CO camping/hunting questions.

[d3ntalbliss]

CO camping/hunting regulations questions.

A lot of questions as I am newly moved to CO. I am planning an OTC hunt this fall. The area I am looking to hunt is state land, so it is my understanding that there is no overnight camping on sate lands. The state lands but up against national forest. From what I can gather I could backpack in and camp overnight on national forest and then hunt into state lands, correct?

Also the area and trail I will be using criss crosses between the OTC Unit I am looking to hunt and a limited entry unit. Is there any issue with hiking through corners and borders of LE unit to access areas of interest in OTC unit?

Sorry if its a jumbled mess, but just want to make sure I am legal.

 

[PONYBOY]

Get yourself ONx maps or some way to clearly define boundaries while out hunting. Not 100%, but I’d stay clear of hiking through a unit with a weapon if you don’t have appropriate tag. Maybe call your local game officer to be sure.

 

[fngTony]

Research that specific state land, it might be leased or have some restrictions. Not all state land is the same here. OnX doesn’t give you specifics on if a state land is huntable or not. C.Y.A. Contact cpw and any land management agency that might be involved in that area.

 

[camping1601]

You can hike through the other unit just don't be hunting. No arrow nocked and have your release stored.

 

[austinphps]

For your first question, Correct. You can hike into the NF that borders the state land you are hunting and camp there. I do believe some state wildlife areas and trust lands DO allow camping, most in a designated area. You would have to check CPW on the specific one you are looking at

Colorado Parks & Wildlife -
Maps Library

 

[d3ntalbliss]

Thanks for the input, I will definitely be making some calls!!

 

[Riles1050]

Let us know what you find out. I have always been under the impression you would be fine walking through even with a weapon as long as you didn't harvest or shoot at an animal in the wrong area you were still fine.

 

[mvmnts]

I called CWP on this about an SWA, because I wanted to walk through the SWA to access "landlocked" national forest, and their answer was that it was perfectly fine, even with a weapon, as long as I wasn't actively hunting. I'd call and ask yourself to be sure. Just be smart about it and pack away your bow and release on your pack and don't have it immediately accessible. If you run across a warden and it looks like you're hunting, they can use their best judgement to nail you for it.

 

[sndmn11]

I wonder what the interpretation would be if your game is on your unit, but you are standing in a different unit...and vice versa.

 

[sdfuller]

I think there would have to be proof you hunted/killed the animal in a unit other than the one on the tag. How many units do you drive through to get back home?

Now if you have an animal on you in a unit that is not logically in your path of travel to/from your hunting area and home then that's a different story.

 

[Tobe_B]

There are quite a few hunters that come in to my local unit from the unit above no problem. Don’t hike through the camping/bordering unit with a loaded weapon at all. Also, if you get something on the ground. GPS two points. Your point you fired from/find first blood and the point you located. This way any game warden that questions you can locate blood on the ground or entrails/bone from a pack-out. Burden of proof in wrong doing is on the enforcement officer. If you can prove location of kill then it shows you knew where you were and you were proactive in being honest.


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