For those of you guys who hunt wilderness areas in Colorado, which is your favorite? I've hunted Col a few times but I'm really thinking about going the wilderness route in the next couple of years. I'm not asking which area has the best hunting. Which do you like whether it's for the ruggedness, history with the area or just scenic beauty?
I guess it doesn't have to be limited to Colorado either.
Canada ! LOL
I've hunted the Weminuche and the Hunter-Frying Pan in CO, both packin, DIY. I would go back to either in a heartbeat. Awesome country.
Eagle Caps in NE Oregon!
Check out the "Frank Church" in Idaho!!!!
Matt, how did you do in the weminuche and what time did you go? I'm thinking about hunting out there again this year.
Can't remember the name of it, but we went in some place north of the road between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs about 20 years ago and had a blast elk hunting. We took horses and camped for a week in there.
Looking on the map, I guess it was either the Weminuche or the wildlife area just south of there. My buddy from Farmington was leading us and provided the horses.
JJB2, we went in around September 5 back in '08. Packed in with llamas for 9 days. Saw a few elk. I saw a good bull 2X but just couldn't get close. Lots of deer. We went in north of Bayfield, Lemon Reservoir.
That area's pretty thick and fairly tough to hunt. We saw a few elk as well, no shots.
I've hunted the Weminuche a lot ... from early 1990's
Elk Hunting has declined every year, last time i went was in 2005 I believe and we left it 3 days into the hunt having saw only 2 raghorn - just horrible, went to another area in southern CO and not much better
gorgeous country, I just wanted to see some elk !
The Caps are great country. But really any wilderness that I can get away from the granola crowd, the ATV's, and the weekend warriors I'm a happy boy.
QuoteOriginally posted by longarrow:
Check out the "Frank Church" in Idaho!!!!
^This^ And the Bob Marshall wilderness in Montana.
Maine has all the wilderness you would want, and then some. Plus I can get to it in 5 min. or less.
QuoteOriginally posted by The Whittler:
Maine has all the wilderness you would want, and then some. Plus I can get to it in 5 min. or less.
You sound like you need a huntin partner....
Never been to Col but for me nothing beats north of Lake Surperior in Ontario.
Uncompahgre Wilderness in Colorado (formerly the "Big Blue").
(Note: Press your F5 key to refresh the page if the image fails to load.
(http://logsdonstudios.com/elkcampsample2.jpg)
I've backpacked in most of the CO wildernesses. Hard to beat the Weminuche for sheer size, few people and rugged mountains. The Needle Mtns in that wilderness are second to none. I took a Mtn. goat there many years ago with my recurve on a 7 day trip, and later did a 7 day loop in another portion. For enjoyment, I like the Flattops. More rolling country and many lakes- a different lake to camp at each night, all with fish asking to be caught and eaten. The vertical won't beat you up as most of the other wildernesses will.
Steve, how is the elk hunting in the flattops? I've heard that there are a lot of elk but also a lot of hunters chasing them...
QuoteOriginally posted by Gary Logsdon:
Uncompahgre Wilderness in Colorado (formerly the "Big Blue").
(Note: Press your F5 key to refresh the page if the image fails to load.
(http://logsdonstudios.com/elkcampsample2.jpg)
That's a beautiful picture. Hopefully I'll have one like that of my own in a few months.
QuoteOriginally posted by JJB2:
Steve, how is the elk hunting in the flattops? I've heard that there are a lot of elk but also a lot of hunters chasing them...
That's what I've heard as well.
I would scout during August and see many elk in the Flattops. Then come hunting season they seemed to have moved down to private property. One time in early August I saw at least 250 cows and calves. Returned in 3 weeks and didn't see an elk in 3 days. Yes, there were many other hunters after them. I don't have any area I would recommend there. But it remains a favorite place for backpacking.
I have to go with the Flattops also. It's been many years since I hunted there. We backpacked in over the China wall at the Devils backbone a couple of times and even as a young man it took alot of breaks climbing in and out. Still the prettiest area I've hunted in. I want my ashes scattered there, but probably won't have anyone in any shape to get them there!
Eagle's Nest is really nice country to.
When I lived in Colorado I hunted the Eagles Nest Wilderness a lot and loved it. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is great also. Both areas are beautiful, rugged and full of elk. I made friends with a few gray jays in the Eagles Nest.
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q290/54pab1/100_0985.jpg)