Colorado Unit #55 any info?

R

rookie

Guest
greetings,

any of you folks ever spend time in colorado unit #55? We are considering a drop camp elk hunt with John Nelson in this unit. Just curious if anyone has hunted any of the country or knows of the outfitter. Man ten months or so to go, It's gonna be a long hot summer

LH
 
Its a big area and the hole thing is prime elk habitat. The bull to cow ratio is around 27/100. I hunted in this area 4 seasons and had shots at two bulls, got one cow. I wouldn't expect to get a big bull out of unit 55, although there's a fair number of 300 class bulls anything much bigger would be rare. Realistically I wouldn't get my hopes up for something mcuh bigger than a raghorn. There are plenty of elk in this unit but it is also heavily hunted. I've heard good things about that outfitter, but I would ask him what his success ratio is on bulls. Do you have any alternative hunts?
 
Not at this point, I've got some feelers out and waiting for some feedback. In talking to the gentlemen he seemed pretty straight up.
Good country, primarily raghorn, but the chance for better, success ratio depends much on the hunter. Said typically 50% of people have an opportunity to harvest a bull. but probably only in the 20% range that get it done. Thanks for the reply, the outfitter for this area said the camp would be 4-7 miles from the road, so hopefully that will ease the hunting pressure quite a bit. Never been elk hunting before, so it will be a learning exp.

thx
LH
 
Well I doubt that you'll see any other hunters camping that far from a road! Area 55 is proabably the most beautiful place I've hunted elk and since the DOW has went to a draw for deer there have been more and bigger bucks around, but it takes 1 to 3 points to draw. I would shoot the first legal bull I saw. The biggest tip that I would give a first time elk hunter is know your gun and be prepared to take a 4 to 500 yard shot. Check out the balistics on the grain bullet your useing and sight in accordingly. Good luck, I'd bet you'll be a full fledge elk fanatic after its through.
 
Bobby,

thanks for the info and reply. When you hunted #55 did you go it alone or with an outfitter? i'm glad to hear about the scenery part, can't beat hunting somewhere that's beautiful. The outfitter commented on the deer, but pointed out you have to have a min of 1 pt or forget it, I'm going to go ahead and put in for a tag and at least get a point this season, might be all ready to go for next.

thx
LH
 
I lived in Gunnison for 6 years and got to know the area, so when we hunted in unit 55 we were unguided. You could easily do the same as most of the back roads in that area will lead you to good elk habitat. But getting a guide on your first hunt is a good idea, this will give you a blue print if you ever decide to go for it by yourself. The reason the guide mentioned that 50% of his customers have shots at bulls and just 20% score is because they didn't spent enough time with their rifle. A few years ago I took a 200 yard off hand shot at a bull and hit it in the leg after tracking it for two miles we had to leave it unfound after dark. The next year I bought a hand held tripod and took a cow at over 400 yards, so thats a sound investment. Don't worry about your friends think they won't be laughing when you have blood on your hands.
 
Yeesh, 400 yards! I can see that far, but it's been a while since I've done any long range shooting. Here in Indiana we primarily hunt white tails with a scope sighted, rifled barrel shot gun. about a 120 yard outfit or just a bit more. I do some predator hunting and I guess I'll be spending some time at the range. I have a pair of very nice fiberglass shooting sticks and I'll be sure and pack them. What caliber of a rifle do you prefer? I'm not much on a lot of recoil, I find I don't shoot well with it. I really prefer a .270 for what larger caliber centerfire shooting I've done. I've thought about buying a .300 win mag, but man I hate the thought of
cranking that dude off too often. Can a .270 do an acceptable job on elk? It's a flat shooting sucker and puts them where you want them. But hey this is the perfect excuse to by a new rifle and that's pretty cool. I've got a decent place to shoot so I should be able to get a good deal of practice in before season. It's going to be an interesting summer.

thx
LH
 
The trouble with larger caliber rifles is that most people tend to flinch more with them when its show time. I prefer a 7mm with a 162 grain hornady bullet. I sight in at an inch high at 100 yards, then your dead on at 200 yards, I aim 8 inches high at 300 yards, 18" high at 400 and 26" high at 500. A 270 would be about the smallest rifle I'd use for elk and a properly placed shot will easily do the job although I would not recommend it. My uncle purchased a 338 with a ventalated barrel and it kicks like a 25-06 or a 270 so you might want to consider that in a 7mm, 300 or 338, although they are a bit more pricey.
 
