CO 62 archery elk

Oregonbowhunter · May 14, 2008

I would really like to get to Colorado to hunt elk and deer. I might be able to do it next year if things go well between now and then. Never hunted out of state before, graduated college last year also so just now getting on my feet. I have researched it a bit and looked at the CDOW website and all the stats. I looked up pictures to see what the terrain and habitat is like. I like the looks of the green growth and the aspens. I looked at a map that shows the overall view of the unit and seems to be a lot of areas to get away from the roads.

I am looking for a good decent hunt that I can expect to see good numbers of game, not necissarily(sp) big bulls. What can I expect for hunter numbers and what not. If I get off the road will I have room to my self? Thanks, any help is much appreciated.

sjhgraysage · May 14, 2008

62 is one of the most popular units in western CO. Lots of hunters. The unit is one half of the DAU (data analysis unit) "Uncompahgre" the other half is unit 61 which is pretty tough to draw. (You would need at leat 12 or 13 points to draw an archery tag for 61.) That fact I believe skews the bull to cow ratio, which is probably lower than stated for 62 and higher than stated for 61, does that make sense?
Anyway there are elk in both, way more bulls, IMHO, in 61 than 62, However there are bulls to be had in 62, the average bull taken there will probably not be a six point. If your looking for solitude during the hunt, better plan on walking in a long ways or finding a different unit.

NickJ1980 · May 14, 2008

Solitude and 62 don't go in the same sentence. If you've ever been in a traffic jam on a city freeway you'll be in familiar territory on the Uncompahgre every friday night of the season, just replace pavement with dirt and Civics with Superdutys attached to fifth-wheels attached to ATV trailers.

There are some places to get off the roads, but a lot of it is dry, low elevation winter range type habitat. Plenty of people off the roads too--there is a good network of trails and lots of folks bring horses.

It's not a terrible place to start, but there are better spots for getting away from the crowd.

Oregonbowhunter · May 14, 2008

Wow, I guess maybe I'll look elsewhere. I wondered when I saw on the harvest stats about there being 1900 archers in that unit. I didn't know how big the unit was and if they spread out enough. I guess I'll try and find something else. I would like to find a good bull to cow ratio so I'm not just seeing a ton of cows. I'm also trying to find terrain that is moderate, I want to take my dad. He's in ok shape just not capable of the real steep stuff. The habitat is a big thing for me. I want to hunt elk in the greener areas with aspens. I have dreamt about that for a long time. Not looking for a sage or juniper hunt. Any suggestions? Thanks

YukonDall · May 15, 2008

HEY GUYS....DOES THE HUNTER TRAFFIC ALSO APPLY TO THE 1ST ELK ONLY SOMEWHAT LIMITED TAGS/ OR IS ARCHERY JUST OTC FOR TAGS MAKING IT OVER HUNTED ??? ........YD.

sjhgraysage · May 15, 2008

YD,
Find out how many tags they issue for first rifle, including both bull and cow licenses and you should have a pretty good idea. I've been in 61 on that first rifle hunt up near divide road and it wouldn't surprize me if quite a few of the elk run over onto the 61 side seeking a little less pressure on the first day or so.