Colorado Unit 2 or 201?

[blackwolf]

I have 24 points and want to start planning hunt for 2-3 years from now.
Looking for info to decide between these 2 units.
My latest info from forum resources tells me there are some real monsters 350-400
roaming unit 2, but probably an easier hunt in 201 for a 320-350 bull.
Especially interested in scouting waterholes for blind setups since I am 62 with bad knees.
Any info appreciated. Thanks, Jim

[ElkNut1]

Jim, wow! You have some serious points there! Doesn't sound like either unit is a bad one! Are you going after them with Trad gear?

Definitely continue fishing around for info, someones had to hunt those units that would be willing to share info since it sounds like an area that's a once in a lifetime draw!

ElkNut1

[saddlesore]

Unit 2 has a lot of private land with big trespass fees. The lady that had that big ranch next to Dinosaur has since passed and others have taken it up. I think fees go for $2500+.
I hunted 201 in 2007 after having 21 points . I was some what disappointed. When I first started to accumulate points, there were some tremendous bulls being taken out now every year. Now, they may take 1-2 in the 380 + range and those are mostly on the private land up there. Typically you will be looking at 325-340. Mine was 343, non-typical, but I measured it myself. I saw limited amount of elk and probably only 6-8 bulls. The local CPW guy gave me info of where the elk typically hang out, but they sure were not there. In fact, by mid week, I was going to take the next 6x that walked by as no none was seeing much. Here is the bull I killed.







I killed mine on the northern edges of BLM on the north side of Cold Spring Mountain. A herd usually hangs around the head waters of Beaver Creek ( no water in there). Most of the country really isn't condusive to archery hunting, except maybe the north slope of Diamond Mountain. Everything else is too open.

A better option in my opinion is Unit 10.There is BLM land there also, but you need a good GPS to get around and keep off of private land. They are still taking some good bulls there, but you need to get back in a ways . A friend of mine took a good 380+ bull there this past season. You can get corner coordinates off the BLM web site and the Little Snake field office. Browse around the BLM website and you can get to page such as this. Another page will give you the GPS coordinates for those numbers on the map. You will need to order a BLM map of that area to get Range and Townships. You need this info because there are few fences and no markers.

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/ ... 102w_t.pdf

That season starts Oct 1 or close to that so it extremely warm, desert country. Sure is different from the typical elk country most are familiar with. In some areas, you experience deep mud, others , a lot of sharp rocky two track roads. So you need good ties and chains. The first 5 days it was 80 degrees and then it snow a some. That got the mud to working.

There use to be a small store that sold gas and diesel in Browns Park but I heard it closed. So closest fuel would maybe be in Maybell. Quite aways off .Ditto with ice

PM me with your email address and I will send few photos I have of 201.

[blackwolf]

My plan is to decide on the unit, do a couple long scouting trips to learn the area.
Then I will spend the whole season, first week or so in water ground blind, then
the usual "run and gun" till my tag is filled. I am after the quality experience of
seeing a lot of nice bulls, more than tagging a huge one. A 320 bull would suit me fine.
I do have a couple contacts of guys who have hunted both units but the more info the better.

[saddlesore]

From my experiences, the "lot of nice bulls" is going to be hard in 201. In 6 days I saw 5 bulls total.

Not many water holes. Most are ranchers dirt tanks, out in the open.

[blackwolf]

Saddlesore, I wonder if what year it is (precipitation etc) makes a difference.
I talked to a guy who hunted 201 with a longbow about 6 years ago and passed on
a good number of 300 plus bulls hoping for a 350" Said if he had used compound
he would have connected. Many 40 yard shots he passed.

[saddlesore]

I hunted it 8 years ago in 2007. Scouted two years running before that. Plus I talked to the CPW biologist and local CPW guy. A fellow I know, his son married a lady that her mother works in the Maybell store up there. The hunted Unit 2 before the trespass fees went sky high and were pretty familiar with all the area and they always said they saw more and better bulls in Unit2.They did not hunt Unit 10

There never is much precipitation up there, it's highs desert.

An aquaintence of mine scouted it in 2014 and also Unit 10.That is why he chose Unit 10 He didn't see much in 201. Get on 24 hour campfire and elk hunting. There are several guys on there that know the area and a few others that have hunted it. Search for Exbiologist. I think his girlfriend drew a tag up the recently and he knows it real well.

No doubt there are a few good bulls in there. It is a relatively small unit. Just saying, I wouldn't burn all my points on it. If you do decide to put in for 201,I will be glad to tell you all I know about it, access, where the elk are suppose to be, etc.

[six]

Nice bull Saddlesore. I like a good non typical. He is very unique for sure.

[longbowelk]

I have hunted deer up in 201 about 5 years ago and I did not have any issues finding elk in quite a few places. A few of the satellite bulls became pain in the butts when trying to stalk in on deer. The one experience i would recommend to you from my time there is make sure you have your owns maps pf the area and know the public private boundaries well. There are some really good elk in the area where the boundaries can be tricky.

[saddlesore]

As I have already mentioned, you need a good GPS and a set of GPS coordinates published of corner locations by the BLM. Maps alone are not enough as they are in error and boundaries between private, BLM and CPW SWA are not marked.
There are a few good bulls, but mostly you will find bulls in the300 class. The problem being is if and when you find those few good bulls, the private vs public land is so checker boarded that the elk get onto the private land pretty fast. If I had to do it over again, I would not spend my 24 points on a gamble

[longbowelk]

Saddlesore and I have had different experiences with 201. Mine was up there during archery season. The reason why I said maps were important was i ran into a gentleman and his gps which had all his info died on him and would not work, so he was trying to buy my maps which I had marked up with all the correct corner coordinates on them. Since saddlesore has been there more recent, he maybe be more correct as to size of aniamls. However I ran into more elk not on the mountain but in other places. I have also hunted area 10 in archery for deer and had friends pull nice bulls out of there. Again the same goes with marking a map with the coordinates of boundaries of property and you can not need to go back in as far to get a big bull. If you go back in the BLM does not do any maintenance on roads so best to use a 4wheeler or motorcycle, some of the roads have gotten bad enough even a lifted 4x4 will have a hard time on them.

[blackwolf]

I am anxious to put some boot leather to work. Also wondering about the trespass fee of about $1200 to hunt the Walker Ranch in unit 2. Ranch claims to have the only water holes in large general areas.