My First (Elk) Hunt - Colorado

[JPC]

I've been scouring this forum for a couple weeks, along with other research in an attempt to plan my first hunt...ever.

Background: I'm 41 yrs young and have been living in Colorado for the past 15 years. I have never been hunting, but kept meaning to for years. I finally got my hunters safety done this past spring and plan to go after a bull elk during second rifle season (OTC).

I spent my first 14 years in Colorado working as a guide/instructor for an adventure education company taking high school aged kids (and a few adult groups from time to time) on 25 to 35 day backcountry trips throughout some remote areas in Utah, Arizona and Colorado. I have taught whitewater kayaking, rafting, canoeing, climbing, mtn biking, canyoneering, mountaineering and expedition style backpacking.

I have also been on our county's search and rescue team for about 10 years. And yes... I have had to go find a few lost hunters in that time, though usually we are assisting other counties for this). We have a highly technical team as we do lots of rescues/recoveries from remote locations including three 14k peaks. Sometimes we are going in light and fast... Other times we are humping in LOTS of gear... And other times we cheat and get flown in via helo.

I got into shooting sports about 5 years ago and have been mainly competing with pistols, but have also been shooting rifles a good bit.

So... What does all of that mean? I'm brand spanking new to hunting, but I think I'm up for the challenge. I hope so anyway.

I live just outside of Telluride, CO at just over 8000 ft, so I am planning on hunting locally in unit 70 this year. I know the backcountry around here well and hope this will give me a slight edge on finding the elk.

So far, I am planing on a solo hunt hiking in 3 to 5 miles (maybe up to 10 if needed). I have a few locations that I plan to scout next week before archery season starts. There are several areas that I know have lots of elk, but access is pretty easy, so I know there will be a circus of hunters in those areas. My plan is to get back a bit where the majority won't go - deep and high (not that kind of high). I don't mind multiple heavy loads with a bit of distance for getting the elk out (if I am lucky enough to be successful) and I have several friends willing to hike in and help carry heavy loads in exchange for some tasty elk morsels if needed. As of now, I'm planning on hiking in each morning and return home at night. That might change and I will be prepared to spend a few nights out there if the need/desire arises. I think I can get my pack weight down to 40 to 45 lbs for a two night trip, but I'm used to carrying 85+ lb packs for 12 days of backpacking/climbing from my guiding days.

One of my main concerns is that I will keep bumping into other hunters no matter how far out I go around here. Telluride is home to a lot of backcountry savy high altitude athletic types, though luckily not all are hunters.

Another concern is that there is a LOT of private property around here (even up high where you think you are far into the backcountry) and I just want to make sure I'm on legal land if/when I pull the trigger. I have been studying maps and feel pretty good on this, but not 100% in all of the areas I'm considering. Maybe my scouting trips coming up will help with this.

I am studying elk behavior and practicing calling, but to be honest... I don't think I will have a problem finding elk. I have to be very careful not to hit them on my motorcycle riding to work most days. I just need to make sure they are on public land.

I have spent a bit of money getting some new gear: proper hunting pack, clothing, calls, range finder, optics, etc. I definitely need more gear (always), but I think I have what I need to get by. I have been reloading for pistol and rifle for about 4 years an I am starting to work up some different loads and start testing to find what works. I should also have my new 30 caliber suppressor any day now as I plan to hunt suppressed.

I guess after all of that, I'm just wondering what haven't I thought of. Or, maybe it is much harder than I am thinking and I'm not as ready as I think I am. I know that first time hunters don't have have a high success rate and I am definitely going into this with a sense of adventure and (hopefully) education, but I would be lying if I said I don't care if I end up getting an elk. I know that I would probably be better off going with someone that has experience for my first hunt, but I'm actually excited for the challenge of a solo hunt.

If anyone has any advice or pointers they would like to share, I would be greatly appreciative. And thanks for all the great info already on this forum.

On a side note... I just got back from a 3 day search for a missing person in unit 71 - and there were TONS of elk signs out there, but I'll save the details for another post.

[barber111]

'''' I am planing on a solo hunt hiking in 3 to 5 miles (maybe up to 10 if needed). ''''

It would be an awesome wilderness hike for "seeing" game..............

It would be extremely/extremely tough for me to retrieve an elk at 3 miles in "on my back".......

5 to 10 miles, I could not even dream that I could.....

Simply could not...........

Thanks, Barber

[Pop-r]

You will do fine. You're WAY ahead of most "rookies" in so many aspects that you will have no problems. Make sure you have your help ready cuz you're gonna get your elk.

[Fridaythe13th]

Good luck on your first elk hunt. Your only regret is you didn't start the 1st year in Colorado. If your a local hunter scout all the elk hunting season there might be a better season than 2nd rifle or maybe not, but you well be in the wood scouting big advantage over us out-of-staters.

[Indian Summer]

The fact that you are not only physically capable of covering some ground is huge but just being at home in the mountains is even bigger. Living at 8K is going to be a factor that even experienced elk hunters can't compare to.

But you are right that you have lessons to learn. I know places where you can spot elk every day on private. But that has nothing to do with what's going on with the adjacent public land so scouting is a must. And nothing can replace scouting during the actual hunting season which means getting a season or 3 under your belt is going to be priceless.

