21 recap”

Cahunter805 · Dec 28, 2021

nocwalker said:
If trouble try searching. “ unit 21 recap”

I searched and found yours as well as a few others before posting this one. Thank you for the write up and info.

AKchukar · Dec 28, 2021

I hunted GMU 22 3rd rifle this year. Coming from Alaska, I was only able to scout two days before the hunt. The local biologist had pointed me to three potential areas. While scouting, I saw a couple large bucks and several 2-3 point bucks. I hunted hard, glassed a lot, and logged miles on foot and in a truck. I saw only small bucks for five days. When it cooled off on day five, we started seeing more deer and I missed a chance at a large buck. On day six, I settled on the 2x4 in the photo. Bottom line for me - a bunch of small bucks with the potential for some big bucks for someone more familiar with the area. With all the doe tags and elk hunters, hard to get away from people. Also, roads everywhere in 22, tough to get away from roads. Being from Alaska and not having hunted mule deer for 25 years it was not quite what I hoped for my 13 preference points.

oldmossback · Dec 29, 2021

They gave out hundreds of doe tags in 22 this year. There were doe hunters everywhere. Even more doe carcasses left laying in every ditch, road side, campsite etc. It was slickening! Between increasing the number of buck tags, added does tags, elk hunters, and the sale of prime hunting land now closed the public it is no better than any other 0 point unit.
We used to love the unit, But if you want to see a classic example of how CPW can totally destroy a unit take a trip to 22!

The_Coloradoboy · Dec 29, 2021

oldmossback said:
They gave out hundreds of doe tags in 22 this year. There were doe hunters everywhere. Even more doe carcasses left laying in every ditch, road side, campsite etc. It was slickening! Between increasing the number of buck tags, added does tags, elk hunters, and the sale of prime hunting land now closed the public it is no better than any other 0 point unit.
We used to love the unit, But if you want to see a classic example of how CPW can totally destroy a unit take a trip to 22!

It’s essentially all the NW units now days. Sickening to see. Growing up in Meeker I have many fond memories of the good days of mule deer hunting in places like 11/211 and 22.

tailchasers · Dec 29, 2021

I'd like to open up a can of whoop azz on CPW for their moronic actions. Ferp de der....

Ramaha · Dec 29, 2021

We drew five GMU #21, 2nd season tags this year. Fun hunt, but didn’t see any monsters. Lots of other hunters there, especially elk hunters that were everywhere.

bodhi · Jan 3, 2022

AKchukar said:
I hunted GMU 22 3rd rifle this year. Coming from Alaska, I was only able to scout two days before the hunt. The local biologist had pointed me to three potential areas. While scouting, I saw a couple large bucks and several 2-3 point bucks. I hunted hard, glassed a lot, and logged miles on foot and in a truck. I saw only small bucks for five days. When it cooled off on day five, we started seeing more deer and I missed a chance at a large buck. On day six, I settled on the 2x4 in the photo. Bottom line for me - a bunch of small bucks with the potential for some big bucks for someone more familiar with the area. With all the doe tags and elk hunters, hard to get away from people. Also, roads everywhere in 22, tough to get away from roads. Being from Alaska and not having hunted mule deer for 25 years it was not quite what I hoped for my 13 preference points.

View attachment 63596

same story. hunted second season and it was a struggle.

hawkbill · Jan 3, 2022

Boy I get sick of seeing all these young Bucks being killed

The_Coloradoboy · Jan 3, 2022

hawkbill said:
Boy I get sick of seeing all these young Bucks being killed

I honestly don’t see 21 or 22 ever coming back to what it was 15-20 years ago with its current management practices. Very few bucks live past 3 years old in either unit. The last tag I had in 21 was in 2009 and it was practically the same way it is now. Piles and piles of 2-3 year old deer in the 140-150 type class. Where as in 2002 when my dad had it there was slugs standing on every well pad it seemed.

