I am in the process of planning a elk hunt for 2011. I have put off going for one reason or another for the last several years.....work is to slow, too much work going on, not in good enough shape....you know the drill.
I turned 55 this past week and the time for excuses is over, I'm gonna go elk hunting come hell or high water! I figure if I plan the hunt now and set a date, it will keep me motivated to keep working out and keep practicing after the season.
What I need from you fellars is some ideas on areas to order maps for and to research. I don't expect anyone to give up their "honey hole" or to take me under their wing, but any info you can share will be much appreciated. I am open to the possibility of a drop camp hunt if any of you have experiences/recommendations.
I have researched outfitters for drop camps and am a bit overwhelmed. Obviously none of them post that they like to stick their drop campers in whatever spot is left over! LOL!! Everyone I researched noted that drop camps were their specialty! I have contacted some of the references listed, but have received very few responses. Not afraid to hike in on a DIY hunt either. Truck camping and hiking out daily is good too. You talk to 20 different fellars and you get 20 different ideas as to what is the best way to go. I trust the folks here on tradgang, so it is here I am asking for help.
I would be looking at a group of 3-4 traditional bowhunters and would like to hunt for at least 7 days, maybe up to ten days. I/we have all hunted in the midwest and Canada and none of us are "rookies" but when it comes to elk and hunting the mountains, I guess we are rookies at that!
Look forward to any and all you have to share! Thanks, Mike
I'd start with the Colorado Division of Wildlife website. They have great stat's and maps. Google maps are also great. For me, DIY is a good way to go, especially if you will be fine with the hunting experience, and not be dissapointed if you don't bring something home. I've been out a few times, and have never had a bad hunt....have always been able to get into some elk.
I used to hunt around the Delores area. They have good elk numbers. It was pretty steep. If I were going for ten days I would plan on hunting two different places. I think it would be hard for three or four people to hunt one place for ten days without driving out the elk. You will notice that there are more elk the first couple of days. I would also hike in at least three miles. Gary
I have hunted north of Delores, around Groundhog lake in that public hunting area East of the lake in Fish and Big fish creeks. Groundhog creek south of the lake is good but you have to do a lot of walking.
I have taken several elk with bow in these areas and always saw a lot of elk. There are places to set up nice camps along the road from Groundhog lake to the Mesa, several miles to the east of the lake.
Good luck.
Mike
Some pretty good DIY areas on BLM land near Rifle/Meeker if you aren't looking for the next state record.
The better areas are going to require alot of prefrence points. But the area around meeker(white river national forest) is good. It is an area you have to draw for but my brother and nephew draw almost every year they apply.There is lot of public property and you can find a place to suite the way you want to hunt. Camp off the road and hunt from there,alot of trail heads(cant camp but you can park and hike in,and there are several outfitters that operate in that area.I dont know of any outfitterts,as we always park at a trail head and hike back in about five miles.Some years are good and some times we dont see an elk for a week.But thats elk hunting.Good luck and have fun.Oh yea and most years the last week of the season seems to be the best.
I have hunted in over the counter areas and in drawl areas in colorado and without a dought the best is in the wilderness areas and if they are a drawl it will be even better. Packing back in will get you into the best areas but you better be prepaired for that kind of hunt and if you get one down you have to get it out and that can be more than you may have bargined for. I did a packin hunt in wilderness area this year and it was a great hunt and riveled any guided hunt I have been on. So it depends on what you are willing to do and if it is a packin wilderness hunt you do not need as much stuff as you may think you do. If you need any help in what you will need pm me and I will let you know my suggestions on what you will need and give you any help I can now matter what just do it you will not regret it life is to short. Widow
Mike please give John and his son Jacob a call from Mule Creek Outfitting, they are sponsers here mate.
I hunted with John last year before he bought his outfitting operation. John has hunted Elk and the rockies for the last 14 years so he kinda know what to do!
He and Jocob are salt of the earth and outstanding fellas hands down. Give 'em a call/email and see just what John can do for you mate.
Please PM me if you need anymore info.
Best of luck,
ak.
I hunted Unit 45 near Redcliff this year. It is an OTC unit. It was my first time hunting Elk and first time in the US. There were reasonable numbers of elk about and also good numbers of Mule deer. I would suggest getting a mule deer tag as well if you can for this area. You had to work for the elk but if you were prepared to put in the hard yards they were there.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I am looking at all options right now and you have given me more things to look into! Thanks again! Mike
The planning is all part of the Hunt mate. Enjoy... and do it! We are dead a very long time.
ak.
