Newbie here..

[Sticknstringer]

Well I'm new here and new to elk hunting. I'm looking into a colorado archery hunt next fall and thought I could learn a few things from experienced elk hunters. Any advice and tips will be appreciated.

[T.B.]

Hello,I'm new to this forum as well. Only have 6 years experience but would advise you to get any of the DVDs on this forum to help learn elk calls. Also good maps and planning , which is a big part of the fun and hunt for me. Enjoy

[Elkduds]

Welcome to the elkinest forum on the web, to you both. Smart move to begin preparing over a year in advance. Always good to read a little about new members, so post up anything others might want to know. In the FORUMS menu above you will find Archived Tips and Elknut Tips. Read pages 1-200 and prepare a report for the class tomorrow

Seriously, any idea where you plan to hunt archery in CO next year?

[Sticknstringer]

My brother and I are looking at the north end of 31 or maybe south end of 22. I think they both are otc for non resident. We're both new to this, quite different than our whitetail hunting and occasional mule deer stalks.

[ElkNut1]

Welcome aboard! Are you into running & gunning? Treestand hunting? How many days will you possibly hunt in a row? You plan on hunting out of a base style camp?

ElkNut1

[Sticknstringer]

We will try for 5 plus days of hunting. And yes we are looking at a base camp. We will do whatever seems to eork. Sit on a wallow. Get above them early and wait as they move up the mountain. Stalk into a bedding area. It seems like there's a lot of ways to hunt elk.

It will be hard for us to identify what's a good elk spot that is good habitat. I hear about saddles and deep drops that are off and hidden from the obvious gulches. I'm looking at tips and advice in the archives and studying maps. Lol even u tube at the hunts in the terrain. Looks like a beautiful hunt ahead of us. I will be bringing a nice camera for the memories.

[Ghost]

Welcome to the board, you picked the right place. Lots of guys here with tons of experience killing bulls (one of these days Ill be one of them )
I know nothing about colorado other than it seems to have alot of hunters.

Where you from?

[Charina]

Well, I hope you really get into them this fall. Hopefully you won't be like me, where the first couple years were glorified scouting trips. Still, those first couple years were critical for me to get a feel. I have no way to convey what I learned, as I could only learn it by being there, and seeing/experiencing the things I read about. The best tip I could succinctly give would be to make sure you are as physically fit as you can be, and cover ground. Get into all the various habitats and see where you find sign. Find beds. Find trails. Find water. Even if you bump elk without getting a shot, that will be valuable in putting the puzzle pieces together to complete the picture in your mind. I hope you see lots of elk!

[Elkduds]

Interesting country you are considering. Different than most elk country in CO: lower elevation, long gulches w low ridges between them, small pockets of aspens or timber on north and east slopes, sage, scrub and PJ. This area was the heart of the recent gas drilling boom in western CO, so there are drill rigs, pipelines, compressor stations, well pads, waste ponds. Much heavy semi traffic on skinny dirt roads in there. The deer herd has declined dramatically in this Piceance area, the elk are holding their own. 2015 will be the last year for public access to the lands labeled Shell Oil Leases in GMU 22 on the CO Big Game Atlas: http://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/inde ... ntingAtlas

[Sticknstringer]

I heard about oil drilling but didn't realize it was that bad. Thanks for the info we will consider another unit. Kinda sad that oil companies are taking over that area where so much wildlife exists.

[Charina]

Eh, I wouldn't so quickly get discouraged about the area given the oil exploration. The area I hunted the last two years is just 50-60 miles west of there in eastern UT, and from Google Earth, looks to be quite similar. One of the cool things about the layout and low rainfall is the bedding areas can be very predictable on the micro north facing fir patches. The elk in UT are very used to the regular oil field maintenance activity, and pay no attention to the engines driving the rigs. I've bumped elk within a few hundred yards of active rigs quite a few times. In UT, I would always find elk on top, and just down the ridges, but I know others would hunt the JP and sage as well. No clue how to hunt that unless focusing on water (which is likely very scarce in 22 if it's anything like the UT unit just to the west).

[Elkduds]

Stickn, check you PM inbox. All is not lost in 22.

[Luckyman]

It'll be my first time for elk this year too!!! Finally, I'll be turning 40 this year and have been waiting since I turned 18... hopefully, I'll be able to make it yearly from now on.
Great info here, I just learned stuff I didn't know about hunting in Colorado in the 'last minute tips' archived thread. I'll be heading to gmu 68 in CO for the opening week in Sept.
Any and all info appreciated!! Gotten my share of deer in the east, but always with patience in the treestand and not calling as it always just scares the pressured deer I hunt. I read about so much success w/ the t-stand and elk, I plan on taking my climber and using it a fair bit. Especially since none of my hunting partners could make it this time, its probably the best way to get one? I was born in the rockies, if not in reality, in spirit then and I always long to return. Been about a dozen times, usually for hangliding and motorcycling trips and hiking vacation w/ the wife. I'm in good shape and been hitting our state park canyon's roughly 1000 steps a couple times a week and last time w/ 50# extra.., so I'm trying to prep. Normally the altitude doesn't affect me all that much, but I would suspect those out of shape would really feel it.
I'm thinking of Table Mt., anyone with experience there? Not set on backpack camp or motorcycle as far up the rough roads n camp w/ bike and day trip from there or combo. will have close to a week to scout after stopping by to see some friends for a couple days. Man, I can't wait!! Thanks to all the help and tips from everyone. Elknut's vids are awesome and so are the podcasts and everyone else's stories. keep it coming!

[Mike_Parson]

Colorado is defenatly on my list of places to hunt elk. maybe someday ill get there. best of luck to you guys going this year.