Colorado 1st vs 4th Rifle

[Hayguide]

camping was easier-I left the door open each night- water never froze and I didn't have to have a fire on my daytime nap! I remember a trip in 2012 that was 10 below first season at night- water bottles froze in the tent after the fire went out! Moving water at the creek froze, elk were moving like crazy and I was able to get a bull after 3 days of hunting. Would take the cold any day over warm weather.

 

[George]

It sure seems to be a crap shoot. I asked a similar question of experienced elk hunters up on Mosca road and was told by 4th season there will/could be 8' of snow and the roads will be closed. As it turned out there was no significant snow up there until December.

G

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

I've got a few questions for you about your hunt. You are hunting flat tops, is this a lodge hunt, wall tent hunt or ???, what side of the flattops will you be on? Or what unit are you planning to hunt? In my experience I have seen guys get stuck on the mountain during 3rd season on the flattops. It's a very risky thing up there after 3rd season. If it is a camp hunt that is, if it's just lodge I wouldn't worry. What elevation are you planning on hunting to high with snow and ur gonna be in a ghost town, to low with no snow same deal.

 

[Gorp2007]

I've got a few questions for you about your hunt. You are hunting flat tops, is this a lodge hunt, wall tent hunt or ???, what side of the flattops will you be on? Or what unit are you planning to hunt? In my experience I have seen guys get stuck on the mountain during 3rd season on the flattops. It's a very risky thing up there after 3rd season. If it is a camp hunt that is, if it's just lodge I wouldn't worry. What elevation are you planning on hunting to high with snow and ur gonna be in a ghost town, to low with no snow same deal.

Wall tent hunt in Unit 24, camp will be right at 9000 feet. We'll have horses taking us in and with us in camp to help move around (if necessary).

Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

That shouldn't be to bad, 9000 isn't a bad elevation usually weather wise. I think you will be alright the only tough parts will be moving around. To much snow the horses will be borderline useless, until you leave camp. If we have the same fall we did in2016 you will be fine, if it's like 2013 your hunt could be cut short to get off the mountain safely. That is one thing I would find out about your outfit, if the weather conditions are to severe and your hunt is cut short what happens to the money you paid, your deposit all that. To me that would be a huge factor, if the outfitter says ur deposit is kept, or if the hunt is cut short the price is final I wouldn't even risk it personally. This is one reason my outfit does not do 4th season drop or week long guided hunts. We do strictly lodge day to day hunts as weather is to questionable and we don't want to risk hunters, horses, gear or guides.

 

[Gorp2007]

That shouldn't be to bad, 9000 isn't a bad elevation usually weather wise. I think you will be alright the only tough parts will be moving around. To much snow the horses will be borderline useless, until you leave camp. If we have the same fall we did in2016 you will be fine, if it's like 2013 your hunt could be cut short to get off the mountain safely. That is one thing I would find out about your outfit, if the weather conditions are to severe and your hunt is cut short what happens to the money you paid, your deposit all that. To me that would be a huge factor, if the outfitter says ur deposit is kept, or if the hunt is cut short the price is final I wouldn't even risk it personally. This is one reason my outfit does not do 4th season drop or week long guided hunts. We do strictly lodge day to day hunts as weather is to questionable and we don't want to risk hunters, horses, gear or guides.

Thanks, I'll add that to the list of questions to ask. That's why I keep coming back here, you guys know the good questions to ask while I'm still out here trying to figure out what pants to wear.

Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk

 

[AdamW]

I hunted the first season last year. It was really disappointing with the full moon and 70 degree weather-I got very lucky on the 2nd day and found a small herd using a high park by a water spring. I was able to kill a good 6-5 at dusk--- but the reality was with that drop camp operator- 3 camps- 9 guys- 1 elk-mine. Weather was a huge factor. had someone had a cow tag- and been with me-we could have filled that. You cant group hunt in Colorado so the guy or gal with the cow tag has to kill it. That's a good rule and at least with that said-the person with the tag is going to be the one shooting.

Similar experience on our 1st season hunt. Warm weather was great for us, but not for hunting maybe. Full moon and early snow in the area probably didn't help. Can't predict the weather but you can bet on 4th season being a coin toss just like you can 1st season. I think the greatest factor would be potentially going guided in 4th season. Someone who knows where to look for the elk is a big step head.

