Advice on Using Preference Points

[cohunter14]

I have racked up four preference points in Colorado and am planning on redeeming them next year. Basically, I decided I\'d rather not keep saving them and instead would prefer to hunt every year. I know this isn\'t a ton of points, but it\'s enough to draw a bunch of different hunts. I plan on redeeming these for a rifle hunt.

I typically hunt elk during the first season, so I would prefer to not hunt 2nd or 3rd season for deer since it would be such a quick turnaround. With that being said, I have looked into both early and late season hunts. There are a couple of RFW hunts that I could potentially draw as well, but those fall either during or very close to first rifle season. Here are the hunts I am looking at:

1) Early season hunt in Units 44/45/444, restricted to the Holy Cross Wilderness
2) Early season hunt in Unit 36, restricted to the Eagles Nest Wilderness
3) 4th Season Rifle in Unit 501
4) 4th Season Rifle in Unit 511

There are also early season tags available in Units 6/7 and 4th season tags in Unit 15, but those would be more difficult for me to scout. Finally, many of the eastern plains tags would also be available.

Any information or suggestions on any of these would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[cnelk]

I know what I would do if I had 4 PPs for Deer....

And that would be GMU 91 Tamarack SWA for Whitetail Buck
And I know just the spots.

With 4 PPs its a guarantee draw for the Late Season Dec 1 - 14
Only 20 General tags. Corn will be picked and the bucks will be rutting hard.
Plenty of average deer and some really good ones too

Cole and I had a great time there last year during the October hunt.
Tamarack has a campground with water and nice easy access to hunting.
You have to check in/out each day but its not a problem

Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[iccyman001]

I\'m going to have lots of questions when I get back from this trip.

This has really light a fire under me and I want a mule deer.

I don\'t like the PP game, but I\'ll play for a decent shot at a decent buck.

 

[Wake26]

I hunt unit 6 for elk. I have seen some big bucks is this unit. Last year there were bucks every where but this year we only saw a couple. The sand dune part of the unit would be a good place for deer I have also seen some nice bucks in that part. I do know that unit 6 gets hit pretty hard with elk hunters. You might not have much company with deer hunters but there will be a lot of elk hunters in the woods with you.

 

[cohunter14]

Brad, I appreciate the advice. I have already started to do some research on that hunt and I\'m sure I\'ll have some questions for you.

Jarod, for the Unit 6 and 7 hunt, it needs to take place above 10,000 feet in Unit 6 or within the Rawah Wilderness in Unit 7. Does that correlate with where you have seen the good bucks? Also, the season this year was Sept 5-13. Any experience during that time frame? If so, how is the hunting pressure? The dates seem decent to me since it gives a full week for archery hunters before that and it\'s a week before Muzzleloader season, but it would be nice to hear more from someone who has been there to witness it.

Thanks guys! Keep the advice and ideas coming.

 

[Wake26]

I looked on Google earth at the places that I was thinking about. Most of the areas that I have seen good bucks are right at 1000ft or under by a couple hundred feet, all of the sand hill area is to low. I am afraid I am no help in unit 7.

 

[cohunter14]

PM sent Jarod...