Colorado # 23 & 24

newmuler · Apr 29, 2004

Hey guys, what is the deal with these units? I heard they have the largest herd of elk but how is the hunting, especially during 2nd rifle season? I put in for buck tag (deer) but am also thinking about buying an OTC for elk.

ELKMASTER101 · Apr 30, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Apr-30-04 AT 01:13PM (MST)[p]typ, the snows push the elk off the public land by second season and the only place to find them is on privet land.
or you can't get into them because of th snow.
the other problem is the public land is surrounded by privet and in some areas and they won't let you cross there land to enter it. or there maybe only one or two entrances in and its jambed with hunters who are hunting the front 2 or so miles.
and most have no means to get in any deeper.
I've been there done that. now i just just smill and wave as i ride the horses back in.
Going back there next year and taking horses in.
this year i'm hunting privet property taking in my new ATV.
1000 acres backed up on 2 sides with blm or wilderness land.
going first rifle.(hopefully)
and if not i'll buy an over the counter bow tag.
Spend 2 weeks in "screaming bull country".
Dang, my hairs standing up and i'm getting shivers just thinking about it.

chambero · May 5, 2004

My group has put in for 1st season ES tags. It is our first time to this area. Have always hunted around Durango or Gunnison in past years. Its my understanding that the elk do head toward private land pretty quickly when the pressure gets heavy. I've been told to expect to see elk, just not many big bulls.

ELKMASTER101 · May 5, 2004

LAST YEAR I SAW 35 OR SO BULLS,
thats no bull,
yes most were on privet land.
and many in the 300 to 360 class,
and a couple way above that.
during my 8/ days i saw probably 350 elk+
again mostaly on privet land and most of them I had no access to.
its a bummer sitting there watching a bull standing on the wrong side of the fence.

Charli2Fires · May 8, 2004

Private land and guided or semi guided trips do tend to yeild better success rates. In some places the bulls are almost as smart around a pack trail 4 miles back as they are around any crowded county roads. But there are allot of good outfitters and guides put groups in around Meeker and they can usually get you where you want to be. But you'll still have to be smart and work at it.

We don't use guides or horses to pack in, we tear our trucks and our bodies up instead. We hunt public land only all around Meeker. We hunt third season becuase the snow pushes the elk down and they begin to concentrate. If you spend your time doing some homework, you can be successful on public land during any season. But third has been our best, because we know what the elk do when the snow hits 3ft up top. They all move down. Alot of them move down to private, but its not all private

Our group of 5 guys filled 12 of 13 Colorado Deer/Elk tags last year. 5 cows, 3 bulls (6x6, 5x5, 4x5) and 4 Muley bucks. All public land, first week of November.

23&24 is an excellent place to hunt. Huge diversity in terain, climate and options.

Good Luck to you.
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