ORIGINAL: Skeeder1964

Just got back from a hunt in Gunnison, Colorado. What a huge disappointment. Last year there was a lot of elk sign, but we didn't see anything. This year no sign at all. Except dead elk and mule deer from the winter kill. Thanks Co. DOW for lying to us about how well the elk made it. I was in contact with the DOW a few times regarding how well these animals made it in the Basin of Gunnison. I was informed over and over that they were fine. What a huge mistake to give them all that money, and what it cost me to fly out and pay for everything else that goes along with a hunt. I was ready to pull out after the first day. So was all the rest of the crew I was hunting with. Everyone I talked to that was hunting there could not believe how bad it was there. The mule deer last year were everywhere. This year you were lucky to see any. I knew these deer were hurt last year during the winter, but they were being fed, as well as the elk. I heard they were feeding 800 elk in the basin, and another 1000 just out of town in the opposite direction of Gunnison. Where are all these animals? I pulled out Wednesday afternoon. Two days early, couldn't see wasting my time not seeing anything. I have a friend who lives in Gunnison, and he has been after his brother and myself to come out there and hunt with him for a few years because it was good hunting for elk. We were unfortunate to pick the worst two years that they have seen for hunting elk with the warm temperatures also. Coupled with last years record snow depths. Last year I will spending all that money to go after elk. I will stick to bowhunting the whitetails in NY where I live. I hate missing those 9 days during the rut anyways. Any one else feel the same? about how bad it was hunting elk in Colorado this year?