 

[Hayguide]

I have hunted that Flat top area 4 times-all 1st season-all drop camps. We went in on the South fork of the White river-went about 8 miles . The outfitter I used did not do the 4 season- and if he had a third season booked- he moved the camp down in elevation to 8200 ft and it was only 3 miles from the trailhead to assure he could get them out! I have some friends who did a drop in 2013 2nd season in the flat tops- when they left after the hunt they were packed out in 20inches of snow- it was not a fun ride back to the trailhead I'm told. I always bring two boots- 1 lightweight 600 gram and a pair of iceman with packs and rubber bottoms. I always bring a pair of wool pants as well. Last year I hunted with light weight camo pants-but still had the wool along because weather can change so quick. PM me- I will tell you my drop camp guy-curouse to see who you booked with. Enjoy your hunt. I would do that area again in a heartbeat-but I'm a solo hunter and those outfits in that area wont do a one man drop. I hunted solo in SW Colorado last year with a drop and rebooked this year again- its hard to find a good outfitter who will go with a one man drop- I don't blame them-the money is not there for it to tie a camp up. Its probably a liability as well, but the one I used put me in a spot that he could drop in and do a quick check on his way to the other spots-it was the closist to the trailhead-but also the steepest-which proved to be the best camp as far as what I saw. j

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Imo part of doing a drop for one guy is a hassle and a bit of a liability but if only 1 guy wants to go then an Outfitters should do it. We adjust our pricing based on number of people. One good thing is an outfitter that won't throw you in with 3 other guys to fill a camp. Some places do that and in our experience it can pose problems with egos and stuff like that. It also depends on how many camps the outfitter has available if they only had 4-5 camps they won't do it but if they have way more they usually will, we have 14 camps and never ever fill all 14 we will fill 3-4 a season and this also gives us the ability to "rest" areas season to season or year to year if needed. Drop camps are always hard for an outfitter cause with 1st time clients they don't know the country, they may not be seasoned elk hunters, or many other variables so selecting where to go to fit their hunting styles is hard. This is where a huge success vs opportunity factor comes into play.

 

[Pig_Pen]

So with that in mind, what can a first time client or rookie hunter due/discuss with the outfitter to make it as much of a win/win situation. I have been looking and researching for a few months for a drop camp outfitter. I am looking for a opportunity at a solo hunt drop camp and it is a little more difficult that I originally thought. I have had a few conversations with some outfitters and as soon as I mention "solo" or I am coming alone I get "sorry our camps have a minimum of X ". I have just about turned to writing a hunting/background resume and email it them so it is already on the table before I get "sorry...."

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

 

[captchet]

I hunted 3rd rifle in 67 last 2 years and the weather was stupid warm. I hunted in a tee-shirt at 10700 this year, 1st week of Nov. Tag soup both hunts. I would not use weather as a sole deciding factor.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[topher89]

I had a late season tag this year (after 4th) and was able to take my first cow elk. Weather was warm this past season and the snow really didn't happen until 4th this year but who knows for next year

 

[Hayguide]

I had a very hard time getting a solo drop. I had two offers from about 8 outfitters. I cant blame them a bit. Its a business and 1 camp tied up with only one hunter is tough. If you find one-stick with the outfit. I think my camp that I have is a little close to the road- but that's 1.5 mile is straight up in dark timber with blow downs its 8400-11,000 of tough hiking. The route we took to reach that was about 4 miles of zig zag and 1.5 hours on a horse. I'm sure some tough younger bow hunters would try it, but my experience tells me the older rifle hunters who are solo or in a small group wont wont- I was right. Saw a group of three-all together-they chased me about 12 mule deer and left the mountain at 3pm to get down. I saw a few hunters but they were never there at daylight because it would have taken 3 hours of tough climbing, and they left at 3pm to make it back before dark. So it turned out not to be an issue-plus- it allowed me to hunt all day-knowing they could chase me something. So in other words- it wasn't that appealing to some of the larger groups who wanted to be back 6 miles-but since I knew better- and knew that it wasn't a cake walk to get in-I tried the new spot and outfitterView attachment 46290View attachment 46290 and shot my second biggest bull ever! Booked it for next year