2020 Archery DIY Planning - Colorado

[cured_ham]

I am in the process of planning my first DIY hunt in Colorado in the first archery season. I am coming from KY where there is little to no elk opportunities (stingy draws), I mainly hunt whitetail. I am trying to narrow my search down to a couple units on the Eastern half of the state. Does anyone have any recommendations or resources I should check? Thanks in advance.

 

[jyoung1901]

I would say look at at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website to start with. They have a lot of good info. Also GoHunt is great for helping pick units. Gohunt and OnX are two resources I utilize heavily, also Google earth.

Cory Jacobsen has a great video for E scouting using GE after you've picked a unit. I used his methods last year in Montana and had 4 good encounters in a week in a challenging unit.

I am from Tennessee planning my second elk hunt. First one to Colorado and I am a research and planning junkie. But I will say, the eastern portion of the state is mostly private and has a smaller elk herd I believe. I would say you need to at least get west of I-25.

Some Westerners probably know better than I, but that is my understanding.

 

[Jkr61]

East of 1-25 is all plains- think Kansas. Minimal public and not that many elk.

 

[wakechase]

You will need to be west of I-25.

 

[5MilesBack]

CO only has one archery elk season and this year it will run from Sept 2-30. There are a bunch of elk east of I-25, but most of the land out there is private.........just a bit of public that "might" hold elk, until they're pressured right back to private.

 

[cured_ham]

Ok. After looking at some maps I agree. I am expanding my search to, well, everything

 

[HondoArcher]

You have a ton of work ahead of you. Good luck.

Take a peek at my scouting efforts last year. It may help you get a feel for the country out here.

 

[cured_ham]

A ton of work is right. I will give it a watch. Thanks!