Are you hunting either sex elk or bulls only? Bulls will undergo a big change of lifestyle after the rut. Good words to describe that are "vanishing act". They will go solo and live a solitary life while they recuperate. So knowing the lay of the land in detail is priceless. Now it's time to learn how the elk prefer to use it under different circumstances including post rut and mid hunting season.

Do guys call elk in gun season in Colorado? I have never hunted down there. I hunt areas where they are still vocal but I usually let them do the talking other than maybe some random locator calls.

With all that you've told us it seems like the only thing to tell you is to give it hell. That and be patient. Be prepared mentally to come up empty and push on. Have a plan B too. Good luck and welcome to our happy home.

[JPC]

Thanks everyone.

barber111: If I'm in 3 to 5 miles, I feel comfortable making several trips with heavy weight. If I am back closer to 10 miles, I will probably call some friends who have offered to hike in and help. At 20 miles for a round-trip, I would not want to make more than 2 trips... and preferably only 1. I don't see myself getting 10 miles back unless I absolutely have to to find elk - which is unlikely...I think.

Fridaythe13th: Yeah, I plan on doing some scouting to find out which season is typically better, but being a newby I got all excited and bought myself a 2nd season OTC tag already. Probably should have waited a bit since there's no shortage of tags. I'll add that to my Lessons Learned list.

Indian: OTC tags are Antlered Only this year, unless you get an either sex tag for private property. I figured I would learn more from a public lands hunt. I don't like doing things the easy way most of the time. I have been reading up on elk behavior, but I know textbook info really doesn't translate to real-world info most of the time. Hands-on and boots-on-the-ground will hopefully teach me more. As for calling elk for rifle season...I have no idea if rifle hunters do this, but I thought I would learn a few basic calls and use them sparingly. I have a plan A, B, and C each for at least 4 areas I am going to scout, but that might change after scouting this weekend.

I am thinking that I will start hunting bow season in either year 2 or 3, but I thought I already have a lot to learn without adding shooting a bow to the mix.

I guess my biggest fear is that I will find lots of elk...looking and laughing at me from a small swath of private property surrounded by forest service land.

[JPC]

I went out scouting today. After talking with a friend, he persuaded me to check out what was originally my 3rd option first. After hiking in about a mile, I got off trail and climbed up to a ridge at about 12000 feet. Once up on the ridge, I started seeing a lot of scat. I followed the ridge all the way up to where it starts to get very steep with lots of very loose rock. When I got to the top, I could really smell elk! I didn't venture into the trees below, but I feel confident I would have found elk in there. I then scrambled across a bit of a scree slope to gain access to a perpendicular ridge and followed in down a bit. About 1/2 way across, I found a spot perfect for glassing a large basin. After spending a little time there with a cheap set of binos, I told myself that as soon as I got home, I'm ordering some new binos. Done! All in all, I saw plenty of signs and I know there are plenty of elk in the general area. The big questions are: will they be there come 2nd rifle season and will I find a bull! My 3rd choice us now become my first, but I still have some scouting left to do.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1440813412.242330.jpg (361.03 KiB) Viewed 7724 times

[Elkduds]

Places where you are finding elk now are not guaranteed to hold elk in 8 weeks. Depending on weather and pressure, they could be far away. A suggestion: learn the boundaries between the private land where you regularly see elk, and public land. Elk pressured by hunters or snow may be migrating toward lower, private wintering ground by late Oct. If so, you can catch them crossing onto private ground refuge areas. If they are hunted on the private, they will go back and forth between private and public, depending on pressure. I'd suggest looking carefully @ the CO Big Game Atlas http://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/inde ... ntingAtlas
Find your unit #, click game species, then elk, it will show migration routes, winter refuge areas, summer concentrations, whatever you want. PM for more ideas if you wish. Great country in your unit. Good luck.

[JPC]

Thanks Elkduds. I have studied the atlas quite a bit. Seems like private land is everywhere around here - even where you least expect it. I do realize that elk signs I'm finding now really mean nothing at this point, but it's a place to start and living nearby, I can continue scouting up until the game goes live. I have heard a few locals have had really good luck in the general area, but I don't think the bit that I scouted gets hunted by very many. Getting an elk out of there will not be fun, but definitely do-able. It's all a learning process at this point. I'd love to fill the freezer, but if that doesn't work out, I hope to at least learn a bit and be better prepared for next year.

[Passin Thru]

I hope you have access to horses to pack an Elk 5-10 miles. By the time you get in (5-10) I can walk 3 MPH in the mountains because it's not in a straight line, (shoot your Elk, sounds like you plan on walking up to him,) butcher him and pack out the first 1/4, it will be dark. Then you have to spend the whole next day packing out the rest. Assuming it's like Area 68-681 where my permit is for, You'll have walked up or down most of the time whilst packing heavy wt 1 way. Sure sounds like you need to plan it better. What do you intend on doing after you have your 800 lb Bull down is all I'm asking? It's some of the hardest work a human can endure. I'm it the best shape of a man for my age, go to the gym and work on my farm and I dread the work after the kill. I cuss myself, hell, dragging a 200 lb deer out is mind boggling. Stay close to the ATV trails or make sure you have someone who can pack it out. I have access to horses, a jeep and an ATV. I just want you to think, look at the picture, I've been lucky and could get mine loaded on wheeled equipment almost every year.

[Deanmac]

So How did you do?