CO GMU 53 / West Elk Wilderness - Archery

[bogeyboy555]

Fellas,

After 3 years of hunting Eagles Nest Wilderness, I am thinking of giving the West Elk Wilderness GMU 53 a try for Archery. I work remotely and have ample time to scout, research, and spend time in the woods before the season. With no 14'ers, few high alpine lakes, and distant from the I-70 corridor - I have received feedback from NFS folks that this is one of the least visited wilderness areas. I assume it gets hit pretty hard during rifle season, but I will be able to hunt at least 15 days of the bow season.... In your experience. One thing I did notice is that the access points are relatively low lying, around 7,500 feet or so.

Has anyone hunted this area, thoughts?
Do you have to get up super high above the treeline to find animals like in other parts of the state?
Are there any guides that service this unit?
Do these trails get hit hard with day hikers? Is it possible to use the trails without tons of crowds? or do I need to bush wack up drainages?
I noticed on the map that there are only a few access points... Does anyone have a good recommendation for where to park / start?

any help is much appreciated fellas....

dustin

 

[Straight6]

Deer or elk? I have hunted it a few times both rifle and archery for deer.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

I live in 53. Plenty of elk if that's what you are looking for. This time of year I see elk every day while driving around or going for a run.

Very few people visit the West Elk Wilderness during the summer. Some of the trails near my home have become overgrow due to lack of use. It's true that the area gets hit during hunting season, and there are some big outfitter camps, but you can find remote basins with plenty of elk if you have a few weekends to scout. There are elk spread out between 12,000 feet and 8,000 feet during archery season. Trust me, I glass them from my deck.

One thing to keep in mind is the abundance of agricultural areas surrounding the West Elk. Some elk figure out that they are safer living near the border of FS/BLM land and private land, where there is abundant feed and water (even agricultural water sources, which are all over). One technique is to hike "down" onto FS or BLM land that sits just above private agricultural land, keeping in mind that you still need an area with security cover, water, escape routes. I work with a guy who owns land between Crawford and the Black Canyon National Park. Believe it or not, there are elk on his property half the year, and that's at about 7,000 feet elevation. Whether you go high or low, you need to nail this down during the summer scouting season.

You can talk to the FS rangers in Paonia for information about outfitter locations - I talked to them a year ago, and they were working towards better accountability with their outfitters, in order to publicize exact camp locations, etc. Some of those rangers hunt, or have husbands that hunt, and they understand why you'd want to know outfitter locations. A visit in person with those rangers during business hours is best.

A lot of hunters that stay in Crawford and other outlying towns are the typical sort, riding ATVs on forest roads. However, there are a few that backpack, and I personally know of a number of hard core locals that bivy out in the wilderness or hike in every day from town. As an example, I can be in the elk well inside of an hour after leaving my house. Locals that backcountry hunt are very fit, work in active jobs, and don't think anything of hiking 12 miles in a day. The places where they hunt produce elk and deer just about every year. You can find the same places with some scouting.

I'll say this: the elk are here if that's what you want. The deer seem to be doing really well too; lots of 'em around. You can burn some boot leather to find them.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

One more thought: Yes, access is very limited to the West Elk. Where access points are concerned, what you see on the Trails Illustrated maps is what you get. If you're the type who likes to walk, then it's a great place to hunt.

 

[robby denning]

Crzzy Trekker, you get this month's award for most generously helpful member.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

Robby, I appreciate that man. Cheers!

Eric

 

[5MilesBack]

Some elk figure out that they are safer living near the border of FS/BLM land and private land, where there is abundant feed and water (even agricultural water sources, which are all over). One technique is to hike "down" onto FS or BLM land that sits just above private agricultural land

This has become common place for a lot of elk. I remember back in the 80's one year, and we were driving up to our usual camp at around 10,500' where we always hunted "up" from there. This giant 6x6 bull ran across the road in front of us at about 6k feet. We did our usual hunting, but then stopped in that area on our way out to do some scouting. We found a herd in the cedars on BLM just above some rancher's fields that looked like they had been living in there for years.

We ended up taking several bulls out of that spot over the next few years until it got "discovered" by a bunch of other hunters, and then it was never the same. That was almost directly straight north of Crawford a ways.

