Guys,
Im heading to CO in Sept.to Elk hunt I think.... need some help. Anyone wanna hookup or offer any advice ? I have NO idea where, how, etc...be first trip to CO, first Elk....
Thanks guys...
Boy, a month away from opening day - you've got your work cut out for you to put together a plan yet!
First off you need to figure out where you want to go and how you want to hunt. Colorado has a lot of elk, but they are not everywhere, so you need to find a spot that holds animals. Easily accessible areas will draw lots of hunters and hold fewer elk.
Find the area you want to hunt and get some maps ordered. Use Google Earth or other mapping sites to pour over the area and learn as much as you can to help hit the ground running when you get there.
You can camp by your vehicle, but to find elk you are likely to have to walk in a couple of miles or so. So many people hunt off the roads that the elk get pushed deeper very quickly. If you can backpack in to a spike camp you would up your odds tremendously.
Check out Elknut's sponsor site and order his DVD series and his Elkhunters Playbook. Great information on elk and their habits as well as the various calls that they make.
No matter what, even if your trip is last minute, just go and enjoy the Rockies in all their splendor. Life just does not get any better than that, even without elk!
Good luck!
geee....no one else ? I thought Id get a lil more help than this !
BTW - Thanks Whip !
Use the search engine up top - there is some really good threads on here!
J
Like J dog said, the search engine is your friend, also bowsite's elk section. Study the CO DOW site if you haven't yet, pick some areas out and try to talk to the biologists in those sections if possible. Think of this one as a fun camping trip in beautiful country, catch a few trout, shoot at a grouse or three and try to learn the area well. Elk are a bonus, remember success rates hover in the 10% range for archery anyway. It's a great experience and with what you learn, you'll likely come back and be even more prepared.
Yes sir it can be done, CO has alot of elk, but it also has alot of country, I would do alot of what these guys have already said, another suggestion would be, plan on staying real mobil, by that I mean I would plan on being willing to set up and tear down camp real quick don,t get hung up on a area that is cold as far as sign goes. Elk aren,t afraid of moving 20 miles in a short period, Weather will also be a big influence on movements as well as hunting pressure. Scouted Zirkel Wilderness area once in August and found elk up high above the trees thought I had them pegged but when I came back in Sept found out people jump and ignore the trailhead signs with vechiles, took me about 7 days of hard hunting to find them again and they were in the timber lower. Hope you have time.
If you are gonna buy an OTC tag... first get a map and the DNR guide on OTC areas. Mark them on the map. A lot of the state is OTC, but not all of it. Now you know where you CAN hunt.
Then start looking at smaller areas. Look for more wilderness type areas, several miles deep with no roads. Also look to see if ATVs are allowed off road in the areas. They are not allowed everywhere. You have now already narrowed away half of the state or more.
Pick a few areas you like that have visible multiple watersheds or drainages. Like a main ridgeline with drainages off each side, one after another. If the elk get bounced out of one, they can go over the hill and feel somewhat safe. Where I hunt, they do not leave the country, just go over a drainage.
Do the Google earth thing and look around at your areas. Then call or email the local DNR large animal biologist. Tell them what you are looking for, give them the description of a couple of the areas of your choice, and ask them about the area and animal use, etc. They know and they will likely share if you come across well. I like to e-mail so they can answer when they have time, instead of catching them at a bad moment.
Order a good hunting version map. I use www.myTopo.com (http://www.mytopo.com) . These are waterproof, customized (you choose the parameters and actual mapped area) and not bad priced. And you will get it quick.
Where I hunt, the elk are anywhere from next to the main drainage creek, to tree line. They are where they are. You need to walk to find them.
Suggest looking at ridges or near ridges for sign. They move around so there will be sign.
Good luck.
ChuckC
Ok.... now Im gettin somewhere... =)
You didn't invite me?
Make sure you start running with a pack on. You might be in shape for whitetails but add the altitude then you are talking a whole different game. You will enjoy your hunt more as well. You can get in pretty good shape in a month working your cardio 5 days a week.
Spent 8 days last year in colorado elk hunting never heard any elk, only seen 1 bull spike not legal.Im going with a better plan next time.
now Im gettin somewhere... =)
If you wanna get somewhere fast call T Bar M Outfitters in Durango 970 259-5469
If I had never been there, had never called to elk, was unable to scout, had a limited amount of time and was totally unfamiliar with the area......
I would be getting a guide because I don't know if I could afford that hunt more than once. And I do plan to do that hunt in the future.
Just my opinion,
Charlie
Last year, in my area, I heard one bugle in two weeks. The year before there were many. Not sure but We decided it was moon phase at the exact wrong time. This year will be different (gotta believe in something good) Even with that, we saw elk.
ChuckC
check out the Lizard Head wilderness area and the mountains surrounding Dunton.
In your circumstance the earlier recommendation of guide is good advice. Also, check out
http://www.elkcamp.com. Lots of good info over there. And I would invest in some of elknut's DVD's.......http://www.elknut.com. You may not be able to master bugling and cow calling in the short time you have but at least you can get sort of educated on what the different elk sounds mean.
Brett