Help - 1st elk trip planning - Colorado

[Adam]

Guys,

This is my first post on the board, it looks like a great place with lots of info!

The reason I'm making this post is I need help planning a trip to Colorado(?) this September for archery elk.

My dad, brother, and I, would like to come out and hunt public land. We can't afford an outfitter, at least a guided hunt, but would consider a drop camp hunt if the price was right.

Right now, we're trying to do this ourselves and we're having trouble figuring out tags. I've been all over the CO DOW website and I cannot find out (with certainity) whether or not there are any OTC either-sex tags. We're just looking to come out, enjoy the experience and hopefully get into some elk.

Can someone help me with this? I've looked at every link I can find on the DOW website and I can find what I'm looking for.

I'll have lots more questions (some of which I can probably find the answers to by searching the archives) but this is the first step.

Thanks for your help.

Adam

 

[marley]

Most of the state is open to OTC archery tags. The proclomation lists the units that are not allowed as OTC area. They are 4 point or better or cow. Hope that helps.

 

[Adam]

That's a step in the right direction. Thank you.

 

[toughshed]

be in shape and try the Leadville area but first check if it's an OTC unit...I dunno for sure.

Routt County on NF lands can be good too for archery but you'll have to scout it and you'll have some competition.

 

[jmtigerfan]

Hey Adam, how long are you planning on going for? I've been hunting the Navajo peak area in unit 78 for a couple years. Got my first bull this year (rifle) after missing one last year. I'm the only one in our group who's seen a legal bull the last 2 years, so I can't say if it's loaded or not.

If you can get there a couple days early to scout and learn the area, it will help greatly. I'm not sure about the archery regs as I don't bow hunt, but I'd be happy to answer any other questions. Good luck.

 

[mntman]

yes, the majority of the state is OTC archery. The proc reads valid EXCEPT for the following units...

Narrow it down to a couple of zones by pouring over maps.
Also get ideas from the CO DOW bioligists and game wardens.

Then come out and spend a week scouting in the summer or at least a couple of 3 day weekends to find/learn specific areas.

You may have to adapt to the situation once you arrive to hunt but you will have somewhat of an educated guess to go off of though.

Just take the plunge it's worth it

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

 

[Adam]

Thanks for the help guys. I live in PA so coming out to scout isn't much of an option for me (frankly I don't have the vacation time nor the finances to do it otherwise I would!)

We're looking to come out for about a week, not as long as I'd like but that's what we can do.

I was mainly asking about the tags to help us in our search, we didn't want to key in on an area only to find out it wasn't OTC. We've been looking at the DOW website Game Maps, asking questions on boards such as this to get ideas of places to look, and then we're going to call the DOW to key in on the most promising zones to get specifics.

I really don't expect us to get an elk but the trip is all about the adventure and just having a good time. That we WILL accomplish.

If you guys can offer any more help on spots to look into, I'd really appreciate it. Just so you know, IDEALLY, we'd like to find someone to pack us up into the area we're going to hunt 3-5 miles on horseback. I have a outfitters tent and woodstove to set up a drop camp. I want to wake up in the area we want to hunt, not have to walk there everyday. Then, we'd have a satellite phone to call for the guy to pack out meat if the weather is too warm to keep in the mountains, to call for help if someone gets hurt and to call the guy to come pack us out at the end of the trip. Any help with that (and the realistic possibilities of it happening) would REALLY help. (I know that we got to figure out WHERE we want to go first though.)

Thanks again!
Adam

 

[mntman]

If you are that serious on getting someone to pack your stuff in a option maybe to rent horses yourself, not sure if you have knowledge on that?

As far as picking an area, you may want to narrow it down quickly by looking into zones with wilderness areas. You would have minimal competition from other hunters, plus more than likely there will be a outfitter in the vicinity of it to conduct your drop camp? Not sure would have to check but probably half of the wilderness areas are OTC archery?
Also if you do a drop camp, the outfitter should be able to give you a jump start by giving you some basic advice on the area since you won't be able to scout it.


for future help. What ever zone you end up picking, I would have to say stay with it for a couple if not a few years, unless it's an absolute miserable time. Due to you learning more and more about it every year and becoming a better elk hunter in that area.


Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

 

[Adam]

Thanks for all the help so far guys! I really appreciate it.

Right now, we're looking hard into the White River National Forest, in particular, the Flat Tops area and specifically units 25, 26, & 34 which appear to meet our wilderness area / OTC either-sex archery criteria.

Anyone have any experience in that area that can offer up any help as far as the elk population, the chance to get away from people (I read that some areas are still open to ATVs, how does that work, I thought that's what wilderness areas were all about (no atvs)), guys to pack you in there, etc?

Thanks!

 

[toughshed]

Contact the Colorado Outfitters Assoc...if you are gonna get packed in that's the place to start.

Without that kind of help and no scouting, you are at a BIG disadvantage to start. You are gonna need someone who knows the area and can put you where you need to be. Probably gonna spend a few dollars for that but I don't see too many other alternatives.

Flat Tops is a good area though and has excellent numbers so your chances of success are pretty decent.

 

[Rammu]

This is an easy one. Look into going to the gunnison basin area. There is plenty of public land and alot of NF area. Plenty of elk once you figure out where they are and get your bearings straight. You can gather info from the locals in the town of Gunnison during your stay also. Good luck.. IF you want I would also look into coming to Utah and archery hunting for a Spikebull/Cow. Im just jokin on that one..