CO unit 81

[Sdieffen]

I've hunted 81 for the last 4 years. This may be our last if it's as bad as last year. There are elk just like every other OTC unit. However, every year the number of hunters goes up. Plan on hunting in close proximity of other hunters.

Read the MVUM on the Rio Grande NF website so you don't get caught driving an Atv somewhere you're not supposed to be. The fines/jail time/impoundment are steep.

At the end of the day, go hunt and explore the area. The further away from people the better your chances. Forums and google earth only go so far. Good luck!

 

[Ucsdryder]

This thread pretty much sums it up. Colorado otc is getting out of control. There are tons of elk on the summer that are fairly easily found by basically any a-hole, but as soon as the masses of people descend on them, they go deep or private. At some point Colorado is going to need to address the issue...or theyll just keep taking 700 bucks from non-residents. I guess the latter makes a lot more sense.

 

[Bcorn]

I just joined and am waiting on my minimum post and 7 day requirement before I can PM you, but me and a buddy are coming out from TN to hunt this unit and would love to ask you a couple of questions.

I have to ask do you have a buddy that recently moved to Wisconsin?

 

[mattfly77]

I have to ask do you have a buddy that recently moved to Wisconsin?

Not that I am aware of!

 

[DrHogfan]

My cousin and I went on our first ever archery elk hunt in 81 last year, no knowing what the heck we were doing. Went last week of archery. Elk were high, there were numerous other hunters in our area. Ended up calling a 6x6 in to 23 yards. He came in screaming and mad but could not get a shot. Rookie mistakes. We did this on a bench about 0.5 mile from the trailhead and up the steepest 1500' climb I've ever made. Point being, everyone Keep's Hammering, and hikes in deep. Sometimes the elk are in places you hike by and think "man that's pretty" but never considered hunting because it was either too steep or too close to the truck.

 

[Dwnorton1]

80/81 is very packed during archery and I have hunted all weeks in different years and was always covered up with guys that have just as much right to be there as I do. I just wish that they would pay more attention. Two years ago was watching 2 huge mule deer coming out of point into a meadow every evening like clockwork, so that evening I go to get in place and find that some guys set up camp, right on top of trail, literally. Huge game trail. Guess it was nice and flat and clear of debris from the animal traffic. Last year called in 4 separate hunters. Found one hunter camped high up in basin. 75 yards from the biggest wallow complex on top of the mountain. But I will go back as myself and the elk are going to be hanging out in same place 500 yards from the hunters. Took me 5 years but I found them when pressure is on. Do not know how I will pack him out... I'll count those eggs if they hatch.


The most important thing that I hope you please remember is this beetle kill area. Be careful of the standing dead trees. Keep it in mind anytime you stop or camp. storm comes up and giant limbs come down. These are 100' tall dead trees. Use hiking sticks or at least carry. Dead fall is treacherous. You cannot imagine some of the blow downs. By all means hunt this unit now. In few years and few storms or massive fires going to make some areas virtually un-huntable.

 

[Gerbdog]

The most important thing that I hope you please remember is this beetle kill area. Be careful of the standing dead trees. Keep it in mind anytime you stop or camp. storm comes up and giant limbs come down. These are 100' tall dead trees. Use hiking sticks or at least carry. Dead fall is treacherous. You cannot imagine some of the blow downs. By all means hunt this unit now. In few years and few storms or massive fires going to make some areas virtually un-huntable.

This is some really good advice, especially during archery season in CO, those hiking poles can save you a broken / twisted ankle. When the monsoons roll in in the afternoons and dump rain for 30 minutes those dead fall trees become really slick (like ice) and you still need to traverse them, the hiking poles will let you plant something firm on the ground while you get over the deadfall. Even better if you put an animal on the ground and get to enjoy packing out!

 

[townandcountry]

My cousin and I went on our first ever archery elk hunt in 81 last year, no knowing what the heck we were doing. Went last week of archery. Elk were high, there were numerous other hunters in our area. Ended up calling a 6x6 in to 23 yards. He came in screaming and mad but could not get a shot. Rookie mistakes. We did this on a bench about 0.5 mile from the trailhead and up the steepest 1500' climb I've ever made. Point being, everyone Keep's Hammering, and hikes in deep. Sometimes the elk are in places you hike by and think "man that's pretty" but never considered hunting because it was either too steep or too close to the truck.

Ha ha I bet y’all were shitting your pants! I would have been... This story goes to show that even FNGs can get an opportunity. Next time you’ll get it done and silence all the ol’ crab apples on here.

 

[DrHogfan]

Ha ha I bet y’all were shitting your pants! I would have been... This story goes to show that even FNGs can get an opportunity. Next time you’ll get it done and silence all the ol’ crab apples on here.

We were. Knowing then what we know now we could of killed him easily but we lost our composure and weren’t even thinking “we have to kill this thing.” Us Arkansas boys don’t get 700lb animals screaming at you close enough to smell their breath very often, unless you’re holding up the line in Walmart.

I’ve had adrenaline and buck fever before, but that rush was indescribable. We instantly knew this was going to be a lifetime addiction.


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[townandcountry]

We were. Knowing then what we know now we could of killed him easily but we lost our composure and weren’t even thinking “we have to kill this thing.” Us Arkansas boys don’t get 700lb animals screaming at you close enough to smell their breath very often, unless you’re holding up the line in Walmart.

I’ve had adrenaline and buck fever before, but that rush was indescribable. We instantly knew this was going to be a lifetime addiction.


