Colorado Unit 74 Question

AzHuntElk · Oct 5, 2006

Me and my father drew an either sex elk tag (Rifle) for GMU 74. We did some scouting in the Hermosa Creek Drainage area by the ski resort.

Our plan was to focus on the backside of the ski resort...maybe hiking in a few miles towards Dutch Creek or Little ELk Creek.

I heard there was some decent snow in the area recently and my question is should we be focusing on hunting a lower elevation, or are the big bulls (or at least decent bulls) still in the area?

Also, we were planning on pulling my travel trailer to the area and parking it in Hermosa Park (a little further down the dirt road from the ski slopes). Do you guys see any issue with this plan. From our scouting trip I think we should be OK to pull it out even with a solid snow...but want to reaffirm my thoughts and not end up parking it up there for 5 months

Thanks and God Bless America!!!!

Miles

ColoradoBob · Oct 5, 2006

Stick with your plan---sounds like it should be OK. CB

AzHuntElk · Oct 5, 2006

Thanks ColoradoBob!

NMelkhunter · Oct 6, 2006

Miles-

You should be ok with your plan. As long as there is not more than 6" of snow on the ground permanantly, the elk won't move out of the area and you're not any too high. If you camp in the Hermosa Creek bottom you'll be able to get out under most any condition. If you have horses, getting back into the Dutch Creek and Little Creek areas will be much easier and its where a number of the outfitters go. You might also look on the north side of Hermosa Creek and hunt Sig and Relay Creek about midway between the lower Hermosa Creek Road and the upper road that runs parallel with the road in the bottom. This area is easier to access from the upper road and hunt down along the ridges into these canyons that eventually open into Hermosa Creek below. If you camp along the upper road, getting out will be a problem in a big snow, get out when you can. Hope this helps and good luck.

Steve