Hunting Forum

Planning a 2nd rifle season hunt for these units for elk and mule deer. I'm asking for any help or advice for these units(41,42,421). Thanks

I used to do some hunting south of Debuque when I lived in Parachute. Pretty good hunting there, but they just had a wildfire in that area that burned over 13,000 acres. Plus there has been a lot of oil and gas drilling out that way the last few years so any info I give you would probably not be current. If I was you I would contact the Division of Wildlife in either Glenwood Springs or Grand Junction. They cover that area. Ask to talk to the big game biologist for that area. It used to be a guy named John Broderick but I'm pretty sure he retired.

When I stated hunting that area, I sat down with Mr. Broderick with topo maps and he showed me the best places to try. Most of the time if you get in touch with the guy on the ground they are really helpful since it is up to them to manage the game and they want to see hunters be successful. By the way, in my experience that area is much better for deer than it was for elk. The elk are there, but deer are much more plentiful.

Flags

Like Flaggs said. Not sure what the fire got. I new of an area that used to hold some bulls toward the late seasons. If you find Wallace river, up in 42, there used to be an old pack trail ( may be overgrown by now) that would lead you into a bit of a valley on the South side of Sugarloaf Mountain. Once you get around Fire Ridge there are some finger that run off, mostly to the South. Bear Gulch is in there too. Used to be a good place to find some bulls. Lots of Southern and Eastern exposures in that area. On a maps it is part of Battlement Mesa. Just not sure what the fire got to. On a good note! I believe it is out and has been getting good rain. Still might be worth checking out as they love new growth.

Thanks for the info flags; I did talk to the biologists (Stephanie) in Grand Junction. She told me to try in the Porter and Hightower  mountains area.

Thanks tsnake, I will get the maps out and start checking that area out. Do you know anything about the area around the N. and S. Mamm mountains?

Sorry. Can't help you there. The info I gave you earlier was from memory and has been a lot of years since I was anywhere close to that area. I would certainly lean more towards the info from the biologist. They are always in the area and see things all year long that others can't. They have more of an idea than DOW really when it comes to success rates and numbers. Sometimes success rates are a bit sideways as number one, not all hunters are contacted and two, some success has to do with how people hunt. If there are not a lot of hunters willing to get in deep enough, the numbers will be down as a result. Good luck to you this season and let us know how it works out for you.

I have a cow tag for 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, and 521 units for 1st season. I've seen some decent animals in Coal Basin off of Kannah Creek Basin. I'm going to scout some other areas of KCB also.

The Pine Ridge fire was contained to the western side of I-70, not part of the Grand Mesa units.

Thanks for the reply, sorry to hear about your lost opportunity on the bear tag. Have you hunted around N. and S. Mamm Peaks? Good luck hunting this year.