Haven't hunted in 61 myself, but ran into a gentleman from Colorado last week at Cabelas in Dundee, MI. He hunted 61 last year and said that it was a very good place to hunt. Tough to get into, but a lot of elk.

[ This Message was edited by: bowhunter1 on 2003-09-06 18:47 ]

I'd start on the Uncompahgre Plateau which takes up the eastern portion of unit 61. That it just where I would start, have not hunted 61.

With 7 preference points you should be about there for a bull or either sex tag.

If your hunting 711 you won't be far from 61, you could shoot up there for a day this year to scout it out a bit.

What part of 711 are you planning on hunting?

Bowhunter1 and Bitmasher,
Thank you for replying. I will be hunting some private land just west of Groundhog Lake in Dolores County. I hunted there last year and scored on a legal bull and mule deer. The bull was a small 4x5 but I was proud to take him. The mule deer was a nice 4x4. I saw some great deer but could not get a shot. I am paying a trespassing fee and hunting on my own. My father goes with me and keeps me company but does not hunt. It gives us a little time together. I thought about running up to Unit 61 last year but it took me the entire week to fill both my tags, and I feel luckly that I did, but I didn't have time. I will be hunting the second rifle season this year, which is 9 days long, maybe I will get a chance this year. I started out saving my points for the Ranching for wildlife program but as you probably know that is no longer available to nonresidents. I really don't know where I want to use them at, I have heard alot about 61. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Thanks

Bamaboy, the northwest corner of Colorado has some of the largest herds of elk & mule deer. Units 2 & 201 are considered exceptional trophy units, however you need 10+ pref points. Units 3, 301 and 4 are excellent units as well. If you like to pack in on horses or hike in, the wilderness areas in the Flattops are great as well. Very little pressure because its more difficult for most people to get in & out. Units 24 & 25 are the primary wilderness areas, with units 23, 33 & 34 covering some as well.

Good Luck!

Cowgal, Thanks for the info. I have looked at the harvest reports and points needed to draw in some of those units. They are all very impressive. I like hunting on my own and would have to rent horses from someone there. I have been burned a couple of times trying to do that. That is one reason I signed on to BigGameHunt.net. I was hopeing to meet someone in those areas, that might point me in the right direction or put me in touch with someone.
Anyway thanks for the info.
Bamaboy

Thanks for the info on 711 Bamaboy. 201 is good, but you'll need a few more points. Getting tough to draw there. There was a guy (and his son?) a while back on here from MN that had 14 points and finally drew in 201.

The DOW made a lot of nonresidents mad with the RFW decision to only let public RFW tags go to residents and frankly i don't blame them. I can understand Coloradans being grumpy when over half the public licenses were going to nonresidents, but to slam the door completely on NR's was unnecessary in my opinion. They should have left the door open a bit may 30% cap for NR, that would have appeased the grumpy CO's and left the light on for NR's that don't want to purchase one of the $$$$ private licenses.

Plus, while I don't know this for a fact, I'm sure the cost for a private RFW tag has now gone through the roof, since it is now the only RFW venue for the nonresident.

Bamaboy, you may want to consider a drop camp. We ran an article about these back in 2001. You can read it here:

Do-It-Yourself Colorado Drop Camps

Many of outfitters listed here:

http://www.biggamehunt.net/outfitters/United_States/Colorado/

Offer drop camp services.

Good Luck!

[ This Message was edited by: moderator on 2003-09-10 10:15 ]

I just returned from hunting 61. I saw cows all over, and lots of raghorns, but only one respectable bull. I would say that if you were out for a cow you couldn't go wrong, but if you are looking for a good bull late in the year, target the dark timbered canyons around the south east part of this unit (Norwood/Nucla area) There is some private land here and there but for the most part all is Forest service with a few decent high clearance roads.