Unit 61 2nd rifle colorado (2017)red canyon

Knickdog · Aug 18, 2017

I drew a elk tag for the 2nd rifle season and was looking for any info on the red canyon area or a better place to start my hunt. any info will be very useful thanks knickdog

Crazy4Elk · Aug 19, 2017

I know a guy that hunted it 2 years ago and he shot a really nice bull in there. When I hunted there 3 years ago I scouted the area but never hunted it. After seeing his bull I wish I had.

Knickdog · Aug 19, 2017

Crazy4elk, Thanks for the response, I am interested in the visibility in the canyons are you able to spot from up above or will I have to drop down into the canyons and try to stalk them, that usually moves the elk out I would like to spot elk and then move in on them. Knickdog

Crazy4Elk · Aug 21, 2017

He and I both dropped from the top and there area some great area for glassing so yes you could spot and stalk. You can glass from the road but with very limited visibility.

Knickdog · Aug 22, 2017

Thanks crazy4elk, that will help me decide how to approach the trip, I plan on getting up there early and get familier with the area

FrontRange · Aug 22, 2017

Knickdog, you spent a lot of years building preference points to draw this tag and with your season coming up in less than 60 days you have yet to set foot into the unit? I wish you luck and you should be very grateful that members of MM are so willing to provide so much info. Hopefully your 11th post will be a detailed story of a successful hunt, (post hunt stories and thank you's are seldom posted)

Ridgewalker · Aug 22, 2017

Ha..wouldn't it be nice if we all had time to hunt every year and also pre-scout units we intended on drawing some day. The average Joe doesn't have that kind of time and/or money for the most part. It's pretty normal to never have set foot in a hard draw unit before you draw the tag..it's more normal to research, research, research and show up several days in advance to scout and then hunt your butt off...especially if you live one to five states away from the unit.
Knickdog, I hunted deer in 61 back in '05..3rd season. Saw 3 bulls that were over 340.. scattered between 7500 ft to over 9000 ft. All were between 2 and 3 miles in.. they are in there, but I would think a 320 plus is very respectable on that hunt. You will have fun. Great unit.

Knickdog · Aug 22, 2017

Thanks frontline and ridgerunner for responding to my ad. Yes I have been putting in many years for this tag(22) during this time I hunt a different area than 61 but I do know to hunt away from the crowd. I could bring a mule to hunt farther away but that is a lot of trouble since I will be hunting solo. would it be worth my extra effort to do that. Thanks and I will post my trip after the hunt Knickdog

blacktailBC · Aug 23, 2017

Ridgewalker. Sent you a pm

kalielkslayer · Aug 26, 2017

To answer your question about the mule, YES!

I know the issues well; Coggins test, livestock inspection certificate, slower travel, water and feed 2Xs a day = getting up earlier and staying up later after you're worn out.

But with my limited experience (archery elk, new early elk and 3rd season deer) I'd say yes.

I would imagine the better bulls would be pushed away from pressure after a month long archery hunt, 9 day muzzy hunt and 2 previous rifle hunts.

There are a lot of areas in 61 you can easily hike to and be 1-2 miles from a road and be into bulls. But some of that country is pretty steep. After waiting 23 years for the tag, I wouldn't want to have to think how I'm gonna get him out. Or not hunt an area for that reason.

Just my 2 cents.

Knickdog · Aug 26, 2017

Thanks Kalieelkslayer for your input. I am certainly leaning on bringing the Mule but knew there would be a lot of Red Tape. Hunting the bottoms will be where the Elk should be and getting lucky and downing one in the bottom will be a chore to get him out but after spending a lifetime to get in this unit I think it will be worth the extra effort. again Thanks and I hope I can post a picture of a nice Elk. Knickdog

oldmossback · Aug 28, 2017

YES, bring the mule. for one you can ride it and for 2 you are going to be thanking god you brought it when you have to pack something out of one of those oak brush canyons.
I hunted 61 in 2011 and ended up paying a pack service to get him out. best $400 I ever spent

Knickdog · Aug 28, 2017

Thanks oldmossback, I appreciate your answer and I am bringing a mule and 4 wheeler that way I can do whatever is necessary. Knickdog

Gator · Sep 5, 2017

Double yes on the mule hope it is a riding and packing mule, you find out they will spot those bulls before you do pay attention to those ears.
Get a old piece of firehose and run a lead thru it and it makes a great around the tree tie up without hurting the tree.
Good luck post up a great bull.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

Knickdog · Sep 5, 2017

Thanks Gater, I will give you a ten on the ears of the mule. I learned years ago that a horse or dog can detect things way before you see them. I am hoping for a good bull and will post pictures of whatever I do get. Thanks for taking time to answer my ad Knickdog

kalielkslayer · Sep 7, 2017

Good luck!

I want to see a picture of your bull, on your mule, on the pack out. I love those photos.

Knickdog · Sep 7, 2017

I have started getting ready for my little excursion into unit 61 co. Time is getting closer and I am going to head that way in a few weeks. I certainly appreciate all the response to my ad and wish I could personally meet everyone and tell you thanks but that is impossible so I will tell you now Thanks and have a safe journey wherever you go. Knickdog

Jerry · Sep 13, 2017

The $ 400 for a pack out sounds like a great idea---- I am now 70, not interested in a heart attack or blown back discs, been there do not want to try those again.

What pack out service did you use ? Would you recommend those same packers ? I feel next year would be good for my son in law to get a wall hanger there-- has 12 points, try 2 nd rifle season. I would assist him-- he is only 40. Next go round , ' 19, I will try it try. 5 days just not enough to try for 2 bug bulls in '61. I have never hunted the area or even looked it over. I live in Ft Collins, he lives in Broomfield. I plan to prescout/recon the area, out of my 21 ft Camper/Pull Trailer, hunt out of it too. I have 14 points & should draw. Never will get the very first hunt-rifle- not enough points.

Thanks so much ! Good hunting !
Jerry Gold
Ft Collins, Co
EM: [email protected]
Or Text Message to cell: 307--772--1623

Knickdog · Sep 13, 2017

I tried to get in the first rifle season from the get go and allways came up short so I decided to go for second rifle season because there were more tags available. it took 22 years to get into 61 hope it pans out with a decent Elk Knickdog

Knickdog · Oct 4, 2017

looks like all my plans washed out sat morn. I was riding the mule preparing for my hunt when she spooked at something and dumped me on the ground. broken wrist and 5 fractured ribs, so I will not be going hunting this year. I really wanted this hunt so thanks to everyone who responded to my ad. knickdog

Elkduds · Oct 5, 2017

That is no good! Condolences. The CPW will give your points back for a medical reason, they can probably find someone to use that tag as well. Terrible news, but @ least the wreck wasn't opening morning on your hunt. Good luck recovering soon.

Knickdog · Oct 5, 2017

Thanks for the info and the response. I have already send in my license for the hunt and hope I do get to keep my points for next year.

Gator · Oct 7, 2017

Sorry to hear that.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

Knickdog · Oct 16, 2017

Update on accident: I am slowly getting better, the broken Ribs are very painful and hurt any way I move. The Wrist is doing ok, they put in a metal plate and pinned it together. I was to start my hunt this Saturday but that will not happen if anyone does hunt this unit I wish them success and maybe next year I will get to go. Knickdog