Help with Colorado Elk Hunt

[bowcrazy05]

My Dad and I are going to try and draw archery elk tags this year in Colorado, and I was wondering where a good public land spot would be. This will be are first time and we are looking for good trophy spots, but more important, large amounts of elk. So if you know a good unit to apply for I would greatly appreciate it. P.S. we are from Iowa so, NR spots.

 

[bowcrazy05]

It will be a DIY hunt.

 

[weekender21]

Most units in CO are over the counter for archery. How many points do you have?

 

[baco]

Trophy quality you better look elsewhere unless your sitting on 14 or so points

 

[weekender21]

Trophy quality you better look elsewhere unless your sitting on 14 or so points

Even if you had 14 points, a 330" bull would be big. Colorado is a quantity not quality state for elk. The areas with the highest densities of elk in the state, and the country for that matter, are over the counter for archery. In my opinion, any 200" 5x5 would be a shooter in those over the counter units.

 

[bowcrazy05]

Thanks for the info weekender21 we're just looking to get are feet wet. Dad said he would be happy with a cow. I figure, go to where the hightest densities of elk are for more oppurtunities.

 

[weekender21]

Well you can't go wrong with Colorado! Good luck!

 

[shovelerslayer]

Colorado DOW was at the Sacramento ISE and I spoke at length with them about bowhunting elk. When the gentleman next to me asked where the best place to arrow an elk was the rep told him to pick a place he liked in Western to Central Colorado and he would see elk! From my experience the whole state has a lot of elk, and their reps at the show seemed to think the same. If you just want to chase elk CO is definitely the state to do it in.

 

[Iditarodgrizzly]

Unit 33 is the best for us. We enjoy the White River National Forest and the Flat tops. You will be hunting at elevations of 8500 to around 10,500. Get in shape!!!!! Walk, run whatever it takes. If you've never hunting in high elevations, take aspirin and take 2 each morning. It will thin your blood and therefore make it easier for circulation. Drink plenty of water. If urine is yellow, you are not drinking enough water at that elevation. First couple of days, take it slow. If you get altitude sickness, only cure is going down in elevation. That means losing quality hunting time.

O.K. back to Unit options; Unit 33 is a draw unit. Usually you have to draw for it in your first choice and then have unit 24 for your second choice. If you don't get unit 33 you will get one preference point and that helps for the second year of getting unit 33. If you get bumped to second choice unit 24, lucky you, it also will come with units 12, 13 & 23. Look on the colorado dow website under the units map, wow!!! You have a ton of acreage to hunt.

To get there; If traveling on I-70 West, you will take exit 105 at New Castle Colorado to get to these units. Follow signs for White River National Park. Follow the New Castle/Buford highway. We camp at or around Meadow Lake. We have camped at Triangle Park but buddies give me a hard time that that's where all the old men hunt due to the parks are a lot more level. Hope this helps and if you need any additional info, let me know. ALSO, IT LOVES TO SNOW IN SEPTEMBER UP THERE!!

TAKE CAMERA, Most beautiful area in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jerryt]

Unit 11. Yellow Creek area. Hunted the public land there 5 years in a row and killed 5 bulls. (4) 6x6 and 1 rag horn. I hunt it with a rifle but the bulls are there year around. My biggest out of there is 350 B&C.

 

[k_rad]

Unit 8 just outside of Kremling Co. I think it is Shoshone national forest. Take a horse if you can. You can practicly walk right up to them if you are behind a horse...

 

[Iditarodgrizzly]

Now we have you some info flowing in. There are lots of great units. Just go on the colorado dow recap pages and see how many preference points it takes for the unit you are interested in. Yes, there are over the counter license available and you could kill a nice bull but start this year getting your preference points building for you. Good Luck!! Looks like we have a lot of California guys that elk hunt in Co.

 

[COHunter]

Unit 8 just outside Kremmling and Shoshone NF, someone's trying to be funny
:lol bashing sign:

 

[k_rad]

Yes, yes sorry I hadn't had my coffee yet Arapaho National forest
my bad...

 

[Iditarodgrizzly]

What about 5 daY BACKPACK rifle hunts in Unit 8, is it feasible. Do they have the over the counter bull elk tags for 2nd. rifle season?

 

[jerryt]

What about 5 daY BACKPACK rifle hunts in Unit 8, is it feasible. Do they have the over the counter bull elk tags for 2nd. rifle season?

Yes they have over the counter tags for the second rifle season. it is good for all these units. April 6th is the deadline to put in if you want a preference point. The wise thing to do is to apply for the preference point by putting this number E-P-999-99-P on your application and then make your second choice the over the counter tag for all the below zones to accumulate your prefernce points.



Unlimited antlered elk licenses are available for

2nd & 3rd seasons only. They are valid in all units​

except​

​

​

​

​

1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20, 29, 39, 40, 46, 48, 49,
50, 51, 54, 56, 57, 58, 61, 66, 67, 69, 76, 79, 84, 87,
88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100,
101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111,
112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121,
122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132,
135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147,
191, 201, 391, 461, 481, 500, 501, 512, 561, 682,​

791, 851

 

[fishnhunt]

Yes they have over the counter tags for the second rifle season. it is good for all these units. April 6th is the deadline to put in if you want a preference point. The wise thing to do is to apply for the preference point by putting this number E-P-999-99-P on your application and then make your second choice the over the counter tag for all the below zones to accumulate your prefernce points.



Unlimited antlered elk licenses are available for

2nd & 3rd seasons only. They are valid in all units​

except

1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20, 29, 39, 40, 46, 48, 49,

50, 51, 54, 56, 57, 58, 61, 66, 67, 69, 76, 79, 84, 87,
88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100,
101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111,
112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121,
122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132,
135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147,
191, 201, 391, 461, 481, 500, 501, 512, 561, 682,​

791, 851
​

Having never hunted CO...Why apply for just a point on your first choice instead of the hunt you would really want?? Wouldn't you get a point either way??
​