76 Archery or 76 3rdRifle?

[HillbillyNnevada]

If you had to choose one of these hunts for elk, which would you choose?

I like the idea of getting to hunt in the rut during bowseason but I like to rifle hunt also. I am concerned that snow could be a major limiting factor in the 3rd season due to the high altitude.

If anybody has insight on what to expect on a 3rd season elk hunt, I would like to hear it. Thanks.

 

[HillbillyNnevada]

Come on guys, its not like this unit is a big secret or something. I thought for sure someone would have responded. I know someone knows something about how deep the snow gets in the 3rd season.

 

[stillhunting]

I hunted 76 a few years ago black powder ,elk elk every where , few hunters. Between that and the poastings from rocketman and others who have done well this year I don't know why you would want to risk a hunt on weather 3rd season unless it was a cow tag.Good snow the elk are down,too much snow your screwed , no snow, after 2 monthes of hunting the bulls will be well hidden and holding tight. Nope , archery , smoke pole ,or 1st rifle would be my only choice for a bull tag ..3rd cow go for it !!

 

[HillbillyNnevada]

Stillhunting, PM sent.

 

[stillhunting]

No I don't know any one that has hunted 3rd in 76 , but I looked up the stats. 2008 3rd rifle 16 bull 89 cow 9 calf . 63 antlered hunters 16 bull 16% success. 379 total hunters 30% success. 2008 archery 170 hunters 50 bulls 2 cow 31 % success the archery guys did twice as good as the 3rd rifle bull guys!! 1st rifle bulls 51% , muzzy bull 47% but those tags take a long time too get!! You may want to look into unit 66 Its right next door and takes way less points . Good elk ,lots of wildernes 2008 archery 237 hunters 55 bulls 0 cows 23% sucess and thats a eather sex tag had some of those guys arrowed a cow the % would be much higher . 1st rifle bull tag 42% success not bad!! You may not see as many BIG BULLS AS 76 but there are some,but there are a lot of good bulls,depends on what your goals are.Or do a archery 76 then a 66 rifle 2 or 3 years later.Oh and the snow 3rd season can be 6" or 3' in a matter of days and the weather report at that altitude means nothing,but I would say 6" to 16" is pretty common.Hope this some help ..

 

[Colo]

Are there any roads that go from the Creede side to the Ouray side? I need to do some scouting next summer and I would like to check it out before I draw.

 

[HillbillyNnevada]

Stillhunting,
Thanks for the great info and input. I still have a little time to figure out what I want to do so I will mull it over a bit.

 

[yeff2]

I've heard from some people that have pretty good intel on 76 and they said that it's a much better unit early on. After the archery/muzzleloader pressure and then followed by snow that a fair amount of these elk will push north and south off the unit. The unit has some high elevations and a lot of rough terrain, it receives snow very early in the season. I was told that there are a few years when by late rifle seasons a lot of elk could be gone and hunters struggle trying to fill a tag with a mature bull and by that I mean a bull to justify the years of preference points put in waiting on a tag.

I hope this helps.......