Colorado elk hunting

[ohio boy]

Hello im new to this site. Ive been to Co 5x elk hunting gmu 80. Really havent had much luck and was wondering if i should consider a new gmu or stay where i know the land somewhat. Wondering what ya'll think. Thanks for any info.

[ohio boy]

Also ill be coming back out next yr muzzleloader season. Hopefully!!!

[Elkduds]

Welcome, we are glad to have a newb join us. Pull up a log, plant a cheek, open a beverage, and tell us more about your GMU 80 experience. R U into elk every hunt?

[ohio boy]

I have seen elk everytime but not many. Was out 1st rifle season wk in '12 and seen 2 cows and a spike all wk. the other two guys in my group never seen an elk. I did miss one in '10, which was all on me. Nerves got the best of me. We have brought home a cpl cows and 1 small bull. Just seems like were seeing less elk everytime we go out. We usually set up camp around summitville. But we've had the best luck hunting around demi john peak.

[under H2O hunter]

What was the driving factor in hunting unit 80 to begin with? What are your goals regarding elk hunting? Are those goals being meet in that unit? I don't know much about unit 80 however it is my experience of 30 years hunting elk that people waste to much time on areas or units because they think that next year will be different or they think the elk will come back. I can't stress how important scouting is. If scouting is out of the question then pay attention while you're hunting to patterns that form. Learn to adapt to those patterns. Don't be afraid to change areas or units simple because you "KNOW" a particular area. Whats the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. I personally have a few honey holes that I feel will always hold elk but I enjoy expanding my knowledge of the unit so I enjoy starting off in new ground and seeing what it holds and if I struggle then I head for my honey holes.

[ohio boy]

my dad took to me Co when i was in high school and we went to unit 80. his buddues hunted that area. thats how unit 80 came about. we live in Ohio and its a 26+ hr drive to get there so the only scouting we get is the cpl days before season comes in. Im not after a trophy bull. any legal bull works for me. I just hear so much abt the white river nat'l forest having so many elk. but on the other hand, so many hunters. is it worth it to go somewhere else like units 24 or 25? or even somewhere else? my dad is coming back out with me next yr and he's complete old school and likes to hunt same place. but he left it up to me to pick where we hunt next yr. we have a great time wether we get anything or not.

[under H2O hunter]

I totally can relate with your story. My father took me to unit 161. I grew up always hunting the same way in the same spot year after year after year. Well the well finally dried up and after a couple years of not seeing much anymore and not taking an elk I decided to set out and find a new place to call my own. I even changed seasons. I enjoyed the journey and even brought me closer to my dad. I can always remember as a kid asking my dad why we didn't hunt other areas? He told me that he preferred to take elk out whole and that an old timer told him that you'll see more elk sitting then you will walking. So for years my dad had his rock, my uncle his rock and some years we got elk and other years we didn't. Well a new private high fence ranch went in and it changed the elks migration and the valley we hunted no long produced elk. It was a time before Google Earth and Caltopo I had to build relationships with guys and put some serious boot miles in to look over the areas that guys would tell me about. With the aid of the internet, social media, ext ext ext today I think one can figure out if an area is good for them or not. I grew up wanting to be successful every year so for me it was important to harvest an elk every year so I knew I was gonna be packing elk out on my back and that didn't play well to my dad who was getting older and such. But he let me make the decision so for me it was important to I find a spot that allowed him to have some easy ground to hunt as well as play to the way I want to hunt that being said the majority of the elk I have been successful at killing were deep in the hole as guys like to say. As the years passed my dad hunted less and less and finally stopped coming till this past year I asked him why he quit coming and said that he just wasn't interested. I personally think he got tired of pack elk on his back. This year he spent a week with me during archery season and I made it a point to wait on him hand and foot. I went to spots that he could walk to and enjoy watching him move around the mountains again. All though I wasn't successful the week he joined me I sure was happy and grateful having him back in camp. You never know how long you have with your family. I suggest you ask your dad what his goals are and be honest to him about yours and together you guys can come up with a game plan. If you do some home work you'll see that every unit has its up's and down's and the two units you mentioned have awesome area to hunt but they also have crowds around the more accessible areas. Big herds bring big crowds. That doesn't mean you guys won't be successful if you move, it just means you'll have to work a little harder. You get out what you put in. Success is not always measured by animals killed. Look to see if those areas have the terrain you like to hunt, amenities you need or want, you can check stats and get an idea of success rates. After all that I am sure you'll have a great time together. I am sure they're some guys on here that might be able to help you out and answer some questions you may have about those units.

[Indian Summer]

We have talked before about how long it takes to REALLY learn an area. Since elk have a big home range and the majority of hunters only get to spend 1 or 2 weeks per year there 4 years seems to be the minimum. You've been there for 5. I say it's time to move on. I know it's not an easy thing to do. Just the thought of starting over well... sucks! But sometimes the medicine that works best has a bitter taste. But if there's one thing that really leaves a bad taste in your mouth it is "so many elk. but on the other hand, so many hunters"

No doubt you have come to the right place to get help with a new area. I'm sure someone on here with experience in Colorado can help. But I think you should consider trying the unit north of that. It's called Wyoming.

Licenses cost a bit more. And the drive is a little further but not much. The longest drive ever is the one home with no elk right? Less people and great elk hunting. A couple questions... are you camping at the truck? Gun hunting I assume? How old is your dad and what kind of shape is he in? Actually you can skip the age part.. Phantom is older than dirt and he still finds an elk every now and then.

Just curious.. where in Ohio do you live? I'd kill for a good deer hunting spot over there. Might even cough up a good Wyoming elk spot in return. Why don't you take a minute and have a look at my website. If you don't want to add another unpunched elk tag to your collection and would really like to start over armed with a plan to kill elk I'd be glad to help. The thing that I like is knowing that your dad will be saying "Wow son.. you sure did a great job finding a new spot for us to call home" That would be awesome. I have a few spots where you'd be into elk for sure and they are either sex elk hunting so at the very least you could fill the freezer with a cow or two. The bulls there bugle into gun season and getting elk out is all downhill. Yes you'd have to make a one time investment but look at what you've already invested and where you are now.

Have a look and let me know if you are interested or have any questions. Here's a link: http://www.headinwest.net

Good luck Ohio Boy. Oh and one more thing :Go Steelers!

[otcWill]

Good advice here from Indian Summer. You definitely need a new spot. It'll at least be a great new adventure to hunt somewhere else and a few elk in a week=crappy spot. Get some general ideas of where you want to go next and ask again. I help guys out every year. I know CO otc areas VERY well and would be glad to advise you on the areas you pick. That said, I'd agree that in general WY is better and less crowded than CO. Good luck and let us know how we can help

[ohio boy]

My dad is 61 but stays in decent shape. He actually cares less to even get an elk but would rather see my brother or I get one. Hes gotten several elk and a cpl real nice whitetail so he enjoys just being out with his boys. We both enjoy bow hunting but he thinks we have a better chance in Co with rifle/muzzleloader. We usually hunt from truck. Ive look into Wy and seen you have to have an outfitter or landowner as your guide i believe. I have 5 buddies coming out with us next yr also. Trying to get them into elk hunting. Because i believe once you go out west, you'll go again. And my selling point to get them to go was it wouldnt cost them more than $1500 for the whole trip. ( license, gas, food, etc ). So i dont think Wy is feasable this yr. would love to come out there tho. And i live abt 3hrs northeast of columbus. Almost into Wv.

[GetOutside]

In Wyoming you only need the outfitter for hunting wilderness areas but the state has much more open public space to hunt than designated wilderness areas.

[Indian Summer]

GetOutside is correct. Guides/Outfitters are only required in designated wilderness areas. Anywhere else is fair game so there are a bazillion miles of National Forest you can hunt. Also there are units that have a limited number of licenses available in a drawing. But there are piles of units that you can hunt on what is called the General Elk License.

Would you hunt bulls only or if it got down to the wire would you welcome the chance to kill a cow? Are those 5 buddies thinking about hunting or just coming to check it out? Either way it sure would be nice to have that many people when it comes to to pack out an elk.

[ohio boy]

The other unit i was looking into was 24. Up around trappers lake. Talked to a guy from meeker and he said he call back next yr for more info on how many hunters vs elk taken. I just really have no idea where to start. Seems like there are alot of good places to hunt. I dont mind hiking in deep. So as one guy said " put up a map of Co on the wall and throw a dart and where it lands, hunt there." Ive been trying to look and listen to guys stories on different forums and get advise. Just alot of country out there

[ohio boy]

I would like a bull for sure but willing to take a cow. All of my buddies are hunting also. And is Wyoming the same as colorado in the sense of rough terrian? Im sure it is but only been thru a small portion of wyoming when we went to yellowstone many yrs ago

[ohio boy]

Indian summer: now you got me thinking abt coming to Wyoming. Can I get a bull tag thru any of the draws with no pp? Ive never looked into WY so im not sure how all that works. Or is there OTC tags like CO 2nd & 3rd rifle seasons?