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It’s awesome man, if you don’t feel like that you shouldn’t be out there. I went last year for the first time, NW of there, OTC archery... didn’t get as close as you, but we got on a legit 6x, got his pattern and set up an ambush. Right in the golden hour as we expected him and his cows to come through, a bear walked up behind us, smelled us, and bolted right through our ambush area. We lost the light and gave it up, and started the long hike up and out. Of course about half way we looked back and saw the bull and cows moving away, where the bear had turned them. We hit the deck and glassed ‘em, that glorious SOB stuck his nose to the air, turned his big ol’ head back our way, and I swear he said out loud “not today motherfuckers!!”. It was as close as we got in 9 days, 3 different areas, dodging other hunters and hiking our asses off. We didn’t succeed but the whole thing was hard as shit and so awesome, learned a ton, saw a ton of sign. Headed right back this year to see if he made it, to see if we can pattern him again. We didn’t deserve to kill him yet, frankly. But we got the first chapter of local knowledge and sweat down in the books.

 

[coelk81]

So being as I am/was a local guy I have hunted this unit my whole life. My dad and grandfather outfitted the area until the mid 80's. I have never hunted elk in any other unit in 35+yrs. Was a resident for 40 years, retired and have been a nonresident for the last 5. All good advice on here but make sure you can be mobile. Make sure you have spots A, B, C, D, E, F, you might have to move, you might not. Also there are more than 2 outfitters in 81, one of them I wouldn't piss on if he was on fire the other ones are good people. With that said I can guarantee that no matter how hard you hunt you will not cover the entire unit in one season, let alone four or five years. Unit 81 holds elk it is up the hunter to find em, and finding them doesn't mean you'll kill one.

 

[SwampDonkey8]

80/81 is very packed during archery and I have hunted all weeks in different years and was always covered up with guys that have just as much right to be there as I do. I just wish that they would pay more attention. Two years ago was watching 2 huge mule deer coming out of point into a meadow every evening like clockwork, so that evening I go to get in place and find that some guys set up camp, right on top of trail, literally. Huge game trail. Guess it was nice and flat and clear of debris from the animal traffic. Last year called in 4 separate hunters. Found one hunter camped high up in basin. 75 yards from the biggest wallow complex on top of the mountain. But I will go back as myself and the elk are going to be hanging out in same place 500 yards from the hunters. Took me 5 years but I found them when pressure is on. Do not know how I will pack him out... I'll count those eggs if they hatch.


The most important thing that I hope you please remember is this beetle kill area. Be careful of the standing dead trees. Keep it in mind anytime you stop or camp. storm comes up and giant limbs come down. These are 100' tall dead trees. Use hiking sticks or at least carry. Dead fall is treacherous. You cannot imagine some of the blow downs. By all means hunt this unit now. In few years and few storms or massive fires going to make some areas virtually un-huntable.

This

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[ArkElk]

We were. Knowing then what we know now we could of killed him easily but we lost our composure and weren’t even thinking “we have to kill this thing.” Us Arkansas boys don’t get 700lb animals screaming at you close enough to smell their breath very often, unless you’re holding up the line in Walmart.

I’ve had adrenaline and buck fever before, but that rush was indescribable. We instantly knew this was going to be a lifetime addiction.

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Another Arkansas elk hunter hunting this unit this year for the first time. I did not pick this unit and have been doing a lot of research and picking areas but have feared there would be a lot of hunters due to it being the first place you can get into elk from our direction.

 

[mattfly77]

Another Arkansas elk hunter hunting this unit this year for the first time. I did not pick this unit and have been doing a lot of research and picking areas but have feared there would be a lot of hunters due to it being the first place you can get into elk from our direction.

Man there's a few of us Arkansas boys going out to 81 this year. I live over east of Memphis now, but grew up in Arkansas. Good luck this year!

 

[njdoxie]

This story goes to show that even FNGs can get an opportunity. Next time you’ll get it done and silence all the ol’ crab apples on here.

It absolutely, positively 100% can be done by FNGs....approximately 0.5 to 1% of them. Are u in that group?


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[njdoxie]

Us Arkansas boys don’t get 700lb animals screaming at you close enough to smell their breath very often, unless you’re holding up the line in Walmart.
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That’s funny as hell, should be a meme somewhere showing that.


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[Gapmaster]

Another Arkansas elk hunter hunting this unit this year for the first time. I did not pick this unit and have been doing a lot of research and picking areas but have feared there would be a lot of hunters due to it being the first place you can get into elk from our direction.

I’m from Ark as well, I’ve been hunting elk for 24+ years. Haven’t missed but a few Bow seasons out west. That being said. I’ve never hunted the above unit. Just because it’s the closest doesn’t mean it’s the best. You’re already driving 14+ hrs at the minimum. What’s a few more hrs to less pressured less obvious places? I think every Okie, Arkie and Texan stop at that unit. Just my .02$

 

[ArkElk]

I’m from Ark as well, I’ve been hunting elk for 24+ years. Haven’t missed but a few Bow seasons out west. That being said. I’ve never hunted the above unit. Just because it’s the closest doesn’t mean it’s the best. You’re already driving 14+ hrs at the minimum. What’s a few more hrs to less pressured less obvious places? I think every Okie, Arkie and Texan stop at that unit. Just my .02$

I absolutely agree with you and appreciate your input. I was invited and they had this unit picked and since I was invited I just went with it. It’s very hard to find people to go with you. I am just happy to go tromping through the woods.

 

[Smfigari]

Any update on how the hunts turned out?