I just drove through Kremmling and loved that type of country around there. That's the open stuff I like to hunt. Is it a good hunt? I looked and the tags do not seem hard to draw and there seems to be decent public access. I guess that also makes it real crowded, but are there some areas to hike in and get away from the ATV masses? Decent bucks? Early or late seasons? Not looking for anyone's honey hole, just general info. Thanks.
Kremmling CO area
- Thread starter BigPig
- Start date
R
RamHunter71
Guest
I hunt unit 181 Northeast of Kremmeling. Its a good hunt for both elk and deer later in the seasons. The area is heavily hunted but many places to get away as there are not a ton of roads around. Elk your looking at a meat hunt and there are a fair amount of larger bucks but pretty scarce come rifle seasons. PM me for more details if you wish, good luck,
C
cohntr6
Guest
i HAVE hunted 18, 28, 37, 371 a couple times once for deer and one for elk. Lots of elk during 3rd and 4th for meat type hunting. There is good numbers of deer but mature bucks on the other hand take some time to find. If you can get a 4th rifle tag (1 point this year I believe or 1st choice 0 points) you can increase your odds of finding a 4 point. you are right is great country to hunt in.
Jeff
Jeff
I live in the area and can tell you that in 6 winters of watching just about evey mature buck from Silverthorne up to Kremmling, that I have only seen two that would gross over 200 and one of those was Robb Rishor's net 206 B&C typical the winter before he killed it. It was 203 gross 196 net type buck that year before Robb killed it when I picked up his sheds. Deer over 30"s are also uncommon. A decent number of 180 plus bucks and a handfull of 190 plus bucks but that is winter range watching. The vast majority of bucks are typicals but extra 5th's in the back forks are relatively common. If you see a nice mid 20's mature buck with a tag in you hand you'd be well advised to put the hammer down on him.
A 300" bull is a rarity and that vast majority of bulls are typical 1st year raghorns or small 5 to 6 point 3 year old bulls. There is heavy hunting pressure in those units.
A huge snow year like in the great third season slaughter of 2002 would make a huge difference in quality and quantity. Bucks were all the way down on the low winter range during the third rifle season because of the HEAVY snowfall that week. Giant bucks were killed all over the central Rockies in COlorado that year.
A 300" bull is a rarity and that vast majority of bulls are typical 1st year raghorns or small 5 to 6 point 3 year old bulls. There is heavy hunting pressure in those units.
A huge snow year like in the great third season slaughter of 2002 would make a huge difference in quality and quantity. Bucks were all the way down on the low winter range during the third rifle season because of the HEAVY snowfall that week. Giant bucks were killed all over the central Rockies in COlorado that year.
I applied for the 4th season first choice and didn't draw, however I did draw the second season. I had this same tag last year and saw deer and people. I have some ideas on where to go again this year, but if anyone is willing to give more specifics it would be appreciated. If its anything like last years second season, there wont be many deer down low. But does anyone know of some good out of the way upper elevation areas to try?
Jeff,
I read that you just recently moved to AZ. I've lived and hunted there all my life, are you willing to trade any info on where to go?
Jeff,
I read that you just recently moved to AZ. I've lived and hunted there all my life, are you willing to trade any info on where to go?
C
cohntr6
Guest
Scott,
hopefully i will be hunting archery elk and 4th rifle deer near fort Collins this fall as I can still hunt as a resident. however next year I will apply as a resident In AZ but there seems to be a little problem with drawing a big game tag in AZ!!! I am living in Thather now,it is east of Mesa/phoenix
Did you hunt Cedar ridge last year?
Maybe look at Lawson ridge along hw 9 too. HAve you been able to scout? I scouted cedar ridge a couple years ago during the opening of 2nd rifle and was amazed at the lack of hunters and abundance of deer ,nothing big but ai wasnt expecting that,
It was weird there was a ton of people with 4th rifle tags and they all seemed to be on Cedar ridge when i hunted there. I did see a large buck and i think somebody shot it the next day,it grossed 197 with a inine cheater on each side. Tall, heavy buck.
