CO 3rd Rifle Thread

[bascott1]

I fly in to Durango tomorrow , I hope ???

Just had friends land in Colorado Springs and it’s way worse than Durango is. You should be good.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Didnt you miss a deer like 3 times last year from 100 yards?

Just one. He told me he doesn't want to end up like his buddies that ran into you, and requested a proper rib shot.

 

[sndmn11]

Didnt you miss a deer like 3 times last year from 100 yards?

Nope

 

[TheGreek]

Not as much rut action as expected here in NW CO. Got a bit more snow today. Some of the BLM roads are nasty. Seen a few small bucks lip curling and sniffing does but not hot and heavy yet. Was happy to turn up some deer on public with all the winter kill in 22/23 but nothing like the numbers this unit had when I hunted it in 2021. Was unable to get to my elk spot so we’ll try for a mule deer buck tomorrow.

 

[OKHunter84]

I finally made it to my unit. Turned what should've been 12 hours into 21 hours over two days. Talked to some other people that got stuck on I-40 for fifteen hours yesterday near Cline's corner south of Santa Fe. I bet there was at least thirty miles of traffic waiting to go east on I-40 today.

 

[TheGreek]

A few more inches of snow overnight here in NW CO and still snowing this morning.

 

[eamyrick]

Good luck fellows. Since CO still likes to split Halloween with 2nd rifle and I have small kids, I’ll be putting in for 3rd next year.

 

[COJoe]

After three and half days straight of snowfall here we woke up to clear skies. So thankful for the incredible moisture we received out of it though. I hope you all were able to get to into your hunting areas.

I am interested in what boots you all are wearing for your 3rd season hunt and how they performed in these snowy conditions. Did your feet stay dry? Are your boots 8 or 10 inches high? We are thinking of going for one of these later seasons next year so I'll need to buy the appropriate insulated boots.

 

[WTFJohn]

A few more inches of snow overnight here in NW CO and still snowing this morning.

It's a good morning to be in the house with a hot cup of coffee, visibility here is under 400 yds.

@COJoe I have some Crispi Nevada (I think?), maybe 9-10" tall. The more important thing to have is gaiters, they will keep your feet drier and all the snow out of your pants & boots.

Good luck to those that made it to their spots. I think after this round the high country is closed to anything not on tracks.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Headed out around lunch today. Fingers crossed the service roads are driveable.

I’m in the springs and it’s the most snow I’ve personally ever seen here.

The folks I know out by the unit I’m hunting a bit west said they didn’t get as much snow.

 

[COJoe]

I have some Crispi Nevada (I think?), maybe 9-10" tall. The more important thing to have is gaiters, they will keep your feet drier and all the snow out of your pants & boots.

thanks, I have Crispi Colorados and the Summit GTX so will start looking at the Nevadas too. I have the SG gaiters and wear them all the time while hunting for the moisture but also for the small seeds and twigs that gather in your boots.

The folks I know out by the unit I’m hunting a bit west said they didn’t get as much snow.

The Wet Mountains and Sangre De Cristo Mountains seemed to have received the higher amounts. I saw San Isabel area already had 32 inches before the heavy snow yesterday. Looking out my window all I see to my west on the Greenhorn Mt is white and to my north Pikes Peak is covered in white.

 

[TheGreek]

Some more rut action this morning. Saw a decent 4x4 pushing a doe hard and a few Forkies pushing does and raking bushes.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Nope

4 shots?

 

[Poser]

Seemingly perfect conditions this morning for deer hunting. Tons of tracks (deer and elk) from the last ~12 hours, but I didn't see any movement except for 3 does I jumped about 11:30 AM. Only heard 2 shots all day.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

I unfortunately only see elk when I have a deer tag and vice-versa. Saw over 100 head elk @ 700 yards pass by tonight. Some does with a forkie but nothing worth packing out yet.

 

[Hnthrdr]

First day was fun! 23 does and 3 bucks seen, two tracked but not seen. Bucks are starting to cruise does, of the three bucks best was a funky 3x3 with crabbed rear forks and no split up front, pretty tall but he was 1800 yards away through a canyon and not quite big enough to have me trying to attempt that in 16” of snow. Hope everyone is having fun out there

 

[sndmn11]

4 shots?

Nope

 

[Tahoe1305]

Half day of hunting. Saw some deer. No elk yet. Roads west of Denver were great.

If anyone sees any cows in 500 let me know I’ll come drop one. No secrets in cows guys.

 

[sndmn11]

I bet the elk are quivering in their boots…

Elk, deer, and pronghorn in the glass all day here. No time for them to be fearful when those elusive lungs get popped and they slide farther than step.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Elk, deer, and pronghorn in the glass all day here. No time for them to be fearful when those elusive lungs get popped and they slide farther than step.

View attachment 788733

Good job Hellen Keller. Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles found elk too after the biggest 3rd rifle snowfall in a decade.