colorado elk hunt

[moa_shooter]

Yes, definitely. But it is pricey

yeah it is pricey thats why we probably wont do a guided hunt but not sure yet

 

[Ts3]

I would recommend Rocky Mountain National Park. Tags may be difficult to get. This was last weekend.

 

[Caveman0101]

I've had tags for the border units, there are literally hunters behind every tree.

 

[cohunt]

View attachment 148755
I would recommend Rocky Mountain National Park. Tags may be difficult to get. This was last weekend.

beautiful pic-- to see a crank load of beautiful elk, just go into Estes park on the start of hunting season-- they all come down from the hills--block all the roads, eat the grass at the golf course--and even let out lots of bugles and bash some antlers for all to see

 

[Plb119]

Just use the golf cart for easy retrieval off the course .

 

[dixiemagnum80]

I'll try to give you a realistic idea of what I have encountered in CO. I'm not trying to deter you here and I'm not saying you can't walk out and kill an elk on public land, but this a VERY hard thing to do. Being able to draw a youth tag may get you into better areas and that may work to your advantage. I've hunted north central Colorado 4 times on foot, in the last 10 years in a unit that didn't require preference points. This is not a "great" area, but there's a few elk around. My first year was my best opportunity. I saw a few elk and almost stumbled into a shot at one. Since then the number of hunters has gone through the roof and the elk are mostly on private ground because of it. One thing I can tell you, there will be A LOT of hunters no matter where you go if it's public ground. If you have a horse or a mule, you may be able to get away from most of the other people. If you hunt within a couple miles of a road or campground, you will run into other people several times a day and frustration will set in....especially during an earlier season. Later seasons will require different tactics because of the greater possibility of bad weather. The land is vast and it's not as easy as it looks to hike up a mountain. If you do your research, averages will tell you that your chances of killing and elk are less than 10% in most areas. You can up your chances by studying maps, planning to hunt as high as you can get, and keeping a positive attitude throughout the hunt. Again, I'm not trying to make you think this is a bad idea, but I want you to have a good understanding of what you could get yourself into on a public land hunt. It can be a lot of fun and very rewarding, but it can be very frustrating too. For me....just being in the mountains is what it's all about....but I will be going other places and doing other things from now on. I don't like horses and I don't have the finanaces to pay an outfitter or spend my summers scouting, so I have to rely on the preference point game to get into better areas. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[Plb119]

I agree, public land hunts are tough to find elk on, or the crowds can be large. I have been going since 1987 and didn't draw this year. Our group is trying Wyoming instead , no guarantees there either.
We were really frustrated by the $80 small game tag for non residents, Colorado Likes our money a bit too much for what they offer.

 

[longbowelk]

I agree, public land hunts are tough to find elk on, or the crowds can be large. I have been going since 1987 and didn't draw this year. Our group is trying Wyoming instead , no guarantees there either.
We were really frustrated by the $80 small game tag for non residents, Colorado Likes our money a bit too much for what they offer.

I've bowhunted or muzzleloader hunted elk in Colorado for 35 years. My honey hole got way over hunted in the last 3 years due to DOW issuing 200 extra rifle cow tags around 2015 to 2018. We used to see a good number of elk but after 2 yearsI'm of horrible sightings we went to a new area last year, unit 70, south of Norwood. Best looking elk woods I ever saw. However, last year was OTC archery. We had muzzleloader cow tags. I never seen so many camps and 4 wheelers. See 2 single cows but no shots. Every day we went out on a new route. Had to hike a couple of miles to see dried weeks old crap. I notice this year DOW has 70, 71 and most of SW corner as limited draw archery. They finally got the message. It will take a few years to get it back to decent. I have a friend been hunting 71 for years, same story, way too many bowhunters. He rifle hunts. .he leaving area too. That $200 for a preference point is ridiculous. I enjoy my elk hunting in Colorado but they about done me in.