Colorado elk hunt.

[muddhunter]

I’m trying to piece together an elk hunt in Colorado. I have never hunted elk and certainly never hunted any big game out of state. Looking to go second rifle season or muzzleloader. Any advice at all would be helpful. Not even sure how to get started.

 

[Dan99]

I’m planning on doing this too, eventually. I’d start by getting onX or HuntStand with the 50 state property line data (which costs a lot more than just one state) and start looking at National Forest property. Elk are big deer, and what they need to live is what whitetails need to live: cover, food and water. Mark off places that are far from human access and have what the elk need to survive.

 

[riverboss]

Early muzzleloader would be my pick, they should be Bugling at that time.
Elk are big deer but when they get scared they will line out and run for miles.
I have hunted 1st season 2 times in the flat tops lot of pressure there.
Plan on going 1 more time but it will have to be private land for me to go, to much pressure on public.

 

[bearleft]

Colo. public is like Taylorsville WMA during Turkey season! Two years ago 2nd rifle
we were 9 Miles from the nearest road and ran into 15 different people on two separate mountains. Anymore, I don't think you can get far enough away.
Preference points for muzzle is the way to go!!

 

[littlebear]

We have good luck elk hunting public in Colorado. Plenty of national forest and Blm land to pick from. Been hearing talk of the 2nd season moving up a week earlier. I’ve bow hunted early season and hunted several times 2nd and 3rd rifle. 3rd rifle is almost to late I think now because the weather is more likely to be really bad with snow. Last several years 2nd season weather was rough. Snow can be a good thing because a bunch of it in the higher elevations will push elk down. In the 2nd season elk are herding up in big groups the areas we hunt. May not see many for a few days then one day the flood gates open. Several times I’ve glassed herds with 100 plus elk in them more than once. Great sight seeing that many traveling down the side of a snow covered mountain.

 

[Dan99]

Early muzzleloader would be my pick, they should be Bugling at that time.
Elk are big deer but when they get scared they will line out and run for miles.
I have hunted 1st season 2 times in the flat tops lot of pressure there.
Plan on going 1 more time but it will have to be private land for me to go, to much pressure on public.

Colo. public is like Taylorsville WMA during Turkey season! Two years ago 2nd rifle
we were 9 Miles from the nearest road and ran into 15 different people on two separate mountains. Anymore, I don't think you can far enough away.
Preference points for muzzle is the way to go!!

Did you see many elk though?

 

[bearleft]

Did you see many elk though?

Zero

 

[Dan99]

Zero

Damn lol.

 

[riverboss]

Did you see many elk though?

Yes a few but only 1 small spike bull.

 

[bearleft]

Yeah, we walked 10 miles a day, 8 out of ten days between 8 and 10,000 feet, quite disheartening.

 

[Salt]

Any place that you can get to, someone has already been there or will be when you get there. I’ve hunted many archery seasons and I feel like if I get one opportunity I have had a good hunt.

 

[muddhunter]

Any place that you can get to, someone has already been there or will be when you get there. I’ve hunted many archery seasons and I feel like if I get one opportunity I have had a good hunt.

I’m going mostly for the experience but would love to hear any thoughts in case I screw up and am successful.

 

[littlebear]

I’m going mostly for the experience but would love to hear any thoughts in case I screw up and am successful.

Make sure you have a good pack frame with you. Very useful if you get one down. It’s not like around here where you can drag it back with Atv. We’ve cut up several and packed out. Did get lucky a couple years ago on a 6x6. It was shot about 150 yds from an Atv trail and it ran then fell maybe within 50 yds of that trail.

 

[1wildcatfan]

I’m going mostly for the experience but would love to hear any thoughts in case I screw up and am successful.

I have a pack frame you're welcome to use if you get a trip set up. Hollar at me when the time comes.

 

[muddhunter]

I have a pack frame you're welcome to use if you get a trip set up. Hollar at me when the time comes.

Very generous of you to offer. I may take you up on it when the time comes.