There are lots of 4x4 roads in this area. 4-6 miles from a road might be tough to do. I would get the outfitter to tell you a general area for you to cross-reference on a map. If it is really that far, he should be worried about you trying to get there without his help. I used to fish up around Spring Creek Reservoir. Used to see lots of elk up around Flag Mountain in the summer.

We hunted Unit 54 this year, which is to the west. Didn't get anything, but it is spectacular country (see my recent pictures posted on the mule deer page). There are outstanding elk in 53 and 54, but it is tough country that you really need horses for. The harvest in these units was very low this year due to weather, so I would expect next year to be very good. If you are looking for drop camp alternatives to 55, I would suggest these units. I would recommend Tenderfoot Outfitters out of Gunnison. You might call Berfield's store in Gunnison for other suggestions.
 
I live in Gunnison and have hunted 55 for several years. Chambero is right about the 4x4 roads, except for the Fossil Ridge Wilderness, there aren't many truly isloated areas. ATV use has made it even more difficult to get away from the crowds. This unit is popular and sees a lot of hunters. I would suggest that you get in good shape before the season and be prepared to do a lot of hiking. We saw nine bulls this year, including three 6x6, all on public land. I don't have any experience with local outfitters, so I can't reccomend anyone, but with a little homework you could put together a nice hunt on your own.
 
Waygoner, I lived in Gunni. for 6 years and loved it because of all the fishing and hunting opps near by, I now live in Pueblo but enjoy going back that way for the good stuff, lake trout fishing, elk and deer hunting. A couple of years after the DOW went to the draw for deer I noticed that the deer population has gotten much better with more quality bucks around. I've hunted both 54 and 55 and really noticed the difference in 54, is the deer situation as good in 55 as it is in 54. The biggest bull I've seen in 55 is around 290, have you seen anything bigger than that? I don't know why but that Gunnison basin just doesn't produce many big bulls over 320, I think its because its to cold, and of course hunting pressure.
 
I agree that there aren't many big bulls in 55. It's not a trophy unit by any means, but the deer hunting is getting good. The doe/buck ratio is 2/1 right now. I'm waiting to draw a late season tag in 55, but it might take another two years. I've seen some great bucks about 20 minutes from my house. I live on the river and can fish 50ft out my back door! It's a great place to live, but the winters are brutal. It was -36 on Monday.
 
The one thing that I don't miss about living there is getting into a vehicle and having to freeze for 10 minutes when I couldn't warm it up. The winters are brutal to say the least and they took there toll on me but its still worth living there just because there's no other place in the state in my opinion that has so many different hunting and fishing destinations within a 30 mile radius, my goal is to live in Pueblo and buy a vacation, cabin or house for weekend trips. That would be the best of both worlds for me. The deer hunts in 54 and 55 require 2-3 points for a 3 season tag and 1-2 points for 2nd season, I have 2 points now and should draw the late hunt in 54 next season. Do you happen to know what the ice conditions at blue mesa are like?
 
I don't ice fish so I don't know what the conditions are like. I met some guys from Pueblo last year that were hunting the early rifle season in Union Park. Was that you?
 
Its been a few years since I've hunted in 55 and use to hunt around taylor and doctors park. I now hunt in unit 80 near south fork, I've seen more and bigger bulls in that area. I also have permission to hunt on some private property in unit 69 that has some big bulls but I have to get a couple of points to draw. 54 and 55 provide great hunting when there is 6 inches of snow on the ground or so but I've had very littly luck in those units without snow.
 

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