Colorado Muzzleloader Hunt

[snoshu]

Guys been on your site for about a year I guess only been a lurker and a dreamer of a DIY hunt in Colorado, Done a family vacation there last year backcountry 26 miles in the Rocky Mountain National Park had a blast but this year I want to do a DIY hunt in Colorado, I have read, read and read, every time I see a unit I like then the next 10 posts talk about 4 wheelers and orange pumpkins dotted on the countryside, any my plan is total 3 guys a Big Horn 3 tent for a truck parked base camp and bivy tents and packboards and a MSR whisperlite stove to pack in a couple day at a time throughout the muzzleloader season which starts Sep 12 thru the 20th gonna try draw for it, meaning go in for 2 3 days come back to base and rest and go back out, so my question is does anybody have any help or assistance for a guy from Indiana, I know my success rate is very very low being new , not a problem love the hiking and scenery a elk or a deer even here at home is always a bonus, just looking for a few answers such as:
1) what elevation should I concentrate or start at this timeframe
2) Where can I go (unit) where I don't have to walk 8 miles in too see elk not that I wont and understand may not see an elk anyway

Not looking for someone to give me anything but just wanted to ask some well educated good guys on here and maybe get a private message with any info someone will help with.

Thanks in advance for any help or anyone who reads in advance, and should anyone be coming my way I know whitetails and Eastern turkeys if I can ever help,

Jeff

[Elkduds]

Welcome, Jeff. Glad you posted up after a year on the lurker log! 1st step would be to call CPW hunt planner (free service) @ 303-297-1192. They are experts @ getting you started in this process and their advice is sound. When you have some units in mind, ask away. I know I'll have some opinions, as will several others. The ML hunt is a great time to be hunting in CO, unless the monsoon is bad. After 3 posts you can PM here.

[snoshu]

Okay Elkduds your info is priceless I will give them a call and I will make 3 posts so I can receive PMS any ones opinions is welcome that's for sure Thanks again

[snoshu]

So are these posts counting or you mean I have to make 3 separate topics to receive PM's?
Thanks

[Elkduds]

How about some info so we know who we are writing to? You mentioned whitetails and turkey, and a vacay to RMNP. Where are you from, etc? PS, Ur good for PMs now.

[under H2O hunter]

Do you have an PP's? Are you wanting a bull, cow, or either sex?

[snoshu]

Well My name is Jeff Harmeyer and I am from Connersville Ind, I own and operate a whitetail deer checkstation and am a registered deer processor for the state! Love to head hunt big whitetails but have always wanted to hunt the elk, I have hunted in New Mexico with muzzleloader for muleys in the southern part of the state and I have hunted merriams with a bow 2 years ago in the santa fe area and near Chama in the Carson ntl forest and the Jemez all in New Mexico, I am 42 and in fairly good shape, treadmill regularly and try and stay in shape. Love to hunt and primarily am a bow guy due to my side business, my full time job is a Cad/Cam 3-D designe Engineer, I am located geographically about 50 miles west south west of Indianapolis, in the hills and hollars, not much corn and flatlands where I am from just a lot of smaller corn , beans and hay fields and big hardwoods. I lease whitetail ground and hunt hard as I am able too I have installed food plots on my lease and run trail cams literally 365 days a year and try and keep up with it in the off season to stay in shape, I run feeders and mineral in off season as law allows to build bone on em and feed them and keep the herd healty and well and keep inventory of what I have or at least I try too, becomes a third job is what Im saying lol. Just a hunt a haulic and consider myself an elkaholic even though I have never had the chance to pursue them yet,I have been subscribed to western hunter and elk hunter for a couple years cant lay em down and am a RMEF member for 3 years now and a NRA member but am now trying to put this elk hunt together, I am on the board of Whitetails Unlimited and we had our banquet last week with guest speaker Travi T Bone turner and guys let me tell you he is the real deal and don't forget where he started and where he came from and nothing has gone to his head hes a humble all aroung good dude. that's about it other then I am married to a great woman that's helps in the deer business loves to hike and is a hard worker, yet she will not go on this trip, wish she could but she has limited vacation just starting a new job,... she did the New Mexico turkey hunt with me, and I have a 15 year old daughter thats a heck of a cheerleader yet could care less bout hunting but loves to hike the mountains, a bit long but for those that read thanks again guys! And thanks again Elkduds for interest and time much appreciated!

