CO Unit 43 & 47 Public Access

[rackem406]

I've been doing alot of research for my 3rd season 43,47,471 muley hunt and after talking with people, reviewing the maps, etc. My big question is how to get to some of these places with all the private land. Being from AZ where it is the landowners responsibility to post private property, I'm not used to having this fear of accidently tripping and falling two feet into someone's property and getting fined.

My other question is camping. Everyone says make reservations early. I'm bringing up a travel trailer. Is there public camping areas, do they charge and are reservations needed there too? Or is it just if you are planning on staying in a hotel.

Any input would be appreciated.

Rackem


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?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin

 

[coloradoman]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-29-06 AT 11:11AM (MST)[p]Where do you plan to start? I can give you some info on the area around Carbondale if that is where you are going.

 

[sremim]

Its big time different in CO than AZ. After I came up here, it took a little bit to get used to it. Its a lot harder to just go outside of town into the forest and find a place to camp. At least where I live it is. I think if you are going to stay in a motel or in a campground you need to make reservations early. I know exactly what you're talking about, because where I am going there is very few public places to camp in the forest. Also, if some of that public land is land locked, you may not be able to access it. Check your maps for county roads, as those usually allow you access. However, if they are only private access roads, good luck. Keep your maps handy and study them. I have never seen so many maps for one area. I have nine maps for the areas I'm hunting. And I constantly look at them to make sure I'm not on private land. Sorry I can't be more specific about access in your area, never been there. Definitely different than AZ. Can't wait to get back there, where its normal.

 

[rackem406]

Coloradoman,
We are planning on of basing somewhere near the Carbondale area or down the 133 from there. When I look at the landownership maps along 133 it looks like there is a strip of private property along both sides. I plan on hunting on both sides, but I think I might end up spending more time west of 133. I guess knowing which of the county roads that go through private that are legal will be really important.

I prefer to be able to just park and camp out there. Is that going to be possible or do I need to make reservations at a campground? I would hate to do that and be so far away from the places I want to hunt. Are there areas we can just park and camp out there?

Sremim, you're scaring me with all the talk of it being a different world. It is nice in AZ though when it is posted private property. I know it is my responsibility to know exactly where I am at, but I've never been so paranoid about it.

Rackem


***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin

 

[ktc]

Hey guys,

Please help this guy out! You will not regret it. Nice guy that is willing to help others, so please send him some PM's!

Sorry rackem, but I know very little about Colorado! Ask me about Utah and I can square you around. Hopefully soon. Good luck.

 

[rackem406]

KTC,

Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it. I hope to be able to take you up on Utah someday and if you get drawn in AZ you know who to call.

Rackem

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin

 

[org1]

Rackem, it's not as bad as some are saying. Pick up a White River National Forest map. It shows public (NF and BLM) and private land. Then get topo maps of the area you want to hunt and draw the private on them. For me, this is a good way to get to know a new area anyway, and it's cheap insurance against trespassing.

I haven't hunted the area you're talking about, but from looking at my forest map, it appears there's lots of access. Also, you can camp anywhere on the public land, generally. The NF map will spell it all out. IMHO, topo maps are as necessary as binoculars for hunting. You never really know where you are or what you're getting into without them.

Good luck on your hunt.

 

[PleaseDear]

There is a FS district office in Glenwood Springs and a little field office in Basalt.

It wouldn't hurt to contact one of them and see if any of the campgrounds are still open.

For some reason they close alot of FS campgrounds in the Rockies around mid September... most are under a contractor and the 'Camp Host' is gone for the season and there is no more garbage service... and so forth is the spin on why only the recreation users not hunters in the fall need the campground....

I'm chasing my Mnt. Goat for the next week so if I get a chance I'll dig out my White River FS map for around that area/units and get ya a phone number or two....

Try a 'search' for White River National Forest in the interm and that might get ya some info on camping....

The 471 unit option wouldn't be to bad a deal for being almost all public south of the main road up to Independence pass if the snow doesn't hit real deep.... Aspen crowd of stuffies will still be asleep when ya hunt out in the early morning....

Might luck into a little 'Local Talent' at one of the taverns... haha

Robb

 

[rackem406]

Thanks guys. I have a forest service map for the area, purchased a huntdata topo map showing land ownershiphe and I'm spending hours looking over my Delorme software to get a better lay of the land which also has unit boundaries, land ownership and 3D navigation.

I still need to call the wildlife manager and talk for a while. But of course I'm forgetting the obvious like contacting the district fs office to find out about the closures for camping. I'll definitely be making some calls next week. Thanks again.

Rackem

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin