Two years ago, on Halloween, the higher elevation got 3 feet of snow.
Prepare for snow, but don't let is scare you. Wait it out...let it freeze and then drive out when the ground is frozen. That said, if you are where 3' of snow falls, you MAY see elk, but you are wasting your time for deer.
That said, you'll see lots of orange in there. Wilderness is a good idea.
I've hunted in there, and saw some bucks last year, but I don't know any great areas.
Oak Ridge is full of orange, my buddy got a 3 pointer in there, but I won't go back. That said...I saw 2 other bucks being worked on when I was in there. There is enough room in there to get back...have you hunted off a bike before? Get in five miles and then go on foot. On the eastern end, there is a closed road that goes west and is mostly flat. I lied, I'd hunt off a bike in there.
Jensen...if that is on CO-13, at 9 mile hill...lots of orange. I saw fresh tracks (snowed that night). Get away from any of the parking areas and you may see something. But, I saw lots of hunters in there.
Up by Illes Grove, in the state wildlife area, (I don't remember the name) I've seen deer, on the west side of 13, also lots of orange, and I also saw an antelope JUMP a barbed wire fence.
Get a Routt and Rio Blanco NF maps and a BLM map. They will both show the private land areas on em. Look for the spots where the public touches a road and then walk in.
In Meeker, just east of town, "Green Cabins" about $6-8 per person a night for a camping spot...a flat spot on grass to pitch a tent, nothing more. You'll also get a shower, and a toulet. I do not know the price of a cabin. I don't think they have anywhere to hang a deer. My friend picked it out so I stayed there. Not having to dig a hole, first thing in the AM was a good deal. The shower came in handy too.
On the north end of Meeker is a motel...the chamber of commerce knows where it is...Showers are $5.00. They provide the towells.
Check out the Meeker Motel...impressive mounts of elk and deer in the cafe. They have a pretty good menu for under 10 bucks. All you'll see in there is orange and mounts. It is a pretty popular place for hunters to get lunch or dinner...and get your motivation back up by seeing the monsters on the walls.
I MAY be hunting in there this year...I haven't decided on where to hunt, but it is on my "possible" hunt list. I just Emailed my oterh friend...he has tags for his kids in the there
Going south out of Meeker...there is a road that runs parallel to CO-13...there is some BLM, at times hunted heavy, then a road that goes, I think SE, into the NF...It looks like ELK country, but a rancher told us that there are deer in there. There is some BIG country back in there. Don't waste your time by going south of that road, it is all private or a waste of time.
There is a Walmart in Rifle, about 1/4 mile from the exit to Meeker. Meeker has some small grocery stores, but nothing big. Craig has a Safeway and a Kmart, and is a tad larger.
PM me if you want, when the time gets closer and maybe I can be more specific about areas that I've hunted in, or where I'm going to hunt.