Colorado units 4, 5

Inyo · Mar 22, 2006

Hey everyone. I've been a long time "looker" and now a first time poster. I have put in for units 4 and 5 (1st,2nd choices) this year and basically have no idea what to expect or where to go. It will be the 3rd season, Nov4-10th. What elevations are we looking at w/ weather, or w/o weather, trophy class? etc.......Thanks in advance for any help

Califelkslayer · Mar 22, 2006

Are you talking elk or deer? I'm very familiar with 4/441 for elk but have only hunted it during 1st rifle. 4 has an excellent elk herd, one of the biggest in Co. I believe that weather (3rd) season drives elk down onto private ground in the area I hunt. The good news it that the private ground is hunted pretty heavily so some of the elk should be driven back onto public. I would get there early and look around. If the elk are on private, I would hunt just above it on public ground where there is a natural funnel. Either a canyon or saddle. It could be excellent under the right conditions.

Where I hunt elk I see very few deer. I do drive down on the roads cutting through private and see 500-600 deer in an evening including usually several good bucks. We usually do this the 2 or 3 evenings before the first season and it is awesome. This area could be even better, later. We have even considered trying to get permission to hunt some of this ground because alot of it is small tracks of land. The guys i hunt elk with deer hunted 4 about 12 years ago and found several tracks of public, sagebrush covered ground that was in between the private. They did alright but the deer herd has really rebounded since then. GOOD LUCK!

a3dhunter · Mar 23, 2006

Inyo, sent you a private message.

HerbD · Mar 23, 2006

Inyo,

In some areas of 4 it's tough to find the boundaries of the public land. Buy yourself some good maps at Cashway in Craig and study them. A friend of mine screwed up last season and was fined for trespassing. He wasn't even carrying a gun.

Personally for deer I didn't see much on public land. However, friends of mine have gotten some nice bucks on private land surrounding Bakers Peak.

As for weather, you'll have snow. How much is anyone's guess so come prepared with good chains for your 4X4

Elevation - up to 10,500 in Unit 4 IIRC.

Califelkslayer,

Where do you camp when you hunt 4? I'll understand if you don't want to respond. Was just curious if I had run into you over there.

Califelkslayer · Mar 23, 2006

within several miles of Bear's Ears. What about you?

HerbD · Mar 27, 2006

Slater Creek Campground - right on the border with Wyo.

HerbD · Mar 27, 2006

Also the state campground at Hayden.Wife and dogs require electricity to keep them warm so I can't camp out in the forrest.

Califelkslayer · Mar 28, 2006

I was thinking bout electricity, a Honda generator maybe. We really work for ours, hour ride on a horse every day and sit and let the masses push them to you. One tip I have learned is even if I have the best escape route that is dynamite every year, if you see elk moving along another route, MOVE. I think they smell where the last herd went even if it was several hours ago. I can tell you of numerous examples of this that our group has experenced the last several years.

HerbD · Mar 28, 2006

I carry 2 generators with me but don't want to run them 20-24 hrs. a day. They're mainly for emergency and to keep the freezer cold in between hunting destinations and also for the way home.

Horses, that's the way to go. I wish I still had mine. Good point about the elk. Also, you hunt the right season.

The nephews and I might hunt second season there if we don't draw Montana.

I'm a little leary about camping out in the forest since I have two large dogs that might throw barking fits and thus would make me very unpopular with other hunters.