Not a terribly exciting thread, but I just got back from spending a couple of days in Colorado to get out of the heat and look around for a place to go on a DIY elk hunting trip either next year or the year after.  They are having a drought in Colorado, and I didn't see a whole lot of elk sign, although the country was absolutely beautiful.  I spent most of the time in areas around pagosa springs in the San Juan wilderness.  Anyone with any input on what they have seen for decent over the counter tag hunting in that area, I would love to hear from you.  Here are a few pics from the trip.

Black Canyon
 

 

 

marmot near purgatory

 

 


Some lizard near turkey creek

Some critters near rio blanco

 


 


 

 

Squirrel at Williams creek

 

Silver Falls
 

 

Nice pics Pat,thanks for sharing. Good luck for next year.

Thanks, Felix.  I would love to live there all summer and really know where the elk herds are.  This whole employment thing really throws a wrench into things, but I guess it beats the alternatives.


v-rock trail in the South San Juan Wilderness

 





Treed squirrel

Pat, it looks like some nice country to try and hunt and let some arrows fly.

Yeah, there are some beautiful areas for sure.  I heard some hunters talking that they were probably hanging around lakes and such, because there was relatively little water up high because of the poor snow pack last year.  I am no expert, but I plan on driving back up several times over the next year to learn new areas.  It is only around a 12 hour drive from here.

Watching all of these threads closely. Doing a DIY Elk hunt in Colorado next year. RC

 Nice, went out last year, can't wait to go back.......hope you do well!

Nice. Hey you  should have picked up that horned lizard and sold it!  My girlfriend and I saw those for 30 bucks in petsmart yesterday. We laughed because we see them by the dozens in Pawnee grasslands!  Maybe I have a new career on my hands!!!  Nice pics. Good luck!!

Good pics Pat. The lizard prolly taste like chicken...RC

I had no idea that they were common lizards in Colorado, Matt.  When I was stationed in Washington there were salamanders everyhwere, but I didn't see many lizards.  I still remember seeing the glistening brown head of an olympic salamander in the morning dew and ducking down for a closer look to see if was an elk turd.  Yes, I am an idiot.

RC, now you got me wondering if they do taste like chicken, lol.

Here's a tip for you, Pat:  That canyon...the one in the first picture....don't shoot an elk in the bottom of it!     :D

J/K...good luck in your hunt this fall.  We have plenty of elk though sometimes they're hard to find.  I'm sure theres one that has your name on it.

I'm jealous.  That is some beautiful country.  Remember, you don't need to find all the elk, just one dumb one.    :D  Good luck!

Beautiful dog.  Where did you get him?

Thank you.  He is from the Czech Republic.

Pat, Good photos of some great country. Thanks

I hunted Unit 76 back in the 90's, there were OTC units around it at the time, base camp was actually in one of them. Any how, the elk were HIGH, above timberline high. Up by the continental divide. Got caught in one helluva blizzard around the 20th of Sept. Not country to be taken lightly, but, one of the most, if not The most scenic places I've ever been. Good luck. I'm heading for WY in the morning, turning off the computer for 3 weeks, I'll check back then if you some more specifics.

Good luck in Wyoming and thanks for the extra info.  I'll take all that I can get.