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