Jeff
hopefully i will be hunting archery elk and 4th rifle deer near fort Collins this fall as I can still hunt as a resident. however next year I will apply as a resident In AZ but there seems to be a little problem with drawing a big game tag in AZ!!! I am living in Thather now,it is east of Mesa/phoenix
Did you hunt Cedar ridge last year?
Maybe look at Lawson ridge along hw 9 too. HAve you been able to scout? I scouted cedar ridge a couple years ago during the opening of 2nd rifle and was amazed at the lack of hunters and abundance of deer ,nothing big but ai wasnt expecting that,
It was weird there was a ton of people with 4th rifle tags and they all seemed to be on Cedar ridge when i hunted there. I did see a large buck and i think somebody shot it the next day,it grossed 197 with a inine cheater on each side. Tall, heavy buck.
Jeff
Jeff,
I did hunt Cedar Ridge last year. It wasn't until the second and third days of the season that I did. There were a handful of hunters up there both days, however we did see a few deer, mostly does and three small bucks. What was the weather like when you scouted it during the second season? Last year was pretty hot and people I talked to said that is one reason it was so bad.
Also, when you say to hunt the hwy side of Lawson Ridge, what exactly are you meaning? Are you meaning hunting on top and looking down off the edge towards the hwy? or actually hunting down off the edge along the hwy?
thanks,
Scott
I did hunt Cedar Ridge last year. It wasn't until the second and third days of the season that I did. There were a handful of hunters up there both days, however we did see a few deer, mostly does and three small bucks. What was the weather like when you scouted it during the second season? Last year was pretty hot and people I talked to said that is one reason it was so bad.
Also, when you say to hunt the hwy side of Lawson Ridge, what exactly are you meaning? Are you meaning hunting on top and looking down off the edge towards the hwy? or actually hunting down off the edge along the hwy?
thanks,
Scott
C
cohntr6
Guest
Scott,
I scouted 2nd season 2 years ago and it was sunny and about 50 degrees opening day. Similair to what you saw, small bucks and lots of does.
If you are driving south out of Kremmling on HW 9 there is some private property and then mixed BLM on the east side of the road that you can park along the road and go. Go past the gate to blue valley ranch another 1/2 mile or so before you park, check your map! A good blm map shows the land ownership, its easy to tell some property lines as well. there is sage flats for several hundred yards then up towards lawson, it doesnt look far but once you start going up you realize it is a lot farther than you think. when I was hunting elk there I was a good ways up and looked back (to catch my breath) and there was a nice 4 point bedded next to a pine tree watching me, he let me walk past him at about 200 yards. my point is the openess of the country can be decieving, check every nook and cranny.
Jeff
I scouted 2nd season 2 years ago and it was sunny and about 50 degrees opening day. Similair to what you saw, small bucks and lots of does.
If you are driving south out of Kremmling on HW 9 there is some private property and then mixed BLM on the east side of the road that you can park along the road and go. Go past the gate to blue valley ranch another 1/2 mile or so before you park, check your map! A good blm map shows the land ownership, its easy to tell some property lines as well. there is sage flats for several hundred yards then up towards lawson, it doesnt look far but once you start going up you realize it is a lot farther than you think. when I was hunting elk there I was a good ways up and looked back (to catch my breath) and there was a nice 4 point bedded next to a pine tree watching me, he let me walk past him at about 200 yards. my point is the openess of the country can be decieving, check every nook and cranny.
Jeff
C
cobowhunter
Guest
Jeff,
I'm considering a late season cow hunt in this area. Do you think it's a good late season area for elk? I've seen a lot of deer off Highway 9 in Nov and Dec, but I haven't seen many elk.
Mark
I'm considering a late season cow hunt in this area. Do you think it's a good late season area for elk? I've seen a lot of deer off Highway 9 in Nov and Dec, but I haven't seen many elk.
Mark
C
cohntr6
Guest
I did have a 4th rifle cow tag for 18, 28, 37, 371 a few years ago and saw lots of cows but didnt connect(long story). I would say yes it is good. There may be some problem with private property as a lot of the elk park there, but I know Blue Valley ranch hunts them (you can get on there with advanced notice) and some cross the highway to blm/nf and get pushed around. I dont want to say it is easy but it would be a good hunt to fill the freezer.
Jeff
Jeff
Lots of good info from everyone "BUCKSPY" hit the nail right on the head. Ok! Bucks, but nothing to get excited about. I hunted unit 28 one year south of "Green Mountain Reseviour", we were hunting elk at the time, (never saw so many hunters they were literally around every tree (no joke!!).QUICK STORY!!, We hunted for several days no luck!, Then we met an older gentleman who had been coming there for many years, after about our forth day or so he saw us coming in late one night and stopped by, after visiting for a while he said he didn't hunt much any more he just came for the friendship. He suggested a area, and pointed to a mountain in the distance and said if you guys will hunt that mountain tomorrow you will kill your elk. Needless to say what did we have to lose, so the next morning we both hiked up that mountain early before first light, well guess what!!! we both tagged out that day. After our luck we stayed a few days and started noticing that in that area the only hunters that were successful were the guys who packed deep in , they came out with some really nice bucks, 180-190 class. Sorry I'm rambling on, my point is ,during our experience, in that particular area we were in you didn't stand a chance if you were not prepared to get away from everone, thats been 7-8 years ago, maybe it has changed since then.I hope i'm wrong and it has gotten better, but Don't Expect a whole lot if it hasn't. Personal opion if you hunt the flats stay home,the deer won't be there.At least the deer you would pull the trigger on. (LTH)
S
sealer
Guest
SPY nows the area...listen to what he says. Here's a buck from the Lawson's Ridge area. I've posted this before...nothing special but he's a nice 3X3.
BTW, this area somewhat sucks with regards to hunters. Everywhere you look, you see blaze.
BTW, this area somewhat sucks with regards to hunters. Everywhere you look, you see blaze.
LAST EDITED ON Jul-24-06 AT 03:48PM (MST)[p]Big Pig,
I have been hunting in or around the Kremmling area for 12 years now. Spy is correct. Never have seen any bucks over 185.
The bodies on some of them are huge though. Sealer posted that pic of a buck I shot a few years ago. He was around 300 lbs in the field. 28" wide. I saw a relative of his or potentially his offspring late last year. The antlers were identical. The elk really know where the private land is and on some mornings you can catch one or two near the fences that seperate BLM and private. Other than that, you will be lucky to have a straggler come running through with 40 cowboys chasing it. Lots of trucks for sure!! I didnt draw this year and I had previously drawn 3 years in a row. So that means more hunters again this year.
West of Green Mountain Res is where the elk are. There isnt much cover on the east side of highway 9 by Kremmling. YOu have to get up high in the timber and hopefully a trace of snow each day will help you get on them. Good luck.
I have been hunting in or around the Kremmling area for 12 years now. Spy is correct. Never have seen any bucks over 185.
The bodies on some of them are huge though. Sealer posted that pic of a buck I shot a few years ago. He was around 300 lbs in the field. 28" wide. I saw a relative of his or potentially his offspring late last year. The antlers were identical. The elk really know where the private land is and on some mornings you can catch one or two near the fences that seperate BLM and private. Other than that, you will be lucky to have a straggler come running through with 40 cowboys chasing it. Lots of trucks for sure!! I didnt draw this year and I had previously drawn 3 years in a row. So that means more hunters again this year.
West of Green Mountain Res is where the elk are. There isnt much cover on the east side of highway 9 by Kremmling. YOu have to get up high in the timber and hopefully a trace of snow each day will help you get on them. Good luck.
S
sealer
Guest
To give you an idea of what Zilla34 is talking about...
BTW, Zilla is 6'4" and in the neighborhood of 285 LBS....
fat azz...silly punk buck
This photo will always crack me up...that damn skeleton kills me.
BTW, Zilla is 6'4" and in the neighborhood of 285 LBS....
fat azz...silly punk buck
This photo will always crack me up...that damn skeleton kills me.
