Thinking About Hunting the Flattops

[chambero]

Three friends and I are considering giving the Flattops in Colorado a try next year. I know the area gets hunted hard and that we shouldn't expect to find big bulls, but we are just wanting to connect with elk. We should be able to draw Either-Sex tags. I haven't been to the area before and would like some general information on drainages/general areas we should think about. Last year, either-sex tags were only available first season, but with the low harvest this year I wouldn't be suprised to see them expanded. We will definitely go when we can get either-sex tags, but if they are available for later seasons we would consider those. I will be going up this summer scouting and would just like to narrow the search. We arent' afraid of backpacking in a ways if necessary.

 

[kevclyde]

have not hunted the flattops but have hunted across the road. that is north of the flattops.we plan on going into flattops some day. we have horses to pack in with. have been told it is rough but there are some good bulls there. i wouldn't go in there late season they say they are all moved out if it snows. have been snowed in with horses by pegota peak north of flattops. 3to4 feet of snow at least there were 10 people lost one died. planes an choppers flying around when storm lifted. we wondered what the hell were they doing. they were looking for lost hunters. we didn't know that till after we got out an talked to deputy sheriff at trailhead asking us if we had seen any lost hunters. it is a good place to hunt but watch the storms. we were hunting the second season.hope this little bit of info helps.

 

[Elkchasin_fool]

I have hunted to the north (Dunkley Pass) and to the west (Ripple Creek Pass)a few years, although don't personally have access to horses to go into the Wilderness area, and would not recommend heading in off the road more than a mile or so unless you have them - There is some good hunting in some of the secluded pockets outside of the wilderness area during the first season, and the first couple of days of the second season, but after that it can become a real struggle! I would not personally recommend getting too far off the road after the second season as the weather can be unpredicatable that time of year and you might have to spend the winter! Elk #'s are good in that area, however the chance of a big bull is not good, but if it's meat your after, and don't mind lots of other hunters it's not a bad choice. Hope this helps, and Happy Hunting - Mark

 

[Hondoarcher]

Ten years ago my brother, his friend and I packed in to Papoose Basin during an Archery hunt. We hiked in from Marvine Creek which is just North of Lake Avery (Trail 2248 in the Colorado Atlas). We chose this route because of the heavy traffic over by Trappers Lake in the summer. The plan was to go in 15 miles and hunt on top, but my brother?s friend pooped out at Papoose Basin (we never made it to the wilderness area). I had to carry half of his pack for a mile to get that far. We hunted there for one full day and I saw a cow and a rag-horn (this was a 4 point or better area). I found a trail that was very well worn but wasn?t on any of the maps that I had.

That night my brother?s friend wanted to go to another area, saying that this area didn't have any elk and he knew a better place. On our hike out we ran into a fresh rub made by a large mature bull in the middle of our trail. I was sick for leaving but all the gear was owned by my brother?s friend. This was our first elk hunt and none of use knew what to expect or do.

On our way out we talked to the outfitter who's cabin was at the end of the road on Marvine Creek. He said that he takes hunters in during the rifle season and sets them up along the migration rout that the elk take when the winter snows come. The clients can pick the animal that they want because they pass through in long single file lines. The trail that I found was one of those routs.

I would suggest that you use horses for this area. There is too much country to cover for backpacking. I would also suggest you do some summer scouting on horseback to find the migration routs that the elk take to get out of the mountains and just locate where the elk hang out. If the snow comes during you hunt you can easily take an elk on these exit routs. If it is a dry year you will have to do it the old fashioned way.

Good Luck,