San Juan National Forest

[HurricaneHuge]

Wondering if anybody has hunted it and what their impressions were as far as difficulty of terrain? Trying to decide on locations that the old man will be able to hack going up and down.

[dotman]

That is the range I hunt in, easy to get to areas are packed with hunters, bow and rifle season. To get away from the roads you will be in some nasty country, you have to be in good shape to hunt this area, otherwise you are best served to just camp out and fish. If the old man is not willing to crawl 1000ft up/down all day long this isn't a hunt for him. Some of mt areas I crawl up the mountain and my hands are touching the ground.

[dotman]

What I wrote sounds kind of rude, please do not take it that way. I just wanted to be honest and there really isn't an easy hunt in the mountains. Here is a good write-up on the mountains overall, if your dad is not ready for this, if you are not ready for this it will not be fun. viewtopic.php?f=14&t=157

If you want a good easy I hunt I do recommend a late season rifle cow hunt. When I say easy I mean easier hunt, nothing is easy about the mountains.

[HurricaneHuge]

No offense taken at all dotman. I completely understand, that's why I'm sending out questions on this stuff. Honest opinions like that are helpful. Fact of the matter is Dad is in good shape for his age, 58, but at the same time he went through 2 battles with cancer about 4-5 years ago. He won and has been clear since, but chemo and radiation have taken a step out of him. Still a tough guy, still my first pick for someone walking a deer drive through the thick stuff, but we just aren't gonna be able to at it like the extreme guys can (ElkReaper, Cam Hanes, dotman). We won't mind chasing around the herd with a tent for a couple nights, but I know we aren't likely to go out 5-7 days in a row. A far back base camp for us won't be much further than 2 miles, if that. Steep and rugged are just part of the game, but if we can find a good area that isn't necessarily viewed as "tough country" where we stand a chance of finding elk we'd be happy. We've never hunted, and I'd just like to get him close to elk with the intention to kill. If he gets a shot or better yet kills, consider it gravy. Being there chasing an animal neither of us have experience with in terrain we aren't used to for 7-10 days together is probably my top motivation for this trip. Finding some to run around with is the goal. I just don't want to get us into terrain that we aren't gonna be able to handle, or that will limit his experience. I appreciate any advice on that. Any where in Colorado will work. Thanks in advance to everyone, and thanks dotman for providing information that was exactly what I was looking for.

[dotman]

Haha, I am no where close to Aron and Cam I hunt 3-5 miles from the trail head and unless you have been out west you will not fully understand how hard it gets quick. Best thing you can do is just take it at your own pace even if you only hunt a mile back. Just want you to be realistic and make it a fun trip. There are plenty of areas you can hunt just know your and your dads limits but to ask if there are easy areas (which if there are you will be seeing hunters everywhere that are nr's) not even a mile off the trail head will be easy, just saying prepare and take it as it goes but good luck finding easy terrian to hunt in the mountains.

[HurricaneHuge]

Noted. Not looking for easy, just easier than the really rough stuff. Obviously certain areas are viewed to not as physically demanding than others.

[dierwolf]

I lived in bailey for a while, and in salida. toughest areas ive been around were about 12900 near the top of antero, and about 10,000 at monarch ski lodge in monarch pass, summer rock hunting, and winter ski lodge working, respectively. dotman can compare/contrast his own thoughts but im sayin you probably want something like the sangre de cristos. plenty of reputable guides to be had in the phone book (be sure to checkem out on google first, never hurts to be sure) or you guys could plan your own hunt, if you do, I see a lot of folks hanging around the Westcliffe area that are hunters, ive never personally hunted in Colorado, so I cant speak to any personal experiences, im doing research on heading back this winter for a rifle hunt.

[Elkduds]

San Juan is a huge Natl Forest. Some areas w easier terrain include GMU 75-751 east of Vallecito reservoir, Cross Creek south of South Fork, Middle Mtn west of Pagosa, around La Jara reservoir. I suggest you phone a CPW Hunt Planner @ 303 297-1192 for specific directions to hunting that matches your requirements. The separate-draw hunt @ Lone Mesa state park would be well suited to your group's limitations. The Sangre de Cristos in GMUs 82/86 are not what you are looking for, widely regarded as among the steepest and more remote regions in CO for hunting elk. Up in the northwest corner of the state elevations are lower, hills are less steep, elk success is higher.

[8seconds]

I hunted from a drop camp near Durango four years ago with son in law at the age of 66 and it was demanding.

Besides steep the weather can turn in a heart beat. PLUS, the area is pressured with hunters to the point that elk are wary of bugling though we heard some.

Personally, i would hunt another area if you're close to my age (69 today). I'm headed to Montana this year.

[Mikeha33]

I hunt the SJNF. The area we hunt is considered pretty high for a lot of people, and pretty rugged. We were never below 11,100', and spent a considerable amount of time right at 12K'. Lots of blow downs that made for pretty tough hiking, and a lot of intense grades that wore us out, and we came in in good shape. In the lower elevations there was quite a few hunters that we drove past on our way up, but we did go way back in, and didn't have much (any) pressure, but were willing to hike in several miles and set camp to ensure some privacy. I've heard that there aren't huge bulls there, but a lot of animals, but I cannot confirm that, since after opener last year, we didn't see or hear an elk. That is not deterring us from returning and learning more about "our" spot. Good luck.

[dierwolf]

yeah I was definitely at the peak of my ability rock hunting around on antero that's for sure. I was hoping to be able to get a tag for somewhere in the 10,000 tops range, but for an elk, ill take what I can get, im stuck in NC for work for a while, so im just saving up for the rifle I want and travel fundage and what not. ive hiked around all over the place though, so im comfy around the area personally. being able to huntem in Montana does seem like a cool adventure to have though. I just know the area personally, and have really enjoyed my time there. to be able to hunt a mulie and/or an elk there will be a tremendous privilege I will cherish.

[Wagnon89]

I'll also be heading to the San Juans this September. This will be my first hunt out west however, so I can't tell you much about the terrain other than the area we have picked out looks really rugged on Google Earth!

[dierwolf]

it is for sure a lot of up and down and sometimes that feels like precious little forward movement in spots all over the state. I have a HUGE level of respect for the original mountain men that went out there and lived in times past. there's mountain man get togethers, kinda like renn fairs, and at some, if you dress in period clothes and live in period tents you get to stay for free. that's definitely on my bucket list too.