Bow Hunting GMU 551

[Sparky]

Hey, I'm pretty new to Elk hunting and I am planning a trip for the last two weeks of September in GMU 551. I have been staring at the maps for a few weeks and think I have narrowed it down to hunting south of the Needles Creek Reservoir in the Gunnison National Forest. I live in NY state, so a summer scouting trip isnt going to happen. I am hoping to stay away from areas where people are riding 4 wheelers or dirt bikes, it doesnt look like its easily accessible but im not sure. Does anybody have any info about the area they would like to share? like I said im pretty new to Elk hunting and have never set foot in this area so any help would really be appreciated. Thanks

[Elkduds]

Thanks for joining us on the premier elk forum, Sparky. Interested in a little info about your hunting background, prefererences, introductory type stuff so I know who I'm writing to. We have an unlimited supply of elk hunting knowhow here, and most of it is spot-on. When you have 3 posts I'll PM you w some 551 experience you may find helpful. I expect others may do likewise. Pull up a log by the campfire, share what you know.

[Sparky]

Sure, no problem Elkduds. Ive spent my entire life hunting here in western NY( the part not near NYC ). Just had to throw that out there. I love chasing big whitetails, turkey, and whatever else is in season. I finally made my first trip to Colorado for an Elk hunt last year just as a tag along or pack mule they called me. It was during mz season in unit 46, not much bugling or elk for that matter. We put on alot of miles and saw some beatiful country but went home with no meat. Ive been putting in preference points for a couple years for Col, Montana, and Wyoming and hopeful I get to burn em up in each state at some point. I realize the low success rate for bow hunting elk, especially someone new but I am just going for the experience and hope I can at least have a few close encounters. I was planning a back pack style DIY hunt and putting any elk on the ground would be sweet!

[under H2O hunter]

I realize the low success rate for bow hunting elk, especially someone new but I am just going for the experience and hope I can at least have a few close encounters. I was planning a back pack style DIY hunt and putting any elk on the ground would be sweet!

You are slightly off. Success for bow hunting is usually low for all bow hunters not just new ones.. But it can and will improve if you refine your craft sorta speak. The more time you put into learning something the better you will be. That goes for both physically hunting but also how to virtually hunt and gather info from the internet. This group has a wealth of knowledge so don't be afraid to ask. I know a few hunters who were very successful their first time out. Go into your season with the attitude that you will succeed and if you happen to come out the other side doing so then great, but if you don't then look back on it and be thankful for all the lessons you learned and I'll bet you get hooked like the rest of us. Good luck.

[ak32]

Yea, I was going to suggest south of highway 50 toward the continental divide north to the res. There's still a lot of trails near needle creek reservoir, but they don't get used quite as much, although I'm not quite sure how busy it will be up there during hunting season...probably not bad during bow season. There's some pretty vast stretches of forest with no trail near west baldy so I wouldn't worry about people or dirt bikes.

The areas I would stay away from are the Pitkin and Ohio City areas in the northern part of the unit, us locals in the county affectionately call that area "the thunderdome" in the summer. It's not uncommon to see hoards of ATVs, dirt bikes and 4x4s rumbling through the area and it also has plenty of road hunters as well.

It sounds like you're on the right track, good luck!

[Sparky]

Thanks under H2O. As far as being hooked, that happened as soon as stepped into Elk country and heard the first bugle! Hopefully someday I can give out Elk hunting advice but until then im gonna take it all in. Unless somebody wants to know what the best mountain house meal is.

[Sparky]

Thats good to know Ak32, I'll stay clear of the "thunder dome", I'm sure the elk do. That gives me a little confidence, I felt like I was throwing darts at a board for awhile. Do you know how accessible some of the roads are in that area during the last two weeks in September? Thanks

[ak32]

Thats good to know Ak32, I'll stay clear of the "thunder dome", I'm sure the elk do. That gives me a little confidence, I felt like I was throwing darts at a board for awhile. Do you know how accessible some of the roads are in that area during the last two weeks in September? Thanks

early/Mid Sept - Late Sept is usually a drier period between when the monsoons stop and winter starts settling in. If we do get snow usually you only have to worry about the higher roads 10k ft. and above, but it all depends on the weather. This last year you could get up high elevation roads up until early November because it was so dry. That time of year though I would worry more about rocks than snow.

[Vids]

I've been up there a few times and hunted 551 last fall. Not sure which way you plan to access that area, but the road from Needle Creek to Cow Camp gets pretty ugly in the switchbacks below where the big meadow opens up. I personally won't take my truck up there and use an ATV instead. Just don't be surprised if your truck can't make it up that, although I've seen trucks up there.

You'll get some ATV and dirt bike traffic up there but it's just that one road. To the east of that road is a lot of area without riding trails, to the west there are more trails and probably more traffic. Lots and lots of dark timber to the east. I haven't scouted to the west.

I can give you some more specific info if you want to PM me.

[Sparky]

PM Sent

[shadeabby]

Me and a group of buddies (5total) have put in for the draw in 551 one as well. Been searching for all the information i could find on it and want to thank everyone so far that has posted info on here.

[shadeabby]

can i ask what the 3 posts is for? a rule here or just perosnal prefrence?

[ElkNut1]

It helps keep spammers out! With 3 posts needed most spammers will be caught by then, if they are not they have ways of mass PM's sent in a junk mail fashion. We do not like that to happen to our members, thanks for asking!

ElkNut1

[shadeabby]

No thanks for awnswering i actually love the fact that they have a screening process here. To many sites are getting over run with them.