Those with a Travel trailer, got any tips/tricks??

[Western]

Sounds like you have a pretty good elk area to hunt. Is it hard to get a tag to hunt there? Is deer season open at the same time? Did you see any decent bucks?

Eddie

Eddie, In the 70's -80's, this area was predominately known for deer. Now The Elk herd is growing and the deer have been on the decline since around mid-90's. A majority of animals where still in mid, to higher elevations since it was so mild, but I did see one buck tht was around 28-29" 5x6, you would have passed on that one in the 80's. The Colorado DOW has responded by limiting all deer tags to "draw only" and they are getting "stingy" on how many they sell. The season to hunt the best Mulies now, would be the 4th limited draw, that correlates best with the rut when the bigger bucks are down.

Elk are getting plentiful and smart, but they are there in higher numbers each year. The trick is learning how to hunt the public land and use the other hunters to your advantage. I know you have also hunted for years as I and know what I mean.

The basic area is the migratory destination and/or stop over for that mountain range. In the late 80's the deer herd that overwintered in that portion of the state was 40k. The Ute Indians used to hunt heavily there, so it is a traditional hunting ground, some animals will navigate all the way to Utah (60 miles or so away)

 

[Western]

A few more photos:
Clouds below where I was scouting one morning.


Spot I was sitting when My bull came out with the cows.



Sunset the next day after an afternoon rain/sleet shower.

 

[EddieWalker]

Beautiful area. Are there a lot of roads or is it all walking? Any fourwheelers running around?

Last time I hunted CO was in the Mt Zirkel Wilderness Area near Steamboat Springs. It was a pack in trip where four of us hired an outfitter to take us about ten miles into the Wilderness Area on his horses, then pack us and the animals back out. It was a circus just getting to the edge of the National Forest and over into the Wilderness. ATV's where everywhere. Some where loaded up with gear so bad that it was falling off and some guys where running back and forth just picking up what fell off. Others where crashing, flipping over and just racing around like teenagers.

Opening day I shot a 5x5 bull similar to yours because of all the four wheelers racing around. I think they drove the animals towards where I was sitting on a ridge. The second day, one of my friends shot a smaller 5x5 under similar condition. Another friend saw elk coming out of the forest, but never got a shot, and the fourth guy wasnt' much for getting out of his sleeping bag or climbing up above to glass for animals. I saw a few other bulls, but nothing bigger then what I had shot.

When we got to town, everyone was amazed at how big my bull was. I was shocked and realized that the entire area had been so overhunted that I probably did shoot one of the better bulls in the area. Now I'm hesitant to hunt CO anymore.

Eddie

 

[Western]

ATV's have lessened in the unit I hunt (70), but they are still there. You learned the most valuable point about public land hunting, let the other hunters work hard and they will usually run game to you if your in a good escape spot. Several of the areas I hunt now, have been closed to foot or horseback only, although I killed this bull in an area that allows vehicles. Season dates play somewhat of a role, I drew for the 1st limited rifle season, so there where much fewer hunters in the woods. I did have to deal with 2nd season general rifle hunters though, towards the end of my hunt.

Steamboat is a beautiful area, the closest I've hunted to there would be just North of Vail,, rough country right there brother!!