1st rifle was a bust, 4th season cow input needed please

[TN-COHunter]

I am new here and have been reading A LOT and would like to say Thanks you to everyone for posting all the awesome info that's on here.

This is my first year elk hunting and man has it been fun. My buddy and I were up near Buford, CO in units 23 and 24 for 1st rifle both with bull tags. After hiking 14 miles in the first 2 days we hadn't seen any fresh signs or a single elk not hiding out on private property. Finally on the third day we tracked 9 cows for 1.5 miles in the fresh snow to turn the corner in a big meadow and see a big 6x6 just for both of us to miss a shot at him and boom they're hauling towards private property. Unfortunately that would be our only chance on a bull the whole trip. I have been hunting whitetails in Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina since I was 12 and tired to put some of that knowledge to use, but man are the elk different. Although we were unsuccessful, man we sure had fun.

I have a 4th season cow tag for the same units (22, 23, 24) and am thinking about going to the same area, but am not sure if the elk will still be there. I have a buddy that was up there for 3rd and hasn't seen a thing. if anyone could point me in a direction I'd surely appreciate it as this is my last shot for any meat this year. I know it's hard to say based on their migration patterns and weather, but anything would be appreciated.

Sorry for the long winded post

[baddaddy]

Get with DOW in Meeker. Thye will get you a map of the state lands. These are the honey holes usually. Thye can direct you to the state lands. Look there for the elk.

[TN-COHunter]

I appreciate the input. I'm going up there this Friday to scout a bit for nest week and will check with them. Thanks

[TN-COHunter]

Well I talked to a buddy who was up unit 23 and ventured into 24 for all of third season and didn't see a single elk anywhere. He talked to DOW in Meeker and they said all the elk have migrated to Craig already. I'm afraid my hunt might be a bust if he didn't see anything all week and I have the same zones he did. I know the trip would be fun no matter what, but not sure at this point if it's worth trekking all the way up there.....

[cohunter14]

I would be shocked if they have migrated out already. The weather has been way too warm for that. This cold front might change things, but I doubt the elk will be too low yet. One thing I would do is go to the cpw website (http://www.cpw.state.co.us, go to the Big Game page, and pull up the Colorado Hunting Atlas. That will give you a great idea of migration routes, winter ranges and summer ranges. I can tell you that some of the winter ranges are on public ground up there, so you could definitely still have some luck. Hope that helps!

[TN-COHunter]

Thanks for the input. I was on the same page with you thinking they wouldn't have left the area yet. I've been looking at different migration maps trying to get a feeling of where they'll go when it does get cold. My buddy and I hunted Burro mtn area first rifle and didn't see a single elk on public till it snowed. We stopped counting at 148 elk in a big valley of private fields, so we knew they were there but just couldn't find them.

I'm probably going to run up there and hunt at least Friday and Saturday and hope I see something. My buddy was at oak ridge swa last week and never saw a single elk. I'm thinking I might go back to burro mtn and the surrounding area and hike in as far as I can.

[dromsky]

Heres my input for what its worth, just returned from unit 65 3rd rifle, saw very few elk dead or alive not on the private. No winter yet to speak of, we had 70* days, and only 1" of snow overnight once, gone by mid-morning. We were hunting winter and migration areas, I think the Elk are still in summer range, the summer has been long and dry. I would call the DOW or warden for the area and get their take on it.
Good hunting!

[kevin_t]

I hunted 65 first season and me and my son both got elk. With the weather, depending on location I'd look for logical migration routes. Elk are scattered all over now, many on private, some low on BLM type and some high. I've also found them at timberline in November as well.