CO Unit 67 2nd Rifle Mule Deer - take trailer?

[bcmulie]

I have a 2nd season mule deer tag for unit 67 near Gunnison and am trying to decide whether to take my trailer (a 22’ Winnebago Micro Minnie), wall tent, or stay in a hotel. Would appreciate input from anyone in the area, or who has hunted that unit/season. Also, if anyone has suggestions on campsites where I could park the trailer, I’m all ears. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Bcmulie

 

[Mtnhunter]

I was there a few years ago and went the wall tent route, we had a brought a trailer with the SXS. Depending on where you are hunting town is a bit of drive everyday if you are staying in a hotel for me anyways. Good luck

 

[Togwotee]

67 is easy to hunt from town, I hunted 66 3rd from town and that was no problem either. I didn't feel like dragging a trailer 950 miles each way on bad roads.

The weather makes a lot of difference, if it's below zero like when I was there all the RV guys were whining about frozen pipes. 2nd season probably shouldn't be that bad but who knows.

If you stay in town check with Tomichi Inn. it's a great place at a good price and it'll be full of hunters. most are good folks from all over the nation, I made some good friends who hunting other units . lots of good places to eat , Miners Exchange is my favorite. and you're going to be covering a lot of miles so fuel is no problem if you're in town.

My wife has a 4th season tag so my reservations are already made.

 

[goforbroke]

10 years ago the weather was nice and I went out of a trailer - dry camp. We grabbed a hotel the 4th night. I enjoy camping more than a hotel, but either are doable.

If bad weather, might as well do a hotel

 

[Mooretitan]

The drive for us got a little old but man it’s nice to take a hot shower and watch a game or two on TV. We found a house and rented it for a week. Wasn’t bad with 3 guys sitting it. Plus had a kitchen to cook

 

[Imnotlost280]

Personally, I prefer camping for 95% of my hunts. However, most of the hunting is easy to access from Gunnison. Dos Rios Inn on the west end of town is very hunter friendly and you can be hunting in less than hour. Availability might be scarce this close to the season opening. There are also quite a few VRBO options. I'll be hunting 2nd season in 67 also. I rented a place that is about 15 miles directly south of Gunnison. I'll be hunting from the front porch!

 

[jls456]

Wall tent camping.You’re right there..

 

[AZGuy]

How was the hunt?

 

[TKMulePacker]

Yes, how was it?

 

[bcmulie]

It was a fun hunt. Tons of deer - I saw over 800 in the 9 days of hunting, and about 150 bucks. 6-8 were in the 150 and 160 class. But I could not turn up a buck over 170, so I am currently enjoying a delicious bowl of tag soup. I did hear of a couple bigger bucks that were taken, but I think most of the bucks shot were sub-160. I wish the season was longer as weather was finally turning at the end and a few more bucks were showing up. No rut activity at all until the last day of the season when I saw a buck running a couple does. Good luck to the 3rd and 4th season tag holders.

 

[bcmulie]

Also, I ended up taking the trailer and was glad I did. Saved me a lot of driving from town and there were plenty of places to set up camp. The pipes did freeze a couple nights, even though I have a supposedly 4 season trailer, but they thawed during the day.

 

[TKMulePacker]

Bummer you did not get a deer. Your experience mirrors what I found last year. Great deer watching if nothing else.

 

[Mtnhunter]

Sounds like my experience a couple years ago but i missed the 175 buck after 8 days of searching, I'm hoping to go back here in a year or 2.

 

[SWAGshootn]

It was a fun hunt. Tons of deer - I saw over 800 in the 9 days of hunting, and about 150 bucks. 6-8 were in the 150 and 160 class. But I could not turn up a buck over 170, so I am currently enjoying a delicious bowl of tag soup. I did hear of a couple bigger bucks that were taken, but I think most of the bucks shot were sub-160. I wish the season was longer as weather was finally turning at the end and a few more bucks were showing up. No rut activity at all until the last day of the season when I saw a buck running a couple does. Good luck to the 3rd and 4th season tag holders.

Did you see any elk? We are headed over today for 3rd season. Would like to know at about what elevation the elk have transitioned to….

 

[Trophchse]

Thanks for the report.

 

[Trophchse]

I've been hunting deer and elk in the Gunnison Basin since 1996, rarely do those big bucks read the script most times they don't. My luck is either I get a 170 plus on the opening evening or I'll spend the whole week in a foot of snow and just pass on a couple of two points not sure why my luck runs that way.
You just never can bet which way it will go. It sounds like you found the deer thats the one bonus. Its just plain difficult finding a big one no matter how experienced you are. Even for those that have been hunting it for 28 years. How many points did you have?

 

[bcmulie]

Did you see any elk? We are headed over today for 3rd season. Would like to know at about what elevation the elk have transitioned to….

Yes, saw quite a few elk. Most at around 10000 feet. Biggest bull was on private at the top of Huntsman Mesa, but also saw elk at the top of Beaver Road and around Devil’s Hole. Good luck!

 

[bcmulie]

I've been hunting deer and elk in the Gunnison Basin since 1996, rarely do those big bucks read the script most times they don't. My luck is either I get a 170 plus on the opening evening or I'll spend the whole week in a foot of snow and just pass on a couple of two points not sure why my luck runs that way.
You just never can bet which way it will go. It sounds like you found the deer thats the one bonus. Its just plain difficult finding a big one no matter how experienced you are. Even for those that have been hunting it for 28 years. How many points did you have?

8 points.