Where to hunt?

[jmtigerfan]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-15-08 AT 10:09PM (MST)[p]How are you guys, a newbie here! I've got a question for you who know a hell of alot more about elk hunting than I do.

I'm from Louisiana and I've been elk hunting for the past four years in CO with a couple buddies. Needless to say, I'm hooked, obsessed, and consumed by it now. Being a flatlander from South Louisiana, I love being in the mountains in that cold fresh air. I dream of bulls and chasing them all over the West.

We hunt unit unit 78 around the Navajo Peak area and we've gotten to know the place pretty well over the years. The main guy I go with has been going there for over 8 years, and he has yet to kill a bull ( has killed a couple cows).

I did'nt even see an elk while hunting the first year (OTC 2nd rifle), and struck out 2nd year during muzzle cow in units 82 & 83. Last year we hunted 1st rifle back at 78, and I missed a decent bull the last day of the hunt. Needless to say, it was a loooong trip back to Louisiana.

I redeemed myself this year by tagging a decent 5x5 on the 2nd day of our hunt this year (3rd rifle OTC), in the same exact spot I missed from last year, so I was pretty damn happy this hunt! My two hunting partners did'nt see another legal bull. Weather was hot and dry. I got really lucky this year.

So here's my question, where would you hunt if you were a NR to have the best chance of killing a legal bull. We're not trophy hunters (yet), and it's hard to make a good gravy with those antlers! We both only have 1 PP for '08 in CO. I've heard that NM has some excellent hunting also, and it's not too difficult to draw a NR tag for some decent units. We have our own mules, and we tent it.

So, what would you do, stay where we are (few bulls), move to another unit in CO, or try NM? Also, which season? So far I've hunted muzzle, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. I'd really love for my buddies to kill a bull (and me a bigger one!). Thanks in advance to all your replies.

 

[tageater]

Personally, knowing an area is a big part of the battle.There is a reason those of us that can scout an area do. knowledge of the area.

You tell us that ya'll have hunted this area,and have seen legal bulls in it. I'm thinking if it were me, i'd stick to this area that you have a general knowledge of.

Just my thoughts.Good luck either way.

 

[jmtigerfan]

Yeah tag, but we've seen very few legal bulls. My buddy has been elk hunting for 8 or more years and has yet to kill one. And this guy is is a hard hunter and an excellent marksman. I just don't think the area has many legal bulls.

When I read remarks from some on this forum about seeing 30 bulls on a trip, that blows my mind! Where are all these bulls, and how do I get a chance at them?

 

[ktc]

I would continue to hunt Colorado. You can also get landowner vouchers there. Maybe do some research and get into a better Colorado area? In the meantime, apply for Utah, Wyoming, and NM. Utah and Wyoming have points while NM is no points. You can hunt Colorado while you wait for a great unit in Wyoming and Utah. Maybe even look at LO tags in NM.

Why not hunt mule deer? They are smaller and not near the work once they hit dirt!

Some jackasses say Utah is a "slamdunk" for Utah bulls. I will admit it is pretty good! It will stay real good if no one messes with the system.

Good luck.

 

[AWHOLELOTTABULL]

Good advice ktc!

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com

 

[jmtigerfan]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-15-08 AT 10:58PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-15-08 AT 10:56?PM (MST)

Thanks ktc, but I'm not sending Utah $75 a year for the next 25 years to be continually dissapointed.

Muleys? Nah. Hard to get excited about them once you elk hunt.

WY, don't know squat about the hunting over there. CO, we need to do some more research to find other units with more legal bulls than 78. NM, I don't know much about either, but have read some good reports about good bull:cow ratios.

How do the landowner vouchers work? How do you get a LO tag in NM? Thanks.

 

[REDDOG]

"hard to get excited about them once you elk hunt" . elk are dip shits compared to big muleys, you best stay away!

 

[Deerlove]

Come hunt the LE Utard elk runt rifle hunt it's a "slamdunk" hunt!! See ya in year 2060.

 

[mntman]

jmtigerfan,
You didn't know squat of colorado when you started here ;-)
so don't let that stop you from other states. Do the research on a zone with good draw odds and the quality/quantity of bulls you are looking for and then spend a few days scouting it in the summer, early fall and couple days prior to season.

The majority of success in elk hunting is gained in scouting prior to season. I'd rather have 5 days scouting and 1 day of hunting than 1 day of scouting and 5 days of hunting.


Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

 

[mntman]

oh yeah, put in for tag ie, CO that you can draw every year. You are elk hunting plus gaining experience, then when you draw that tag in UT, NM or where ever you have some bulls on the wall, no what you are looking for and don't waste a good tag on trying to learn elk...
Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

 

[ktc]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-16-08 AT 03:49PM (MST)[p]tiger,

Elk are pretty dumb. I would highly recommend the mule deer thing. ;-)

Go to huntinfool.com and you can see the LO tags in both Colorado and NM and get a feel for what they cost. I am not sure how they work, but I am going to find out in Colorado this year.

Based on what you say about the $75 a year in Utah, that would eliminate all states but NM. I think NM would be a great pick for elk, but I have never hunted elk there. Wyoming does have some great elk hunting though. $40 for each point and the general areas would not take too many points to draw. Not sure how many though.

btw; Don't mind Deerlove. He confuses MM.com for PETA.com regularly. He hates seeing those beautiful elk get shot.

 

[jmtigerfan]

Thanks for all the advice guys. My buddies and I are discussing our options, and I think we're gonna put in for NM and hunt CO if we don't draw. Anybody got any suggestions for units in NM? Gila, Valle Vidal? Just joking. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If anyone who hunts NM would like to hunt with us, we have three good mules!

 

[sjhgraysage]

If you are going to stay with CO, then heres what I would think about if I were you.
There a quite a few Limited Entry (LE) units in CO, some take a lot of points, a few you will probably never have enough for, and there are several that you can draw bull tags for with 1 or two points and possibly hunt cows as a second choice.
Saying that, make a list of the LE units then find out which ones take 0-2 points to draw as a non-resident. Weed out the ones that don't interest you for whatever reason, terrain, elevation etc.
Then research what the success rates are for your target units. You should be able to come up with a short list of units.
By going LE instead of OTC you will have less competition, if you guys like to get away from the roads and it sounds like you do, with 8+ years of combined elk experience you guys should be able to find elk and the bulls. JMHO

 

[jmtigerfan]

Great advice! We're looking into the LE units for next year. Thanks again.

 

[Willametteriveroutlaw]

>LAST EDITED ON Jan-15-08
>AT 10:58?PM (MST)
>
>LAST EDITED ON Jan-15-08
>AT 10:56?PM (MST)
>
>Thanks ktc, but I'm not sending
>Utah $75 a year for
>the next 25 years to
>be continually dissapointed.
>
>Muleys? Nah. Hard to
>get excited about them once
>you elk hunt.
>
>WY, don't know squat about the
>hunting over there.
>CO, we need to do
>some more research to find
>other units with more legal
>bulls than 78.
>NM, I don't know much
>about either, but have read
>some good reports about good
>bull:cow ratios.
>
>How do the landowner vouchers work?
> How do you get
>a LO tag in NM?
> Thanks.


You buy them, they are on private land most of the time.. As for the point game, its pay to play. 75 bucks is cheap money if it takes 25 years your still only out about 2K for a great tag..

75.00 is like one night of dinner and drinkin.

 

[AWHOLELOTTABULL]

Food for thought......even though NM doesn't have a license fee to apply, you can apply without ever getting a tag in your lifetime (likely) or you could draw every year (highly unlikely). I know guys that have applied since they started the draw process in NM and haven't drawn a tag yet. No preference points or bonus points systems there. Your best option in NM is LO tags.


It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com

 

[chipc]

'Tigerfan,
I find it interesting that you imply that DIY hunters are superior to guys who pay guides but then in your next post you ask for free advice. Hmmm... maybe ''babysitting'' is ok after all, right ?

 

[jmtigerfan]

I never said anything about DIY guys being superior hunters to those who hire guides. If that's what you imbibed, then that's your problem. I said I get a great sense of satifaction out of DIY. Remember, I'm from South Louisiana. It's so flat down here, you could roll a marble across the ground for a mile. Colorado's terrain is like Mars to me!

My only beef is with those who hunt high fence, or private land hunts over cattle pasture. That's not too challenging, and nothing to be proud of.

 

[jmtigerfan]

>'Tigerfan,
> I find it interesting
>that you imply that DIY
>hunters are superior to guys
>who pay guides but then
>in your next post you
>ask for free advice. Hmmm...
>maybe ''babysitting'' is ok after
>all, right ?


And also, I was'nt asking guides for advice, I was asking anyone who was kind enough to share some wisdom. I've got no problem with guides, hell if I lived out West, I'd probably become a guide!