Maroon Bells early rifle buck

[Montainya]

Not the same hunt it use to be 9 plus years ago… the drainage he hunted used to be absolutely incredible 15ish years ago. There’s still a few good bucks to be had the country is absolutely overrun all summer and early fall with yuppie backpackers/day hikers. Anymore you will see more mountain goats than deer in that country.

That's a bummer to hear, but nonetheless I have the tag and looking forward to a nice trip to the backcountry.

 

[TOGIE]

there are still deer up there. abundance of quality has undoubtedly changed. but that's the story everywhere.

place was overrun nine years ago too.

 

[The_Coloradoboy]

there are still deer up there. abundance of quality has undoubtedly changed. but that's the story everywhere.

place was overrun nine years ago too.

Place has been overrun since Eastmans blew it up on their MRS section pre 2010 and aired a couple episodes of archery mule deer hunts in there.. I vividly remember showing up to the trail head two days before the season after Eastmans let the cat out of the bag and their were twice as many vehicles parked there, alot of them with out of state plates form Utah..

 

[TOGIE]

always such an curious phenomenon - the blow up and subsequent overcrowding of a limited entry hunt...

 

[BOHNTR]

always such an curious phenomenon - the blow up and subsequent overcrowding of a limited entry hunt...

……then massive die off in the 07/08 winter. Doomed that area, IMO.

 

[The_Coloradoboy]

……then massive die off in the 07/08 winter. Doomed that area, IMO.

It did. Just like many other areas. I do think the massive influx of summer traffic in the maroon bells over the years has affected the deer’s summer patterns also.

 

[nrpate05]

I gotta imagine there are still good bucks in that area. That country is so rugged. And, plenty of people shoot nice ones during later rifle seasons so they gotta come from somewhere. No doubt that place is ground zero for 24/7/365 recreation, however.

 

[The_Coloradoboy]

A lot of deer have figured out the sanctuary that is Aspen, Snowmass, Old Snowmass, and Woody Creek

 

[CoHuntr82]

That's a bummer to hear, but nonetheless I have the tag and looking forward to a nice trip to the backcountry.

Well……how’d it go?

 

[Montainya]

Well……how’d it go?

Spent a week up there. Didn't see loads of bucks but plenty of recreationists on the weekend. Got a nice buck at 11,300 ft. It was my first mule deer hunt and loads of fun. Great trip!

 

[CoHuntr82]

Spent a week up there. Didn't see loads of bucks but plenty of recreationists on the weekend. Got a nice buck at 11,300 ft. It was my first mule deer hunt and loads of fun. Great trip!View attachment 389917

Nice work man! Congrats and thanks for the follow up

 

[Mallardsx2]

Spent a week up there. Didn't see loads of bucks but plenty of recreationists on the weekend. Got a nice buck at 11,300 ft. It was my first mule deer hunt and loads of fun. Great trip!View attachment 389917

Congrats!

Just curious but did you shoot it in the head?