Colorado 2rd or 3rd?

[muzzle]

Hey guys, I have never hunted out of state and I would like to give Colorado a whirl. Generally speaking is the 2nd or 3rd season better for elk or does it just depend on the specific unit? Also, would unit 43 be decent for either? Any help would be great.

 

[hunter_59]

Muzzle, It will depend on the weather for sure. This unit is very steep so extreme physical ability will be required. It is also within a "wilderness" area which means no "wheeled" vehicles allowed. Backpack or horse are the means of travel here. Good luck!

 

[accubond]

Muzzle, I hunted 43 in 2004 3rd seaon. There is a large amount of wilderness but there is still planty of land in the national forrest you can access by truck or 4 wheeler. We had alot of snow and extremly cold weather that year(even the hondas didnt want to turn over) so we found the game had left the high country for the most part. We moved down to some blm and killed a large cow and a 325" bull within 12 hours of each other. Talking to other hunters we were surorised at how many people had killed there bulls and we saw several other cows on the blm. I would go 2nd season myself and hunt higher where a guy has a little more land to roam as I'm sure on a normal year the elk will be in the national forrest vs. the blm. Great elk unit in my opinion, good luck on your hunt.

 

[tracker12]

Good info paased here. I have hunted CO for over 20 years and it all depends on weather as has been mentioned. I like to hunt the 1st season or the forth. First season hunt resident elk. Last season hunt lower and hope for the weather to push them down to you. I have had years where we hunted a ranch 4th season and saw 20 hunters all take bulls in 3 days. Other years 20 hunters take 1 bull in the whole 4th season. First hunt though I would try to find an area that holds a resident heard that is not as dependent on the weather and hunt as early as you can before they get run into the back timber.

 

[muzzle]

Thanks for the good info guys. I'm not sure what to do, as there are a few options still on the table. Sounds like a blast no matter which way I go though. Thanks!