I was in 62 on 9/11 and it was my first time hunting in Co. I originally was going to hunt near Paonia & Crawford, dreaming of a DIY,OTC archery back country hunt. I got talked into hunting 62 by a game warden who hunts and got me to go to 62 North Sec. I also agreed to go with a guy that was to be my new hunting partner... You’re gonna love this one, I ran an ad and one of the Facebook big game sites and I posted “Hunting Partner Wanted”. We hit it off the times we met, practiced our bow shooting, etc....but when it came time for the 9 hr drive from Las Vegas, I knew after listening to him talk for the entire 9 to 10 hrs that this just wasn’t gonna be fun for me and that splitting up would be the better move to make.
We arrived on one of the few days there was rain and I was worried because was driving a 2 WD 2500 Duramax, with 6x12 enclosed toy hauler/camper trailer with 800 RZR in the bed of my truck. The plan was to use the razor to cover a lot of ground, spot and stock, find water holes to sit, and possibly backpack into more remote areas which I probably should’ve done.
I feel stupid for waiting till the moon went dark instead of coming out when season opened with a full moon...as you all know...the darn ML season for black bear and I believe Elk/Deer opened after our 2nd day I believe. The morning ML season started...holy **** it sounded like an AR 15, AK 47 shooting match. The shooting was N.E of Divide Forks Camp Ground. We had done a lot of research about this area for terrain, water holes, food, shelter, glassing spots, etc. We scouted up to Dominguez Ridge and all areas in between. I had one encounter with a Bull which was the second morning there. My partner went west, I went east to take up a spot overlooking game trails found the day before, just after shooting time, this nice Bull came crashing Over ridge right towards the trails I would be covering and I had just arrived and my bow unloaded, along with back pack had just been set down behind tree. He stopped 35 to 40 yards uphill from me, grunting, looking down towards my direction and I was frozen still...by the time I gained my senses to try grabbing bow, putting arrow in rest, raising and firing...he took off for the next hill. All in all, we spotted no deer, lots of cattle, horses, and one Bull Elk.
I came home pleased to have done the research, crated multiple plans, found current sign and an encounter with a Bull. Major mistake being in an area with so many hunters road hunting, bike hunting, and then start of ML season....I don’t know they make Semi-Auto ML’s! LOL
I’m now thinking strongly of finding some areas with fewer hunters/tougher terrain, more Elk, and a back country, maybe back packing hunt either drop off by horse back or Llamas.
I wanted to find an area I could learn, come out with my wife and back pack, camp, scout my hunting area, learn an area over the years.
While we were hunting this area, we came across a Grandfather and his grandson riding around in a SxS road hunting for black bear, and a good number of road hunters, one guy using his bike to scout/hunt. I learned a lot, the expert was mostly positive but I want a more wilderness experience I guess.