Mike - I have done 5 DIY Elk hunts in Colorado and would be more then happy to help you with any questions that you may have. I'm not sure who will be heading out in our group this year so we may even have a spot for you if your interested.
I would hunt at least 10 days,I'am 64 ,hunt 2 or 3 days take half day off,then go back at it unless I'am in elk,the mountains will beat you down,be ready to move if there are no elk where you are camped,try unit 71,north of Delores or area around Durango..Most of hunting in September will be 9000 to 11000 ft in elevation so get your legs in shape..start walking in March as much as you can.Last week seems to be best to me..
Thanks again to all! Have sent a couple of pms.
arky714-am doing some research on unti 71, thanks!
Mike
I can't get over how many good people are still out there. I can't speak much for Colorado but I can for elk hunting. make sure you are in decent shape. lungs and legs and lower back.
Mike..definitely get the book from the CO. Division of Wildlife that gives bull to cow ratios..and estimated herd size..for the GMU you are considering.I'm a native Coloradoan for 56 years and have hunted for forty plus years...In my opinion the better areas are the draw areas...the number of hunters in some over the counter areas is way out of control.Good luck....
Find a wilderness area so you get rid of the 4 wheelers. Rent a horse from Sombrerro. Might have misspelled that mexican word. I think the going rate now is about $400 for horse saddle and the whole 9 yards. They bring them to camp and pick them up. Elk can move several miles over night and certainly during a week. You are going to have a hard time keeping up with them on foot. The horses are mostly all "killer" horses and for the most part pretty gentle. If you get a bad one, Sombrerro will bring you a new one. Best to practice riding some if you are not knowledgable.
Drop camps are okay but if the elk are not on the mountain you are dropped on you are in a tough spot. A horse will let you cover a lot more ground with out wearing your self out.
If you plan on spiking out learn a thing or two on making a proper pack. I have hunted elk in CO every year but 4 since 1971 and improper and over loaded pack horses are almost a yearly experience. Google up on proper pack horse procedures.
The last 2 weeks of season in CO are the best as you most often get a snow storm or at least cold weather. The cold weather along with the shortened day light hours triggers the bugles of rut.
Learn how to use a diaphram call to make cow talk.
Good luck.
kip
ps, where is the spell checker when you need it?
I'm doing likewise. I've been wanting to take my father hunting out west for years and things kept getting in the way. We're finally pulling the trigger on a trip next year, Lord willing. Is there any suggestions of units that would work for him that wouldn't require a lot of strenuous activity for him to reach? Probably would be me dropping him off and him walking a few hundred yards to watch a meadow. Drop camps, hiking in and steep terrain are not a possibility.
Eagle mountain outfitters. Jon only does drop camps. I hunted 7 days and never saw another hunter and was into elk everyday.
I would not hunt 71. It is overridden with hunters and atvs. I hunted it for several years, bow or rifle with some success. I went to Wyoming this year and am looking for new and less crowded areas. I think the first or last weeks of the season should be best. Mike, i am older than you and my days are numbered in the high country, but you should get in good shape. Run 2 miles a day in under 19 minutes and do steps or hills with a 35 pound pack.
The best advice I've heard so far besides the obvious of being in the best possible physical shape you can be in. Is you better have at least a couple backup areas to hunt, especially if you go the last couple weeks(which I prefer also). The reason is the elk may have already been pushed out of the area, it happens, it happened to me.
We hunted unit 71 the last 10 days of the season and this was our fate. The tracks were there like previous years but it wasn't fresh and our encounters went way down. We did a spike camp but about a quarter mile from us there was some guys in a drop camp that had spent about $1750 and the elk were gone but they were stuck there all week.
The spike camp was very difficult, so difficult I may have lost a couple of my hunting buddys for next year. Good luck!
Be careful about private land in Colorado! Some of the better hunting is public land bordering private--but be sure you know where you are. A trespass ticket in Colorado could mean losing your hunting rights in 40 states for up to 5 years!
Divide Creek area south of Silt, over the counter-8-9000 feet elevation- not terrible terrain.
Like almost every one of you, I have thought many times about how great it would be to try an Elk hunt. I think the only way I could manage it would be on horseback. I didn't know that people would rent you a horse for your hunt. That is something to keep in mind for the future.
