Colorado 2007 ML or bow

[naturalelite]

Never been out there during the rut. I got blanked this year for the first time and want to go out there and try it during the rut. Any advice on an area and or tips for bow or ML. I know its a long way off but I want to get all the info I can before I decide which area to try for. Any and all advice appreciated.

[TJay]

Me neither, but if you're thinking of going the ML route you will have to be drawn for a license. Where we are planning on going it takes a minimum of 2 preference points (2 years) to get drawn. Bow should be over the counter.

[naturalelite]

Me neither, but if you're thinking of going the ML route you will have to be drawn for a license. Where we are planning on going it takes a minimum of 2 preference points (2 years) to get drawn. Bow should be over the counter.
I would rather ML hunt but I am not against going out there with a bow. I know you can't have a scope and that you must be drawn for a license but I dont' know much more than that.

[Southpaw]

No scopes or sabots.Powerbelts are ok. If you are going to bowhunt some good hunting on and around Cuchara down at the bottom towards Walsenberg. Doesnt look like much public land until you get there.Great place to kill your turkey if you are looking to complete a slam...

[454Casull]

There are areas for a draw license, either ml or bow, that will not require any preference points. You can go to the Colorado DOW website www.wildlife.state.co.us (http://www.wildlife.state.co.us) there are links for the drawing results for previous years, and you can get an idea of how many points it will take to draw a license for that unit. I would agree that around Cuchara is a decent area, never hunted there but have to talked to people who have. I've always heard the Gunnison area is decent. The northwest of the state is probably considered the best. As far as catching the rut, determine where you are going and then try to time it. The rut will typically come earlier in the northern portion of the state. I used to live in Colorado and have hunted several years there, but have not harvested an elk.

[mastin03]

Probably a good thing that you are looking this far in advance. The area around Walsenburg, as previously stated, is a pretty good area. Also, farther south around durango and Pagosa Spring (where im from) has A LOT of big Bulls taken every year if you wanted to get up into some thinner air :). IF you were willing to wait it out for another year, i would try to put in for the Units up around Craig. You wont get it the first year, but thats the Unit everyone wants to hunt, and it obviously takes preference points...there are some MONSTERS in that area in the NW corner of the state.

Also, If you are planning on archery hunting, make sure you prepare early and practice practice practice. Most guides in the area, just to give you an idea, want their archers to be able to shoot 60-65 yrd. comfortably. My cousin had a guy take one at 80yrds last year. If you can be COMPLETELY comfortable in the 60-70 yrd range, you have a much better chance at taking a good bull. Im not saying its a neccesity, but for what its going to cost you for an out of state liscense, i would be as prepared as possible.

Hope this helps, and dont hesitate to ask questions if you need any other info, I lived in CO for my entire life before moving to KY for school, and it sounds as if there are few others on the forum there as well. Ill help any way i can.....Never know, might even have to hook you up with a honey hole or two.....but we'll see about that.

[naturalelite]

Thanks for the info guys. I have hunted craig before for mule deer. And I just got back from hotchkiss just on the other side of the grand mesa from pagosa springs I believe. We were in elk but they weren't moving during the day at all. And with no hunting pressure other than yourself they weren't coming out of that dark timber. We talked to a few locals and they said that area was hit hard during ML season so we figured they had them spooked pretty good. I want to be one of the ones in there spooking them while their active looking for cows. Thanks again for the info. And any honey holes are appreciated:D

[moreammoplz]

I have been to Colorado three times for Elk. Twice with a Rifle and once with a Muzzleloader. I just got back into bow hunting. The Elk are more active and vocal during Muzzleloader season and usually the weather is not as bad. I shot had a cow tag the year I went with a Muzzleloader and shot her from 40 steps away. I ran into about a dozen feeding in the aspens. I came around a corner and there they were. We were eye ball to eye ball. The rest of the trip I walked with my dad to see if we could get another shot. We walked up on a 6 x 6, and several spikes. (He had a cow tag also). If I were to go to Colorado again, I would do the Muzzleloader.

[3Gfarm]

Hello. I also go to Colorado elk hunting almost every year. We are planning a MZ trip so some can also bow hunt if we don't get drawn. If you are interested in joining us, drop me a note at: 3Gangusfarm@netscape.com.. will discuss any items you want and give you some pointers. We have been going since 1990. NOTHING beats it, and I have also been to Africa.

Bill

[4onaside]

Elaborating on your info, which is accurate. The new preference points tables are the number of points required to be in the draw for a particular unit, not necessarily the number of points needed to draw a tag. If you put in for a high point unit and have less than the minimum, your name wont even be in the hat. However, a more accurate idea of what it takes to draw in a certain unit, is in the draw/harvest/survey stats which are on the same site. Gives you the resident/non-resident info(80/20) for the previous years and the actual percentage and number of each category drawn.