Suggestions for First Timer

[buckkillerdeluxe]

Hey Guys-

I am a mule deer hunter that wants to try his hand at Elk hunting next year. I am not looking to bag a trophy or even a wall hanger. I am looking primarily for a good opportunity to hunt an animal that I can put in my freezer.

I am looking for an area with higher numbers of animals, not necessarily trophy quality? I am considering hunting Colorado in the western portion but any ideas and suggestions are welcome.

Thanks ,

Jesse

 

[upper]

Delux,I would get the stats from the states you want to hunt.Utah and Idaho have some good opp.there are late hunts for spike only.Check it all out.Rember you can get away from the crowds,but you need a crowd to get an elk out.In my opinion best eating meat in the woods.Upper

 

[quack_head]

A good knife and a good sharpener. A good frame pack. Lots of Tylenol.

You will see the bulls in the middle of the cows. Just remember they are a lot of work, packing them out.

 

[quack_head]

e mail me.

 

[wmidbrook]

You're in Folsom so CO is a good choice...I-80 and then drop into CO from Wyo. Or SW...drop down 15 @ SLC to 70 and then you have a ton of options in that part of western CO. There is more opportunity and higher success for bulls if you don't care about antler size in CO than other western states.

I personally haven't hunted there yet but probably will do a family hunt in the next year or two...brother-in-laws doing a little scouting around Hayden and Steamboat Springs...there's real good hunting up in Routt NF and the Flat tops too. From what I hear it takes some work to get away from the crowds especially during the rifle seasons. There is good hunting all the way down to the SW CO too in various spots along the way from what I hear. You can probably get some help from folks here who've actually hunt there to tap their first-hand experience...

 

[buckkillerdeluxe]

Thanks everyone for the pointers....western Colorado seems like where I will probably give a whack...just have to figure out which zone(s)


I've hunted deer around Meeker for the last couple years and have seen a few cows taken during the first combined season.... i might give that a try but I'm a little concerned about all the oil developement that has been going on there of late.....too many trucks and drilling rigs for my taste.

I was also considering the areas around Craig, CO. Decent harvest numbers although I know most of what gets taken is fairly small.

What about Montana....I have a friend with a place in Kalispell and Helena....Does anyone know much about the elk hunting in those areas?

 

[quack_head]

You have mail.

White River National Forest is the largest Elk Herd.

 

[jackrabbit]

My bud's and I used to like hunting elk in the White River National Forest before the out-of-state fees doubled. We hunted the northeast quadrant of Game Unit 33. We went east on I-70 past Grand Junction, Rifle, and Silt. Then we got off at New Castle and headed up road 245 to the north part of the unit at either Triangle Park or Meadow Lake. Order a forest map by mail, or go to the free onlline map sources. Also, the CO DOW has links to maps and even has maps showing the migration trails of herds in each game unit. We liked Unit 33 because the tops are flat for easy driving and walking, but with plenty of progressively steep drainages to get into. A cow tag was easy to fill in that area, due to the large herds. A bull was a lot tougher for us, with no horses or quads to get us further away from the masses. Minimum on bulls was 4 points in that area. You can stock up on groceries and supplies in Rifle. If you get snow, be careful coming down the hill and wait till the snow/ice on the roads melts by midmorning. There are hunters from all over the country, without chains, who panic and try to leave too early. Even if you have chains, the guys behind you will not have them and rear end you. The main roads up there are good gravel. There is one steep section in the lower part of the climb which gave my fully loaded 24 ft motorhome (460 CI), towing a Bronco, a bit of trouble -- so I usually unhitched and had a friend drive the Bronco up that section. Good luck to ya.

 

[Sierra_Dave]

Hey quack-head,

I'm still laughing at that quote "When I die, I want to die like my grandfather--who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all
the passengers in his car.""

 

[tmoniz]

Put in for Wyoming General Elk Tag.

Then book these guys. It's a real Elk hunt.

You'll never forget it.

http://www.wolverinecreek.com/