Which unit should I hunt 1st rifle season in CO?

[Toashtman]

I drew a non-res youth bull elk tag and am completely clueless as to where I should hunt. My dad and I will be leaving Oct 7th to head to Colorado and we're hunting blind. My dad has never killed an elk and I have yet to see one except for the tule elk we have around here. The units we can hunt are 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, and 231, out of all those units my dad has only been to 11 while mule deer hunting, one person from our camp shot a young 6x6 bull in 11 during the 2nd rifle season. We have been leaning on unit 12 due to the large elk population, but are kind of worried about the large presence of other hunters in the area. Any tips or info would be greatly appreciated!

[BRazz]

I think you're going to have hunters aplenty wherever you go in those units, but you can definitely find some spots to hunt if you hoof it back a ways. Try to find a place where elk may cross when they are pressured/spooked by all the other hunters, especially on opening morning, and try to be there long before daylight. Lots of elk around just make sure you avoid the crowded places. After day 1 this becomes especially important as hunters in the field have pushed the elk deeper into the mountains. Good luck and above all be safe and have fun!

[Elkduds]

http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Huntin ... arvest.pdf

This will tell you how many hunters spent how many days in each unit, and how many were successful. Good luck in Oct!

[Ponyboy_jonas]

There is lot of elk around that area and even more hunters. This is a video of a first rifle hunt in unit 12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NYmNftgDj0

[Ponyboy_jonas]

PM sent.

[bowhunter15]

I'm the guy in the video posted above. I can't be a huge help in terms of selecting a unit, but if you find yourself in one with heavy hunting pressure (which is likely) here is some advice I'd give based off of that hunt in 12:

-Further back isn't necessarily better. Only if getting further back distances you from others.
-Other hunters will be perched at ridgetop saddles before light just like you'd be planning on. On my trip I sat atop a big saddle an hour before light. Had one hunter walk past me a bit and informed me on his way through that there were two more sitting on the other side that I couldn't see. That being said, they're still an awesome spot to see elk. Get there early to reserve your spot before others work their way up from camp.
-You NEED to follow the elk. If there's lots of pressure up high, it's likely they can get pushed down to lower elevation. Gun shots can give you info on what the elk are doing, as would fresh tracks in snow.
-If you can, scout on foot beforehand. Look at the size of the trailheads (larger = more room for trucks and trailers) and try to avoid trailheads if possible. Some of that you can pick out on maps. Most of the people will start at a trailhead and either hunt from the truck or take horses/backpack deep into the drainages.

[Toashtman]

Thanks for all the awesome replies and PM's everyone! Every piece of info helps

[Toashtman]

Another question, I'm not sure which rifle I want to shoot.
My .270 with trophy bonded tips/nosler accubond 150 grains, or my dad's .300 win mag with trophy bonded tips/nosler accubond 180 grains.
I'm much more confident in my .270 and trust my skills with it more to get good shot placement, however the .300 win mag packs more of a punch and would likely drop the bull a lot easier. You guys got any input?

[powderhogg01]

I have always used the .270 loaded properly for the game I am chasing. I say shoot what your familiar and comfortable with. the 300 will have a bit more knock down, but a well placed shot is crux and the .270 will do the job

[Elkduds]

Use the one you are most accurate and confident with. My 270 puts 160 gr. Noslers through both lungs on broadside shots, so will yours w 150s. Shots over 300 yards, quartering shots, not ideal for the 270. It is good policy to keep shooting if your 1st round connects.

[husky390]

I'm the guy in the video posted above. I can't be a huge help in terms of selecting a unit, but if you find yourself in one with heavy hunting pressure (which is likely) here is some advice I'd give based off of that hunt in 12:

-Further back isn't necessarily better. Only if getting further back distances you from others.
-Other hunters will be perched at ridgetop saddles before light just like you'd be planning on. On my trip I sat atop a big saddle an hour before light. Had one hunter walk past me a bit and informed me on his way through that there were two more sitting on the other side that I couldn't see. That being said, they're still an awesome spot to see elk. Get there early to reserve your spot before others work their way up from camp.
-You NEED to follow the elk. If there's lots of pressure up high, it's likely they can get pushed down to lower elevation. Gun shots can give you info on what the elk are doing, as would fresh tracks in snow.
-If you can, scout on foot beforehand. Look at the size of the trailheads (larger = more room for trucks and trailers) and try to avoid trailheads if possible. Some of that you can pick out on maps. Most of the people will start at a trailhead and either hunt from the truck or take horses/backpack deep into the drainages.

LOL, dude, we were truck camping and that storm sucked. Sunday night we were huddled around a pitiful campfire with it snowing on and off every 5 minutes. That's when we decided to get a wall tent. It wasn't a lot of snow but it definitely messed up the elk. We hiked a few miles and could not cut a single track. Like you, we saw plenty of the orange army.