CO unit 49 archery? other suggestions

[CAMONICK]

Hey guys,
I have 6 NR points for Colorado this year. I am open to any season but thinking I can get into the best areas with my points sticking to archery or Muzzleloader. Some tags that are jumping out at me are 49 Archery, 501 muzzleloader, 66 archery, any that I am looking over that I should think about? I dont really want to play the point game any longer as my father has the same amount of points as me and 10 more years may not find him getting into great elk country. I am leaning towards doing a drop camp if I do go to some of the units above but am open to any suggestions.
Hopefully someone has some input on the units I have listed or has other ideas. Not looking for any honey holes or starting points just wondering if anyone thinks any of the units standout above the rest. Id be happy in an area that has a reasonable chance at seeing a 270" bull.

thanks

 

[bcimport]

PM me and I'll help you out.

 

[sodaksooner]

We are trying to decide on 49 too. Really need one more year to be sure to get it. Never hunted it before but have hunted 45 (otc) and 48 across the highway. Friend shot an OK bull there this year. Nothing to write home about, but he got it done, which is more than I can say for us.

 

[CAMONICK]

Soda, 49 archery is on my list because of the wait for muzzle and 1st rifle for it, leads me to think there should be some decent bulls in there. At least better than other areas of otc Colorado. Thanks for your response and good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[dotman]

I've heard 49 has a few 300+ bulls but nothing that makes it special, not sure why the rifle and ml tags are so high in pts.

 

[Hoot]

I haven't hunted it, nor have I spent an extensive amount of time there, but my impression of the unit is that there are lot of elk that stay on a lot of the private ranches on both sides, I've seen some good Bulls though.

I've contemplated 49 as a potential unit, but decided against it with all the publicity it's been getting coupled with the amount of elk I've seen on private compared to public grounds

Just my two cents, results may vary, ha!

 

[In God We Trust]

You only need 4 points to draw a NR archery tag for unit 49. For the 1st rifle and smoke pole tag you need 9. Unit 49 is not worth 9 points at all. I hunted it a few years ago during the smoke pole season. It is a good but not great unit.

 

[CAMONICK]

Yeah I hate to burn 6 points on a 4pt draw for 49, but I dont see many if any units that pose a better option with 6 pp. I could be easily overlooking something as I am a non resident who has hunted Colorado once for elk. Not sure that the future will hold any promising point gains with the point creep going on.

 

[bbrown]

What you just said is exactly why 49 is creeping so bad - it's a good unit but too many people with too many points find it as a good place to dump them when they realize they can catch or give up on the higher point units.

 

[realunlucky]

I'm in pretty much the same boat as you with my Colorado points. 66 seems to offer the most options but I just can't bring myself to use them there.

 

[ckleeves]

I would scout 66 before I used any points there. The last few years it has been pretty disappointing. Nothing like what it was 5 years ago. The last 66 archery tag I had (2013) I would have happily traded for a OTC tag. Not just a lack of big bulls but just elk in general and we covered the unit pretty well.

 

[sodaksooner]

Yeah, 49 was a 2pt nr draw the year before last, don't know about last year as we were starting over at "0"

 

[In God We Trust]

Correction I hunted it the 1st rifle season. From my experience hunting and scouting the unit I saw more big bulls scouting the last 2 weeks of September than I did hunting the 1st season. I personally think there are very few units anywhere that are worth the points required anymore. The "creep" has become insane and I am glad I burned mine and am done with that crap. I think Az has the strip and a few elk units that put out enough big animals. Utah has the Henry Mountains and Book Cliffs as well as a few elk units. Then Nevada has 1 or 2 elk and deer units. I am banking points in those states because I am able to hunt Colorado for deer and elk every year along with Wyoming every couple of years. The point game is becoming more of a pain in the ass and a pipe dream if you want one of the top units out west. Sorry for the rant. If you do draw 49 shoot me a P.M.

 

[COLOelkman]

edited

I think Unit 20 has similar points needed as I'm in the same boat and have been thinking about those 2 units. Haven't hunted either unit so only know what I've read and talked to people about. Unfortunately point creep is hitting these units also as you have to jump quite a few points to jump the quality. I'm probably just getting another point this year and hope to scout the areas this summer/fall.

 

[Beendare]

I missed about a 330 bull back about 15 years ago in 49 during the archery season and it still haunts me.

49 is a tricky unit as there are vast areas with few to no elk- and its high and takes an effort to get around in there. If it were a couple points....I would do it but not with 6...hold out for 76 archery-wink