Thanks in advance
Unit: PP and draw percent in 2015:
53 3pp = 95%
54 3pp = 46%
55 6pp = 64%
66 9pp = 7%
Based on the stats most people by far think 66 is the better unit. (those I have spoken to who like 53 have access to and through private)
Unit: Points draw odds:
53 9pp= 83%
54 9pp= 67%
55 10pp= 50%
66 15pp= 50%
So you should be able to draw any hunt.
As mentioned there was another with 18 NR PP last year in the draw who may put in with 19 NR PP so it may not be a "guarantee" but few things are!
I think that the odds,(number of points needed,) will be more next year. Not only because of point creep but due to people holding off this year due to the early season dates.
Last year for NR there were 11 tags, Points went from 17 NR PP for the 2 highest down to 1 NR with 13pp (20%) drew the tag.
Whith 19 NR PP next year you could plan on hunting the 3rd season if you want.
Late big snows followed by a deep freeze is bad news for the deer. The Gunnison Basin is really prone to that pattern. If you are thinking about hunting in Gunny, start really watching the weather in March right up to the app date.
Have been a number of years when a big snow in March or April followed by a few warm days and then a hard freeze has really killed off a lot of deer - especially the bucks. The DOW will always under report the actual winter kill, especially in Gunny because of the high demand.
Have been lucky since '12 on winters and this year should be a pretty good hunt, but would have been much better if the DOW had just closed the area for deer for a year or two to let them come back. Would have really helped with a bounty on coyotes and open season on lions to reduce that predation as well.
Really think that there are better areas right now than Gunnison County for top end. With the publicity of Gunnison County units, it draws the guys that are really serious (with lots of buddies that want to go and lots of top end glass and cell phones) and will hold out for a top end buck. Prior to the last big winter kill, there were getting to be a lot of big mature 3x3's and 3x4's in there that were doing a lot of breeding and passing genes because the "trophy hunters" wouldn't consider shooting a 30" wide, 6 year old 3x3.
Do a little research, you may want to look at some units with more B&C entries and possibly an early rifle hunt when it is not so miserable cold, wet and nasty for a hunt with the wife. There are several areas in the state that turn out more true top-end deer. September is usually quite a bit better time to be in the hills than November. You might want to hold off another year to get the earliest dates possible on that side. An outfitter could be a plus for access to the high country or go in the week before backpacking with fly rods to some high lakes with a plan on killing your bucks on first thing opening morning.
You might even get a wild hair and figure out that you can do a really fun hunt with the wife with the potential for a bomber buck with a rifle one year followed by a good bow hunt with a buddy on 0 points or second choice (point and a tag!) the following year after you have figured out a basin with a few big boys living in there. They tend to come back to the same basins year after year.
The Colorado Units that take the most points do not necessarily hold the biggest deer or elk. If you have more than enough points, it is OK to use them for a great hunt that you are assured to draw.
Good luck!
