tips on elk hunting above the tree line

[mitchell]

hello gentlemen,

if all goes well with the draw this year ill be hunting elk in GMU 86 near coaldale Colorado. I've only been able to go on one scouting trip so far but while i was out i ran into a older gentleman he had told me he always had the best luck just above the trees.

as a first time elk hunter an a person new to colorado (only live here since Nov) i was hoping to get tips/tactics/advise on how to hunt. again if all goes well with the draw we'll be hunting first season rifle and OTC bow hunt for a cow (mostly used for scouting) i'll be hunting with a friend both of us in good physical condition and average shooters (haven't shot much in these crazy Colorado winds).

thanks

mitch

 

[JackinSD]

hello gentlemen,

if all goes well with the draw this year ill be hunting elk in GMU 86 near coaldale Colorado. I've only been able to go on one scouting trip so far but while i was out i ran into a older gentleman he had told me he always had the best luck just above the trees.

as a first time elk hunter an a person new to colorado (only live here since Nov) i was hoping to get tips/tactics/advise on how to hunt. again if all goes well with the draw we'll be hunting first season rifle and OTC bow hunt for a cow (mostly used for scouting) i'll be hunting with a friend both of us in good physical condition and average shooters (haven't shot much in these crazy Colorado winds).

thanks

mitch

I like to contact the Game Warden in the area that I will be hunting. They have been a wealth of knowledge and have always been very helpful. It also never hurts to have spoken to them in the off season, as they are not quite as busy. Then a follow up call a few days before the season opens.

This past year, my local Game Warden lined a place for me to take my dad, who is getting up in years. We needed a place that he didn't have to walk and we would be able to take a vehicle in to pick up his efforts.

I am sure there are alot of folks on here that can relay alot of high country knowledge to you, and I hope you have great success this fall.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

86 is a good unit with a lot of elk. It is good from end to end from the sand dunes to Salida. I have backpacked the crest of the sangres end to end in that unit. The archery and first rifle season timberline is good and you should have no problem finding elk about anywhere you top out that looks elky. Get a topo and get on google earth and find some hanging basins up there that have food, cover and water and you will do well. The ones with the dark timber coming right up into them are very good first season. They like the easy escape routes but early morning and evening you can catch them from above coming out to feed at the tops of the timber in those hanging basins. Glad you are in shape because the tops of the sangres can be some tough hunting. The rewards are good though if you stay with it.

 

[silvertip-co]

Hunted there many many time with no luck. Others have had good luck tho. Best thing is get as far off the road and off the beaten trail as possible and prob go to treeline or above. Take your water bottles and oxygen. And good luck.

 

[mitchell]

thanks everybody for the tips.

silvertip- where did you hunt at and what was the issue where you hunted if you don't mind me asking? just too many people?

 

[MagTen]

I visited Colorado on a fishing trip last week in the Canon City - Salida area. We did a lot of running around that area and it sure has changed my idea of an elk rifle and where to sight it in. (distance). It is obvious you can get some long distance shots. I am planning a hunt this year in the Walden area and a little west of there.

 

[jackem]

Good optics, with excellent low light capabilities for first light and last light times when you have the best chance of finding game, are important.

I also suggest GPS Hunting Maps on a GPS mapping devise. Put in a waypoint during archery season every time you see an elk and/or a good vantage point for glassing. By rifle season you should have enough data for a good starting point.

Jack