MUle Deer in units 77 or 78

[Lifetimehunter]

Im planning a hunt this year for mule deer in one of these units just wondering if any one can help me decide which one is best. I know chris mountain is great for elk in the last hunt , but have never seen that many deer there.

 

[Lifetimehunter]

I guess I must have pissed you guys off somehow, Ive seen the same question asked and answered on here several times but cant seem to get a responce to my question. Thats fine just tells me what I already know ,

Thanks for nothing

 

[muleymaddness]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-26-10 AT 04:18PM (MST)[p]Take it easy there chief! Not all people like to divulge info on an area.

 

[Lifetimehunter]

I didnt ask for your honey hole just an opinion on which unit has the most deer. I figure its unit 77 during the first and second hunt and 78 during the third.

74 has a snot full of deer down low near Cherry creek campground during the first hunt as soon as the shooting starts they head for private land, where as the elk that summer there go high cause its to steep for hunters anbd nothing for them to go high and stay there till the snow flies.

La Plata Canyon is full of people that ranch the view and wont allow hunting on their property so a bunch of deer hang out during all the seasons on that property, bears to.

Easy access to the unit when you drive in behind the ski resort between Durango and Silverton but every hunter in Durango and out of shape out of staters love to hunt the area there cause its easy to drive in and drive the roads, plenty of quad trails in there also.

Go on up the highway and pack in on any one of several trails all the way up to and past Silverton lots of deer and elk in the unit you just have to hunt to find them

Unit 75 is full of game from one end of the unit to the other but its steep and rugged and hard to hunt unless your in really real good shape.

Unit 77 pagosa Springs is a great area but it is steep in places and while there are some elk that summer there they dont hang around when the season starts and wont come back till last hunt and only then if theres snow up high. Last hunt is best for elk in my opinion. Lots of does in the unit77 not to sure about the bucks

Unit 78 go first hunt for elk go high before the hunt starts and have a good place picked out for opening day otherwise find a spot down low bordering someones private land and try to pick one off before they cross the fence lots of does and a snot full of turkeys

Guys I lived in Durango/Pagosa Springs and Bayfield for over 20 years. I know Southern Colorao pretty well All the way from Delores to Wolf Creek From the NM /Co border to Silverton and beyond hunted there since 78 and had to move away in 97 due to my job. Anyway I just wanted you guys to know I went 13 years straight tagging a deer in 74 and 9 out of the last 11 tagging a cow in unit 77 so its not like I'm a dumb a** that doesnt know what to do or where to go. Ive just been slowed down this year due to having total knee replacement surgery and I was just asking an opinion from you guys on MM

 

[ANDO]

Lifetimehunter,

I applied for 77,78,771 second season. My mom and step dad live just west of Pagosa Springs. I plan on spending some time with them and hopefully bagging buck. I always love visiting them because I always see some big deer. One time we were at the stoplight in bayfield and 4 huge velvet bucks walk across the road right in front of us. It took me about 1 second to dig the camera out of the backseat. Can't seem to find those pics though. I did manage to find some that that I took off my parents back porch. Unfortunately I will not be able to do much scouting since I live in SoCal, so I am relying on family to get the bucks figured out. I also put in with my Dad for General Southern Utah so it will be a rat race if all falls into place, not to mention cali and nevada draw results. I'm already pumped up and ready to put some miles on the boots
Good Luck.

 

[mtnmayhem]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-29-10 AT 05:13PM (MST)[p]My grandparents live just south of Pagosa Springs and much like ANDO, I will be visiting as well as hunting elk 3rd season. I have always seen large numbers of deer down there though, including nice bucks. It's the southwest, lots of animals everywhere. Good luck.

Nice pics ANDO! If my grandparents didn't have neighbors I think I would be "porch hunting" as their backyard is the San Juan National Forest and there are always grazers in the backyard like in your photos.

 

[nripepi]

Lifetimehunter.

You have to understand that there is not much traffic on these sites (one reason for limited answers to your question) and if someone has a honey hole they most likely will not respond.

It sounds like you probably have more experience in these areas than most of the people reading this post. My 2 cents from hunting that unit twice is that if you are looking for a 150 class buck go down low around private and the reservation and you should find one. Both 78 and 77 fit this bill (with 78 having more of this habitat) and since they are the same tag, you can hunt both. If you are looking for a true wallhanger then I would go high (depending on snow depth and season) and try to find one. You might not see a monster, but there are definitely some there. My advice would be to hunt the snow line up high and find some big solo tracks in the snow and hunt that buck all week until he makes a mistake. You could find the tracks and then back out and try to glass him up another day and then put the stalk on him.

Good luck. It is a fun unit with good deer numbers, good genetics, but a significant amount of pressure (fewer monsters, but lots of 150 bucks).