34 vs 43 vs 53 archery elk

[AspenPatch]

Apparently I have a thing for units with a 3 in them. I have been looking to start elk hunting in Colorado in 2019/2020. I am currently looking at gnu 34, 43, and 53 for archery elk and have spent a ton of time reading forums and scouring google earth for things that seem “elky”. My preference seems to be 53 as it’s more picturesque country, but does anyone have any other guidance that might sway me?

 

[dingleberns]

Steep country for sure, better be in shape.

 

[Brian_Holcombe]

43 is super steep and pretty dense with hunters. Not sure about the other units.

 

[Thunder head]

Pick multiple areas in each unit that look good to you. Just pick one and go. If you don't find any elk, head to the next one and so on and so on.

 

[Aktan]

Day hunt range is a bit crowded in 53, get a camp deeper in and you will be glad you did.

 

[Wapiti66]

Day hunt range is a bit crowded in 53, get a camp deeper in and you will be glad you did.[/QUO

I hunted 5-8 miles deep in 53 last year and was surrounded by drop camp hunters. We had at least 4 other camps that we knew of within less than a mile from us. These all had 3-4 hunters in them. Hunting was very tough, saw 3 elk total. I have never experienced that type of crowd in the backcountry. I pack in with mules and horses, so camp wasn't on my back. Just something to consider if you plan on loading the pack for the long haul in hopes of having a nice basin to yourself, you may have plenty of neighbors to compete with.

 

[Beendare]

Pick multiple areas in each unit that look good to you. Just pick one and go. If you don't find any elk, head to the next one and so on and so on.

^ good advice. I've hunted a bunch of those OTC units and have to say they are all about the same. You have to cover ground until you find elk....if you didn't get into them, you didn't cover enough ground or you are walking trails with everyone else.

 

[KHNC]

All those Flat Tops units are covered with hunters. At least it was that way when we archery hunted there a few years ago. Plenty of ML hunters too.

 

[AspenPatch]

Yeah, I have heard that. I just want some pretty country where I can reasonably see an elk in 7 days. I have little experience backpacking, but plan on practicing next year before committing to an elk hunt.

 

[johnhenry]

Sounds like the whole place is packed with hunters these days

 

[WRO]

Yeah, I have heard that. I just want some pretty country where I can reasonably see an elk in 7 days. I have little experience backpacking, but plan on practicing next year before committing to an elk hunt.

Start applying for tags..

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Scorpion]

53 can be challenging for a DIY archery hunt due to the ease of access from the road for both day hunters and the day hikers coming out of Crested Butte to view the Aspen. You’ll want to get a few miles in to at least the wilderness. Go too far and you’ll run into drop camp hunters.

Without saying too much, find areas on your topo map where the contour lines get close together and are well below timberline. Do not anticipate finding many elk out in the meadows feeding during archery, primarily due to the amount of human traffic.

 

[sndmn11]

Yeah, I have heard that. I just want some pretty country where I can reasonably see an elk in 7 days. I have little experience backpacking, but plan on practicing next year before committing to an elk hunt.

If that is the case, you can pick any unit west of I25, throw a dart, and hunt within a 5 mile radius from where it stuck...and stand nearly a guaranteed chance at seeing "an elk". Any of the units you mentioned will be just as fine as the next, and the focus should be more on the how than the why.