Colorado unit 201 tag drawn

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pheasantman

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After 22 years I drew an elk tag for the October rifle season. Anyone have any helpful info on the unit. Hoping for a 350 or bigger bull. Topo looks like it would be good day hunting coming back to a good camp at nights.
 
Congrats! Cold Springs is the dominant feature of the unit. There's a bit of private to contend with on top of Cold Springs, but not enough to deter hunting there. If I had the tag, I'd begin looking on the upper parts of that mountain. But, I've never had the tag, and never will, so someone else may have a "secret" for you . . . Even in 201, a 350" bull will take some work and luck . . .
 
Hey Pheasantman, I hunted 201 about 10 years ago for deer, It was a great hunt loaded with deer and elk, We saw several muture bulls every day, From singles to groups with up to 5 bulls in the group. From what we saw it hunts for elk very small,but there is lots of them. Ya there is a touch of private high on the hill.But not enough to hurt the hunt. Just strap on your pack and start walking and glassing.Leave camp in the a.m. hit it hard and enjoy camp at night. Even after the rut the bulls were screamin all night. The bull to cow ratio was off the chart.We did not see a 350 bull but several around 300.We ended up with 3 great bucks , no giants but they scored in the 165 to 171 range. Take your fishing pole there is a great little creek loaded with trout. I hope the game numbers are the same or better for you, It should be a hoot! Freedomrocks
 
You can do better than 350 in this unit. I have 21 points and am right behind you. There aren't tons of 375 elk anywhere, but there are some in this unit. Lot of roads, decent access, and a relatively small unit. Easy to set a camp and hunt from there each day. Have fun.
Bill
 
I have never, and never will, get the pleasure of that tag. That being said, I have drawn the border tag in Wyoming three times, and have personally seen some jim-dandy bulls in 201. I talked to an outfitter's guide last year who was scouting for the upcoming muzzy season, and he said they wouldn't shoot a bull under 350.....

I shot and lost a bull with my bow that went 340 plus, that sucked bad, not the size as much as the loss. Just an fyi, if you happen to shoot and wound one and he runs into Wyo. for some reason, you are not allowed to pursue, as per our local warden. The bull I lost ran back into Colorado, and I could not get in touch with Colo. DWR to check and see if I could pursue, but our warden advised against it.

You have drawn what I believe to be a VERY premium tag, and I'm jealous!! If I happen to get lucky and draw the tag again this year, I'll once again put my heart and soul into it, and try to score on one of those bulls that wonder over to hang out in Wyo.

I'm not sure what I could do to help from here, except maybe send you some pics of bulls from my pre-season scouting, to make you drool.....

Best of luck with your hunt!!!
Jbo
 
Thanks for the info. I would like to scout ahead of the season but don't know if time permits as I have to harvest some beans and corn before the hunt. I live in South Dakota. Going to Alaska the first of Sept. for a drop caribou hunt so time runs short. Want to hunt hard for a good bull as I know the unit has a lot or respect. I did shoot a 354 bull in Wyoming once and would like to get one of that caliber. If you would want to send some pictures my email is [email protected].
 
Congratulations pheasant man,
Please give me a call and see if i can help you or point you in the right direction.
cjoutfitters.com
thanks,
Chris
 
I hunted 201 three years ago with a muzzleloader after having 17 points. There are enormous bulls in there if you are willing to walk. It is a bigger area then it appears and an ATV is highly advised. The ATV's can navigate the roads much easier than a full size truck. We would park ours at least 1/2 mile from our hunting areas and walk in. Plan on long days. We would get up at 3:00, atv to parking spot and be walking by 4:00. Get in position before the sun even thinks about coming up and the elk will move all around you. Scent control and paying attention to the wind is extremely important. Had a misfire at a bull at 45 yards that would have easily topped 375, may have been pushing 400. Oh to have had my '06 with me. Ended up not filling the tag by passing up all the smaller 6X6 bulls until it was to late. Once I had seen the big one I spent 5 days trying to find him again. Great hunt and a great experience.
 
>I hunted 201 three years ago
>with a muzzleloader after having
>17 points.

Was the 17 year wait worth it? Then to come home eating tag soup? Just curious.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."
 
Thats a fair question. If you would have asked right after the hunt, the answer might have been different. I went up there on three different 5 day scouting trips and then went up for the hunt 4 days early. I knew the size of the bulls that are there. I left holding my tag strictly by my choice. I could have shot several dozen raghorns up to a couple 300 to 310 class bulls. Other than the monster, I saw 5 other bulls that would have grossed over 350. Maybe not a net score and I might be a little off but there are quite a few good bulls in that area.
We had to contend with bird hunters the first three days of the muzzleloadiing season and that had me pi$$ed off. The elk scattered with all of the shotguns and people. On Tuesday the elk settled down and the rest of the trip was amazing. We were up to our elbows in elk every day.

In the end - yes - it was worth the wait. I just wish I could have figured out why my gun chose to misfire at the monster bull yet, when I had hiked back out of the area, it fired just fine. It was enough to make the Pope swear.

Another thought, I have seen pictures of two bulls, and personally seen two other bulls that have come out of 201 duriing the rifle season in the last two years. All of them had many, many broken points. That would be an argument to go during muzzleloading instead because the antlers were in perfect shape during our hunt. (not counting misfires!)
 
Thanks for the reply.

I had a friend draw a Unit 10 archery tag last year and he didn't fill his tag either. I asked the same question to him and his answer was a resounding "yes it was worth the wait" and he also indicated not filling his tag was his choice and he was elated with the hunt even though he ate tag soup.

Glad to hear the experience was worth more than punching the tag. Thanks again.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."
 
Great question tailchasers. Amazing and honest reply crusher23 and great reply back tailchasers.

That is the responses most of us enjoy hearing and reflex's the majority of the kind of hunters that are on this site. Always the kind of hunting associates I tend to seek out and hunt with.

That is why it is called hunting and why it is a bonus and such an accomplishment when a hunter ends the hunt with a 400" bull or the 200" buck. However, the hunt is all the memories from the time you find out you drew a tag, the scouting and preporations, the planning and most of all the time in the wood with freinds and family. Most of all is what you make of the hunt and in the end that the inches are not what dictate the success of our hunts.

Best of luck to all that will be in the field making memories this fall!!!
 

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