Colorado Unit 81

G

garyh

Guest
Howdy fellow hunters. I'm starting now to plan a DIY elk hunt in Unit 81 for October 2015 (just can't make it this year). Planning on heading up the Conejos river valley USFS 250, find a camping spot, and hunt west into the South San Juan Wilderness Area probably along the South Fork Conejos trail #724. I've never hunted this part of the state before since for years I was tied to a group of older men that always headed to the Uncompahgre plateau. Does anyone have any experience in this area? I was told by a girl in the Rio Grande NF office that even camping is severely restricted along that road. I find that hard to believe since it is public land. Any thoughts on that and past elk success in that area would be greatly appreciated.
 
It is surprisingly tough to find a campsite along that section of FS 250, outside of the established campgrounds operated by the FS, if I recall correctly. So the girl in the office is probably right. Just the lay of the land in the river valley, and some of it is private. If you have trouble finding a place in that area you can go further north, or south. Going south you can camp at the Duck lake trailhead. Either go up to Duck lake, or hike up Elk creek. You will have company. Elk are scattered all throughout the unit, until the snow flies. I think the first rifle hunt (via drawing) is about 25% success, not great, but not terrible, and much better than the 2nd and 3rd seasons.
 
Thanks JRABQ. She told me about the camping near that Duck Lake trail head and farther north around the Lake Fork campground. But why on earth would the Conejos and Spectacle Lake campgrounds be closed after Labor Day as she said and not available to hunters in the fall?
 
We hunted the area in 94 and had 4 1/2 FEET of snow in two days. What started as an early Oct. fun elk hunt with horses ended up a lesson in survival. The area is prone to early heavy snow. Be weather aware if you pack in very far off the road.
 
>But why on
>earth would the Conejos and
>Spectacle Lake campgrounds be closed
>after Labor Day as she
>said and not available to
>hunters in the fall?

Good question, but it is common practice for FS to close most of the Fee type campgrounds after Labor Day. It is the federal gub'munt we're talking about.
 
I appreciate the heads-up Phantom. I haven't ordered the topo maps yet but that whole section of USFS 250 must be considerably higher than I was expecting. I was told the road is kind of wash-boardy but not truly treacherous. We didn't plan on taking the truck very for at all off that road but maybe 50 yards to set up a camp.
 
Gary, pretty much the entire Conejos canyon along FR250 is under camping restrictions. Platoro Res has a few camping sites that sit beside the road, but there isn't a whole lot places to camp along the road itself. Conejos campground was shut down 2-3 yrs. As it was explained to me that spectacle lake CG and Conejos River CG were too close together and neither recieved enough patronage. So they closed the Conejos River CG and kept spectacle lake open. In order to camp in the Conejos canyon you need to get away from FR250, and even then if it is not wilderness or a hair from it, you still might have issues. Best bet to keep your pocketbook happy is to call the forest service about camping locations if you want to stay outside the CG's.
 

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