 

[nonhda09]

I live in 53. Plenty of elk if that's what you are looking for. This time of year I see elk every day while driving around or going for a run.

Very few people visit the West Elk Wilderness during the summer. Some of the trails near my home have become overgrow due to lack of use. It's true that the area gets hit during hunting season, and there are some big outfitter camps, but you can find remote basins with plenty of elk if you have a few weekends to scout. There are elk spread out between 12,000 feet and 8,000 feet during archery season. Trust me, I glass them from my deck.

One thing to keep in mind is the abundance of agricultural areas surrounding the West Elk. Some elk figure out that they are safer living near the border of FS/BLM land and private land, where there is abundant feed and water (even agricultural water sources, which are all over). One technique is to hike "down" onto FS or BLM land that sits just above private agricultural land, keeping in mind that you still need an area with security cover, water, escape routes. I work with a guy who owns land between Crawford and the Black Canyon National Park. Believe it or not, there are elk on his property half the year, and that's at about 7,000 feet elevation. Whether you go high or low, you need to nail this down during the summer scouting season.

You can talk to the FS rangers in Paonia for information about outfitter locations - I talked to them a year ago, and they were working towards better accountability with their outfitters, in order to publicize exact camp locations, etc. Some of those rangers hunt, or have husbands that hunt, and they understand why you'd want to know outfitter locations. A visit in person with those rangers during business hours is best.

A lot of hunters that stay in Crawford and other outlying towns are the typical sort, riding ATVs on forest roads. However, there are a few that backpack, and I personally know of a number of hard core locals that bivy out in the wilderness or hike in every day from town. As an example, I can be in the elk well inside of an hour after leaving my house. Locals that backcountry hunt are very fit, work in active jobs, and don't think anything of hiking 12 miles in a day. The places where they hunt produce elk and deer just about every year. You can find the same places with some scouting.

I'll say this: the elk are here if that's what you want. The deer seem to be doing really well too; lots of 'em around. You can burn some boot leather to find them.

Would you be willing to talk to me about 53 if I give you my phone number? I am preparing for my hunt in 2021!

 

[66Charger]

I live in 53. Plenty of elk if that's what you are looking for. This time of year I see elk every day while driving around or going for a run.

Very few people visit the West Elk Wilderness during the summer. Some of the trails near my home have become overgrow due to lack of use. It's true that the area gets hit during hunting season, and there are some big outfitter camps, but you can find remote basins with plenty of elk if you have a few weekends to scout. There are elk spread out between 12,000 feet and 8,000 feet during archery season. Trust me, I glass them from my deck.

One thing to keep in mind is the abundance of agricultural areas surrounding the West Elk. Some elk figure out that they are safer living near the border of FS/BLM land and private land, where there is abundant feed and water (even agricultural water sources, which are all over). One technique is to hike "down" onto FS or BLM land that sits just above private agricultural land, keeping in mind that you still need an area with security cover, water, escape routes. I work with a guy who owns land between Crawford and the Black Canyon National Park. Believe it or not, there are elk on his property half the year, and that's at about 7,000 feet elevation. Whether you go high or low, you need to nail this down during the summer scouting season.

You can talk to the FS rangers in Paonia for information about outfitter locations - I talked to them a year ago, and they were working towards better accountability with their outfitters, in order to publicize exact camp locations, etc. Some of those rangers hunt, or have husbands that hunt, and they understand why you'd want to know outfitter locations. A visit in person with those rangers during business hours is best.

A lot of hunters that stay in Crawford and other outlying towns are the typical sort, riding ATVs on forest roads. However, there are a few that backpack, and I personally know of a number of hard core locals that bivy out in the wilderness or hike in every day from town. As an example, I can be in the elk well inside of an hour after leaving my house. Locals that backcountry hunt are very fit, work in active jobs, and don't think anything of hiking 12 miles in a day. The places where they hunt produce elk and deer just about every year. You can find the same places with some scouting.

I'll say this: the elk are here if that's what you want. The deer seem to be doing really well too; lots of 'em around. You can burn some boot leather to find them.

Awesome, feedback. Appreicate the insight. Been hunting here the last couple years. It's one of my favorite areas, so beautiful!

 

[venado mula]

Colorado feels like most of your hunting is working with other hunters, in my area, it's working with the grizzly bears. lol