Eagle Nest Wilderness.

[bubba]

Has anyone hunted around Gore lake in the eagle nest wilderness. Just doing some preseason scouting and was wondering what can one expect out of that area for Deer and possibly Elk. This would be an early season hunt with the intent to backpack in a few mile. Any info will help...

bubba

 

[westelkman]

Yep, its a terrible spot no animals there....

Seriously, I can tell you [and the world reading this] that wilderness has gotten so busy over the last 10 years its not nearly what it once was. I was in there bowhunting making a big loop 2 years ago and at one of our camps [at 7 miles in] we had 5 other groups set up within 400 yards of us on the weekend-crazy busy!
The whole corridor right off the freeway heading up to the tunnel is actually better than the wilderness, IMO.

 

[leonard]

We hunted up there on a weekday last September had passed at least six groups of day hikers within the first four or so miles of Gore Ck. trail. I would recommend climbing up the steep slope south of I-70 or Deluge Lake trail or hunting the east side of the Gore Range (unit 371). The trails in the Vail area see tons of hikers/backpackers and they do travel cross-country too.

Leonard

 

[AntlerJunky]

Hunted the EN wilderness several times and the area your talking about. Find a canyon that is nasty and rugged and you will find animals. Lots of elk and some good deer however the deer are far and few between. Ive been there and seen a fair number of deer and then times when it disgusts you! The saying of getting away from the masses of people is true to this area. Theres another way in to the wilderness and easy to find if you look hard enough. I wont tell you my honey hole but they are there! Ive had the opportunity to kill an elk everytime ive been there, but I also beat the heck out of my body! Hope this helps.

 

[bubba]

Man its hard to find some high back country thats not over hunted. Thanks for the information.

Bubba

 

[ICMDEER]

Went up there a few years ago to hunt during muzz season for deer. I had scouted it pretty well and had seen a few solid bucks. My buddy and I went back the day before the opener and could not even get a place to park near the trailhead. And we had picked out our place to camp about 3 miles in, but there were already a couple of outfits set up there, so we camped elsewhere. We stayed a few days and punted. Too crazy for a Wyoming guy. We went down lower and got away from the muzz elk hunters, but never saw a really big buck lower either. Funny thing was I could have gotten a decent elk, but never saw a good deer up in the wilderness after the season opened.

The whole experience kinda reminded me of the Wyoming Range and the Greys River in western Wyoming. Hunters galore.