[snoshu]

under H20 hunter, I want a 380 inch 6x 7 lol Im joking don't we all I love the bone man but in all reality I have hunted the west a nd know its brutal and unforgiving especially to a eastern flatlander such as myself I think the first hunt or couple hunts any elk would be a trophy and a learning curve seeing a good bull with no chance at it at 600 yards would be great but as I said anything basically just hunt!

[under H2O hunter]

Your looking to Muzzleloader hunt for a bull you'll need to build some PP's. If seeing big bulls but taking a Cow tag is something that interest you. You can draw a unit 2 tag for a cow and you'll probably see plenty of large bulls to make you wish you had lots of PP. There are some decent units that only require a couple PP's. Other options would be to learn the land via doing an archery hunt or perhaps applying for a 1st season rifle tag. A lot of guys will suggest that you take an OTC bull tag for 2nd or 3rd season but I have found that guys can become discouraged with the OTC tags because they don't know where to go and end up battling the Orange Army. I suggest doing some research on the statistics page on the Colorado DOW website. This will give you an excellent overview of success rates which when coupled with some maps of land ownership you can figure out a couple units to ask about. Once you have a unit or two then you can get on Caltopo.com or Google Earth and start cutting apart the unit to find drainages and sweat spots. If this sounds like a bunch of work there are a couple ways you can go. You can talk with an outfitter for a drop camp or semi guided hunt. There is also websites and people that will do all the leg work but this will cost you as well. I suggest startmyhunt.com

I have said it several times on here. There are plenty of elk in Colorado to be had. The thing that separates the successful from the un-successful is the willingness to do more then the next guy. Maybe its working out, maybe its contacting biologist, maybe it's scouting, maybe it's hiking further. Regardless I can tell you that few are successful by just showing up and thinking that going into the woods is gonna get it done.

I am always willing to help those that are willing to help themselves first. I have lots of contacts and information that I can share but you need to point me in a direction that you're headed.

I would also suggest a few subscriptions. Extreme Elk Magazine and Eastman's are both excellent periodicals that are packed full of useful information that can point you in a direction as well.

James

[snoshu]

Okay Under H20 hunter, I would like to shoot a bull,... with no horses and a strong back I prefer to pack out meat and horns however last couple days for meat I would shoot a cow so I would like to hunt with a tag in my pocket for both, I also pretty much have to stay around the September time frame and I love bow hunting so don't rule that out I will do bow if you or someone says well great now I got the unit that fits you, so Im pretty wide open but my processing business starts Oct1st so I need to be home or headed home by then, any other suggestions would be much appreciated, I am willing to work hard and help myself I will research more and make the calls you all suggested, I butchered 67 deer last year and 3 of my own and made 450 lbs of summer sausage 100 lbs snack sticks and 200 lbs venison bacon call me anything but lazy, or a liar and that's working a full time job and not taking vacation most nights that's bed at 2 am and back up at 5 starting Oct 1st thru Jan 5th, and again I cant say thanks enough local info or people that have been there done that are a real asset to me and it comes much appreciated, thanks, Jeff

[under H2O hunter]

Jeff with your time restraints muzzleloading is the way to go. The bad news is the units I can help you with are all requiring at least 1 PP but most are 2 and 3 PP if you're gonna get an either sex tag. The units are combination units so your free to hit up multiple areas once you acquire a tag. The areas are medium to hard as far as terrain. But they hold some really nice bulls and you won't be battling a bunch of other guys to get in on them as they will require some packing. The good news is that they are over the counter archery tag units so if you want to build a couple of points you could still archery hunt them and see if they are to your expectations.

[snoshu]

So if I switch and do an archery hunt do you have any good preferences to hunt a bull primarily without congestion?
Thanks for your responses

[snoshu]

Thanks for the help guys