GMU 14, 16 CO

[crumpmk86]

Hey guys !

Just looking for some general info on GMU 14 & 16 in CO. I am not asking for any secrets just some tips. What kind of hunting pressue ? Should snow be an issue ? Bull to cow ratio ? Planning on bowhunting early-mid sept. Thanks!

[cohunter14]

Welcome to the forum Matt. Unfortunately I have never hunted those areas, but I would suggest you spend some time on the DOW website, specifically the statistics page. That will help you find the bull/cow ratio, success rates, etc. http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/Statistics/Pages/Statistics.aspx Another area to check out on the website is the GMU page. You can pull up maps of each unit and then include the summer and winter concentration areas, transition routes, etc.

Snow shouldn't be an issue in mid September, but that doesn't mean it won't snow. Colorado's mountains are unpredictable, so plan for the worst just in case.

Good luck!

[Jaquomo]

Great habitat, plenty of pressure. Many of the elk summer in giant herds way down low in the hay meadows on the North apark and Steamboat sides, and are still there when the season starts. They bed up in NF, but are quickly pushed onto big ranches. There is some decent hunting in some of the super-steep country in 14, and in pockets of the Zirkels, but getting in-out is a challenge. Lots of great high-elevation habitat in both these units that looks wonderful, but has no elk because they've gravitated to the low country in the past 10 years.

PM me if you want more detail and I'll share what I know. That said, I should have killed my biggest bull ever the year before last on public land in 16. Misjudged the range slightly on a giant 7x7 and hit him in the brisket, then while waiting to track him had an even bigger bull marching all around me bugling. The one I hit survived and did fine, a rancher got pics of him 3 weeks later at a wallow. So they are there if you're willing to work hard to find them, then kill one quickly when you do find them

[cnelk]

I shot my bull moose in 16 back in 2009.
Lots of water and ponds on that side
Did see elk and heard them bugling tho

[crumpmk86]

We are willing to do the hard work . Just really wanting to find an OTC unit that will allow us to get away from everyone. This will be the first time for 2 members of our group and the second time for the other 2 members. Really looking into the area...would be up to any suggestions for a unit that will allow us to get way off the grid. Thanks for the responses!!!

[Jaquomo]

The problem with 16 is that the further you go in, the closer you are to the guys coming from the other direction. The huge majority of the elk in that unit are much closer to the road, but like cnelk said, you are liable to find them anywhere.

I have a friend who has killed two big bulls in 16 in three years. 320 and 310. He killed them 8 miles into the Zirkels, two miles of that bushwhacking through deadfall. He said the pack out is so brutal he will never go into that honeyhole again, and he makes Cam Hanes seem like Oprah. So you can find them and kill them in there.

As with any area, it may take a season or two and some boot leather to figure out some spots others aren't already hunting. As some of us have posted on other threads. the explosion in backcountry hunting publicity has created a phenomenon where the deep wilderness may be more crowded than areas close to the road. Which is great for us old guys!