Colorado 61 Rifle

fullcry

Active Member
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I drew a Bull tag in 61.My brother knows the unit pretty well.Anybody interested in sharing info i would appriciate it.
I will go over and scout it here real quick.Any one who could add a little intel would be appriciated.
 
We had our sights on three Bulls last year there BUT not our area and just had to watch them go back across the roadway and stand about 125 yards from the road looking at us.
Wrong place and wrong tags, story of my life. Send me a PM and I will tell you where we seen them.

Brian
 
fullcry,
great tag! I have been to the unit a couple times. send me a pm I'll respond with some ideas of what i'd do it i had the tag. good luck
 
Hello,
I've been a viewer for a while. Figured I might as well use my first post to try and be helpful. I think that's what forums like this are for...right?
My dad will be hunting the same season as you. If he tags out early I would be happy to call your cel and tell you what we've seen and where. Since he has the same tag I won't talk specifics but here are a few words for what they're worth.
Stop at the Forest Service offices in Grand Junction and get the Uncompahgre road status map. Not the cute little fold up pamphlet map of the national forest. The Uncompahgre has undergone a lot of travel restrictions over the years. Some roads are now open to atv's but not trucks. Some are open to dirtbikes but not atv's. Some are foot and horse traffic only. The large color-coded map of these restrictions will save you a lot of gas. The map is posted on the divide road and the signage throughout the unit is very thorough. But some fellas have been switching signs around.
During the season there are elk from Nucla to the divide, from the north end to the south. They use all types of vegetation with one thing in common...thick. Thick forest, thick cedars, thick oak brush. Game concentrations seem to be higher in the south with rolling to steep hills with lots of small openings. It's a lot of fun to creep along and cow call. If you are into long range glassing the north has some larger canyons that are conducive to that and possibly fewer hunters. 61 is all habitat and even with 100 plus tagholders I have never felt crowded.
I would not recommend packing in. Problem is, if you don't like the quality of game around camp you have to pack it all out in order to hunt new territory. There is not a chunk of roadless habitat in the unit that can't be hiked across in a few hours. My opinion is that it is better to keep your options open. Camp near a road and hike into different areas as necessary before sunup.
The unit is far from lush but it is cattle country and therefore well watered. We're also getting decent rains right now. The elk have plenty of options as to where to water.
Once the archery hunt starts new animals pour in nightly from the unlimited area (62) next door. Then the harems disperse. The mornings get cooler and all of a sudden there are elk where you haven't seen them all summer! I know fall can be busy and it is hard to take much time away from work...but I would rather have 5 days to scout in early October than the whole month of August. Be mindful of archery and muzzleloader seasons...those hunters have also waited a long time for their tags and they might be a bit resentful if their stalk were spoiled by someone "just looking".
It never ceases to amaze me but every season I see lots of raghorns coming off the mountain. A five point just might be the average bull taken in 61. I personally have never seen a booner in 61. Correct me if I am wrong but the outfitters in 61 usually each have one client a year take a 330 to 350 bull, with the occasional 380. A couple years ago I tagged along when a friend harvested a 345. A game warden and four forest service rangers stopped by camp over the course of the afternoon. Word of mouth had spread and they all brought their cameras. Point is these guys work up there all season and they thought it was a bull of the caliber rarely taken.
Hope this helps
 
350 class bull in 61 is a bit of a stretch. I know of several in that class and larger to come out of the unit over the years but they are few and far between. Still a quality elk hunt and you should have fun. Good luck.
 
I drew this tag 2 years ago. Fun hunt. The only problem with the rifle hunt is to many cow elk tags given out. You better have your elk spotted before season or the cow hunters will move them out. It seemed that after opering day the elk bailed off the top into those deep dark canyons. My friend shot a 363 8x6 and my other friend and I had tag soup. Saw lots of rag horn bulls and great bucks. Good Luck.
Gary
 
HEY,Thanks guys for the tips.Those of you who i havent already talked to... I will call each of you.Sorry Schedule is really tough right now...In and out of town...
 
Hey guys if anyone of you have any info on unit 61 for mule
deer or are going to be in the unit scouting for elk and would
like to share, that would be very appreciated my hunting buddy
has drawn a unit 61 tag for 3rd season rifle.


thanks
 
WELCOME TO MM, OFFICIALLY, UPHILL!
You seem like a heck of a guy to share all that valuable information. I have never hunted or spent much time in that part of the state but it is great reading about it! IT's cheesy but I love Colorado! i may give 76 a try next year for rifle bull.
Jeff
 
FullCry,

Coloradohunter18 is a juvenile who acts much younger than he is. He should be ignored.

BeanMan
 
so beanman are you trying to say that i dont know anything. well ill just let you think that. and just to let you know for the record i act older than i am
 

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