Colorado or Idaho hunt

straightshooter · Mar 25, 2005

Fellers I need some advise. I badly want to hunt elk in either Colorado or Idaho this fall but have never hunted in either state before. Just looking for some direction as to what units to research. I'm not looking for a trophy bull but any unit with possibly good odds of harvesting an animal. Any help would be most appreciated.

elk_horn · Mar 26, 2005

Colorado has more elk... Im not sure where you live,,, is colorado closer or Idaho. That may not be a factor... but if it was me I would hunt Colorado... there are alot of units you can get an OTC tag. Look on the Colorado fish and Game Web page and check it out! Especially if you hunt archery.

straightshooter · Mar 26, 2005

Thanks elk_horn! I'll have to spend some time researching the G&F websites. I was leaning towards Colorado because of their numbers of animals but my father-in-law wanted to go to Idaho because he used to live and hunt there. Were just looking for an opportunity to hunt an OTC area that has good numbers but not huge animals.

gunnut · Mar 30, 2005

I live here in Colorado and my vote would also be here. I would check out some of the South-Western units around Montrose. There is lots of public land and good elk. If you don't mind hiking or can rent horses I would look at unit 54 in the wilderness area. You would have a good chance at drawing a tag there. Last year the DOW sold 570 either sex tags and only 624 people applyed for them. That was the third season whick is when I would go. Make sure you dress warm because those mountains are high and they have been getting most of the snow this winter. Any other questions drop me a line. Jovan

Oakbuck · Mar 30, 2005

I've hunted both states with over the counter non-res tags and my vote is also for Colorado. Unless you draw the primo areas of Idaho, and that chance is slim to none, you will end up hunting areas with about 15% overall success rate. gunnut is right about getting out of the roaded areas in Colorado. I've never seen so many Texas, Arkansas, New York etc. rigs in one place. Gotta follow the elk into the back country.

FamilyMan · Mar 30, 2005

You say that your father-in-law is going with you and that he used to live and hunt in Idaho. Based on that I would probably recommend hunting in Idaho where he knows the lay of the land. You can spend several seasons hunting in Colorado (or anywhere in the west for that matter) just learing where and how to hunt. In Idaho, you already have that knowledge working for you.

Best of luck.

Mark

ELKMASTER101 · Mar 30, 2005

COLORADO,
If you head back into the hell hole areas remember to take a frying pan.

straightshooter · Mar 30, 2005

Thanks for all the advice guys. I've been looking at Unit 43 for the third season and possibly going for a combo hunt. I would probably try to find someone with horses to rent or pack us into some of the wilderness areas. Any thoughts or suggestions would be most appreciated.

stw7mm · Apr 3, 2005

I suggest you look into Unit 76 in southeast Idaho. I hunted deer there last year and I saw at least 4 six point bulls within 5 days. One was probably in the 360 class and the other three were 300-320. I was in the Meade basin area northeast of Montpelier. There are 50 non-resident rifle tags. It is a hard draw; however, you can archery hunt it over the counter. Colorado has 4 times the quantity but the bulls in this Idaho unit are 4 times the quality. Good luck!

ELKMASTER101 · Apr 11, 2005

straightshooter,
try this .
www.coloradohorsebackvacation.com
owned by dellis & linda ferrier
they run a lot of horses out for hunters.
they have been in my camp before and i've given hay.
tell them that that flatlander from iowa, recomends them to ya.
I'd look at the back inside south corner of 53,
back in west elk wilderness,