bodhi · Jan 3, 2022

it's the overlapping doe season and otc elk hunters that really made it a hard pill to swallow. waited 10 years for a marginal (at best) hunt quality. I'd put my experience in 22 at a 0-3 point unit.

tailchasers · Jan 3, 2022

Anymore with the increase of hunter numbers I support tag limits. Enough of the OTC BS. Every swinging diqk going with their buddy has a bull or cow tag. Or now a doe tag. I am hoping that with the reduced animal numbers that habit and feed quality will improve. We have seen PJ/sage edge habitat hydro-axing projects happening in several units along with some great burns. I am striving for hope here...

oldmossback · Jan 3, 2022

Take into consideration that with the later season dates this past year and CPW giving out Hundreds of additional doe tags the herds are really going to suffer. I am sure many of those does that were slaughtered were already bred.

backinthegame · Jan 5, 2022

I hunted 22 3rd season this year. Not at all disagreeing with any of the local and knowledgeable guys posting here, they know more about the unit than I ever will, I'm not from CO, also never hunted it or even stepped foot on it prior to this year.

That said, likely depends on your expectations. Living in UT, we have zero opportunity in terms of later season (ie, rut) rifle tags, so even a very depleted unit 22 was still a whole lot of fun. My dad and I killed bucks, neither were giant but both were solid deer for what we expected going in.

backinthegame · Jan 5, 2022

I will most definitely agree that the unit was overrun with hunters during 3rd season, forgot to mention that. Buck hunters, doe hunters, elk hunters....the sheer number of people out there was pretty wild.

oldmossback · Jan 5, 2022

backinthegame said:
I hunted 22 3rd season this year. Not at all disagreeing with any of the local and knowledgeable guys posting here, they know more about the unit than I ever will, I'm not from CO, also never hunted it or even stepped foot on it prior to this year.

That said, likely depends on your expectations. Living in UT, we have zero opportunity in terms of later season (ie, rut) rifle tags, so even a very depleted unit 22 was still a whole lot of fun. My dad and I killed bucks, neither were giant but both were solid deer for what we expected going in.

Got any pics?

Robiland · Jan 6, 2022

Backinthegame, Lets see some pics. I hunted it a few years ago and a fun time. Saw a few giants on private, but besides that, we went 3 for 3, with solid 155-160 " bucks. But that was good for what we saw with everyone else, and especially the last few years. It has been tough for above average bucks.

backinthegame · Jan 12, 2022

Based on everything I was able to find out going in and what we saw scouting and hunting I felt like we did ok. I know we had a good time! My dad's turned out to be a younger buck that looked a little better from a long ways off vs when we put our hands on him, but a good looking deer either way. Mine won't score but a really cool old buck that was rutting hard.

BradA · Jan 12, 2022

Congratulations to you and you’re dad

Jerry · Jan 12, 2022

Robiland said:
Backinthegame, Lets see some pics. I hunted it a few years ago and a fun time. Saw a few giants on private, but besides that, we went 3 for 3, with solid 155-160 " bucks. But that was good for what we saw with everyone else, and especially the last few years. It has been tough for above average bucks.

oldmossback said:
They gave out hundreds of doe tags in 22 this year. There were doe hunters everywhere. Even more doe carcasses left laying in every ditch, road side, campsite etc. It was slickening! Between increasing the number of buck tags, added does tags, elk hunters, and the sale of prime hunting land now closed the public it is no better than any other 0 point unit.
We used to love the unit, But if you want to see a classic example of how CPW can totally destroy a unit take a trip to 22!

I totally agree- last really good hunting in ‘21 & ‘22 was- get this- 1972- I was there & saw it first hand, unreal the numbers & quality ! It all went to
hell in ‘73- the monster winter of ‘72–‘73 killed the deer by the thousands in piles, they never were allowed to recover due to tags kept being sold OTC till 1998- $$$$$$$ !!!! I went back 1 more time, ‘74- , only that was worse of course,
a frozen hell & no deer or decent bucks, never went back ! Sad story, but 100 % accurate !
Jerry Gold- In Windsor, Colorado ???