Good Odds in CO?

[Buck]

Hey everyone, i'm new to this forum as well as Elk hunting. I went on my first elk hunt last year 1st rifle in the Holy Cross Wilderness. It was a great hunt, saw a lot of elk and we came out with a nice 6X6 and a cow and all 4 in the group took a shot! This year I am applying for another 1st rifle but under circumstances.
I am planning on applying with my dad this year. He is 63 and in decent shape but I don't think he could do a hunt like i did last Oct. Im looking for a good zone in Colorado where the terrain is not to rough and there is a decent chance of getting off a shot at a bull. I personally do not care if I shoot anything, I just want him to get the chance, seeing as this will quite possibly be the only time he will ever be able to do this hunt. We are planning a DIY hunt with a friend that has lived in CO a few years, and might consider a guide if we can find one at the end of the week.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[ElkNut1]

Corey, nice to have you stop by! Sounds like you guys had a great hunt last year, congrats! Hopefully some may chime in& be able to steer you in a direction that could help out you & your dad! Good Luck!

ElkNut1

[Indian Summer]

You put the words "not too rough", "decent chance", and the word "bull" almost in the same sentence. It sounds like you might be in the market for a private land hunt. That's the best place to hunt elk in some more forgiving terrain. But you can't book an outfitter at the end of the week. You would need to make those reservations now. It takes quite a bit of planning on the outfitters part to accommodate you and they can be impossible to get ahold of during hunting season. If it's really important to you for him to have a chance at killing an elk that would be the best advice I can give you.

Good luck and welcome aboard.

[Fridaythe13th]

I have no help in areas, but I well say it sound like the same thing I went through. Dad was 65 and I talk him into his 1st elk hunt, I didn't know were to go, but I remembered there was a meadow a mile off the road he could sit there as long as he wanted and hunt at his own pace. Best hunt ever 15 min. after we got there a elk walk through the corner of the meadow I got 2 watch him shoot a elk. I think dad could have cared less if he got a elk just wanted to walk in the mountains and hunt with his boys. 2 years later he went back same thing elk down in 30 min. If you have a good area I would stick with it make it work.

[Buck]

So I called the hunt planner with CO F&W and they recommended a hunt in Western CO if terrian is a concern. He mentioned Unit 3. He said there were 1200 permits last year and only about 1100 applicatnts. It sounds like we would have good odds of getting drawn in this unit and 1200 permits does not make it sound like we will be in a sea of orange while hunting. Any one have any information about Unit 3 or any other Western units that do not require preferenc points?