Finding Public Hunting Land Colorado

[Mallard1123]

Im trying to plan an elk hunt with a buddy in Colorado. We want to do a hike in and camp rifle hunt. This will be our first elk hunt and would like a little help trying to find a place to hunt. I have been looking online at maps trying to find all the public land and its kind of confusing to me. Can you hunt all BLM property and is there a better way to find all the public land? I have looked at a couple websites but still unsure what is public access and what is not.

[Swede]

Generally public land including state land, national forests and BLM land is open to hunting, except for national parks, monuments, refuges, administrative sites and the like. Rarely, they may be closed for some emergency, and sometimes use is restricted.

[Indian Summer]

In about 2 minutes Elkduds and some others who know all about Colorado are going to chime in with some links to places you can look at land ownership status online.

Yes you can hunt all BLM as long as you can get to it without crossing private property. Also all National Forest. I saw a pretty good deal online elsewhere for a drop camp packed in on horses for $1600 in Colorado if you're interested.

[baddaddy]

Mallard,

Let us know what type of terrain you are looking for as well as any other stipulations for your hunt, Which season are you looking at?

[under H2O hunter]

This is an excellent place to start
http://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/inde ... ntingAtlas

[saddlesore]

Not all state land is huntable. SWA's are, but state land leased is not. BLM land although leased is huntable,but as stated you have to enter it from a public road or trail and if leased, you may not be able to camp on it.

[Mallard1123]

that link is the one that i have been using. So im assuming all the yellow is public hunting land. I don't really have any stipulations on what terrain due to this being our first hunt. We plan on taking our camping gear in our packs and hiking in somewhere. I'm having a hard time finding a place thats far from roads. We want to hike in a ways and go were most people don't hoping to find success on the unbeaten trail. Mostly looking at north west region seems like were most of the elk are due to population studies we looked at. We're coming from Michigan and plan on driving out. I was thinking either the first or second rifle season.

[Mallard1123]

Not all state land is huntable. SWA's are, but state land leased is not. BLM land although leased is huntable,but as stated you have to enter it from a public road or trail and if leased, you may not be able to camp on it.

How do you know if it is leased?

[Elkduds]

In about 2 minutes Elkduds and some others who know all about Colorado are going to chime in with some links to places you can look at land ownership status online.

Yes you can hunt all BLM as long as you can get to it without crossing private property. Also all National Forest. I saw a pretty good deal online elsewhere for a drop camp packed in on horses for $1600 in Colorado if you're interested.

Sorry I'm late, traffic was a b!tch. On the big game atlas H2O posted, public lands are in green (forest service), yellow (BLM), & purple (state lands).

Here is a link to state wildlife areas, w rules, access dates, access info. http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks ... eaMap.aspx

Link to CO state trust lands info, some are closed to hunting: http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/Pages ... Lands.aspx

[Indian Summer]

Is there a reason you chose Colorado? Just so you know you can get guaranteed licenses in Montana. Also Wyoming is almost guaranteed and the results come out in time to apply in Montana if you don't draw. Pretty easy to find roadless country in those states.

Interesting fact: The population of the entire state of Wyoming is around 565,000 people. The population of Denver is about 650,000. Just sayin'

[otcWill]

^^Read Joe's post and take heed! This from a guy who kills good bulls otc in CO every year. Those numbers are just resident numbers. If you saw hunter statistics you'd be on the WY G&F site before you read my post. Good luck!

[saddlesore]

What do you consider far from the roads? In Colorado,there are no vast tracks of wilderness like WY and MT. Usually if you hike in 8 miles, you can meet people coming in from the other side.

[Kessler10]

I

Interesting fact: The population of the entire state of Wyoming is around 565,000 people. The population of Denver is about 650,000. Just sayin'

One of Joes fun and very accurate facts to think about......

[Mallard1123]

I have thought about wyoming and wondered if we could get a tag there. Would it be worth getting a preference for wyoming this year and trying to hunt it next year? We might go this fall and if we can't we are for sure going next fall. I was thinking if we can't go this year I might just go in August and do a little scouting if possible. Is the success rate better in Montana and wyoming then in colorado?

[StartMyHunt]

Mallard,

You may want to consider some of my maps. My maps show the land ownership, roads and trails, the CPW ranges, and something you are not likely to find in another map. My maps show you the likely areas elk will move to be once the pressure starts. I show you where there the little retreat areas are located. It is all based on habitat and vegetation. This scientific approach has worked very well for me as well as others who have used my maps. Check out the testimonial page to see what others are saying. You will not find another map like mine.

Mike

[cohunter14]

Not all state land is huntable. SWA's are, but state land leased is not. BLM land although leased is huntable,but as stated you have to enter it from a public road or trail and if leased, you may not be able to camp on it.

How do you know if it is leased?

If you are using that mapping software, it will only show state land that is huntable in purple. If it isn't huntable, it will show up just like private land does.

I have thought about wyoming and wondered if we could get a tag there. Would it be worth getting a preference for wyoming this year and trying to hunt it next year? We might go this fall and if we can't we are for sure going next fall. I was thinking if we can't go this year I might just go in August and do a little scouting if possible. Is the success rate better in Montana and wyoming then in colorado?

If you are planning on going annually or multiple years in a row, I would suggest settling on one place and hunting there. The more time you hunt an area, the better you learn it. If you are bouncing around every year, it makes learning an area that much more difficult.

[bald9eagle]

Mike
You have an email.

[Mallard1123]

Thanks for the help! I'll check out your maps.

[bald9eagle]

I'm thinking Wyoming next trip. I know that my buddies will look to me to be the planner once I get a trip under my belt. Now I just need to get friendly with Joe and hope for a freebie...

[CurlyTail]

I use the Colorado Hunt Atlas also.

Be aware that using the bar slider, you can lighten and darken the various overlays ( public land, elk range, National Forest road use ) and get some great information. You do not want to be hunting prime Winter Range during Archery season. The National Forest road use map is very helpful to identify what roads are actually open, and which one have been closed.

Every year I see multiple early season Elk camps set up in areas identified as winter range - and they probably wonder why the never see anything.

Once you have identified public land , that is somewhat remote from open roads or ATV trails, within Elk range - then go to Google Earth and start to identify areas with the best grass (green and lush), and areas with black forest security cover.

Then you are ready to visit the area and check for sign

And then remember that you do not want to camp right on top of the best hunting spots or camp activity will run the elk out of the area. Camp in poor hunting location, adjacent to areas you feel have potential

[Luckyman]

x2 what curlytail said!

Check out this thread
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6865