Nalajr
Please keep in mind that horses require babysitting every morning before you mount up and every night before supper. They can be as much of a liability as an asset. If you have never ridden, or know something about horses, then I recommend not renting them. It's better to not see elk then to be in a rodeo in the back country.
My experience is If a guy is willing to walk ONE mile from roads and a main trail, you can get away from 95% of the hunters and get into elk (if you are in elk country). Walk one more mile and you can be alone most days.
I hope all of you guys seriously try to make it happen. Don't wait another year. Elk hunting will be a spiritual experience worth every penny if you are smart and safe. And you don't have to be wealthy. You can do it out of a tent on a forest road. Good luck.
To bring this back to the top.........I made up my wish list for this Christmas and it is filled with Elk stuff. The main things I am putting together right now is my arrow/broadhead combo.
I am getting some 100 gr. brass insert that are tapered for a glue on broadhead and some r.w. 200 gr. Grizzlies for a total of 300 gr. up front. Mounted on woodgrain Vapor 3000s, I should be right at 610 gr total arrow weight.
I am a big fan of 3 blade heads and have had good luck with Snuffers, Woodsmans and this season, VPA Terminators. That being said, due to some nerve damage issues in my neck and shoulder, the doctors have told me to stay under 55#. My Timberhawk is 54# at my draw, so to maximize my penetration I am going with the the Grizzly heads.
I really do believe that planning a trip and putting together your gear is a big part of the fun!
Mike
I dont know I kind of have a debbie downer attitude abouit public land. I always see more hunters than animals and I have hunted many units over the past years. Not only that when you have a heard located you can bet that someone else has located that same heard. this year I got on a couple good screamers at night. when i headed back in the morning I ran into 4 guys all trad hunters. telling me to get out of here they have been huinting this area for 45 years yadda yadda yadda. I was not being disrespectful at all I just moved around the mountain in a different way. Still it gets OLD being a resident I'm very willing to pay for private land just to get away from all the foot traffic, jeeps, atv's and territorial hunters. I know a guy who was hunting near a wallow who got into a huge fight with some other guy who claimed he'd been hunting thaty same wallow for years....It's just unfortunate what it has become.
not to hijack the thread, but goes along with it...what are items that need to be included with the packs..ie are essential for a week or so diy hunt for elk?
Mike, since you're asking at the right time, I would suggest putting in for the draw. There are a couple units you can have at least a 50/50 shot of getting into without any points. Will help manage the hunter numbers. Honestly, I have not had as many of the issues some mentioned about crowding - and I hunt OTC units for the most part. The key is to find a spot on your own, if somebody tells you about a spot, they've probably told several other folks. There are some spots that consistantly hold elk, and attract hunters year after year, but with a little leg work, you can get away from them.
As mentioned above, unless you are well experienced with horses, I wouldn't rent them, but I would make arrangements with a packer - get a SPOT or Sat phone (a good idea anyway), and use that to contact them. You can then make the call on whether or not to use the packer, but it certainly gives you a larger range you can hunt.
Thanks for the responses!
Txnrog-appreciate the suggestion on the sat phone and the packer!
Mike
Pick up a copy of Cameron Hanes' book "Backcountry Bowhunting", it covers most of the practical issues, what to bring, tactics, setting up a packer, etc.
Mike, you hunted with me for turkeys in NE, last year until a blizard was coming, give me a call, I went this year and will help you all I can,
I hunted Colorado often in the 1990's - 12-14 trips I imagine or more. I was pretty successful - though the 2 years I trad hunted I did not kill animals ( I missed a large 6x6 first year)
I backpack hunted or used llamas in wilderness areas. incredible country - addictive.
Worry about being in shape/condition first and foremost. Then plan your hunt accordingly.
Me? I am planning a solo hunt in 2011, like I use to do when I was 20 years younger (I'm 41 now)
I plan to hike/run/bike my way into shape these next 10 months and do it.
I will likely Colorado hunt - where I'm not certain yet. I am going light this time too - semi-bivy style even.
You CAN do it yourself, you don't need to pay guides. Get in good condition, and GO.
I am going to get a SPOT I imagine, a safegaurd that will make my wife happy :)
PM or email at brad.m.lantz@sprint.com
I'll tell you everything I know