Colorado 2nd Rifle How Y'all Doin

[Fatcamp]

The ones that dont, others will take their place - plus more

We shall see. I believe the current fad of big game hunting will inevitably wane when the gloss of a Fresh Tracks video crosses paths with the reality of living on a mountain. We haven't even had a bad storm yet.

 

[bcopley1116]

I just got home from 2nd rifle in unit 52(Grand Mesa NF). I scouted almost a week prior, hunted hard all week, and saw zero elk. However I did find fresh tracks in the snow at higher elevations and saw plenty of sign, but the only elk I saw was a 6x6 killed near private land. I saw alot of nice mule deer in the unit this year though. I am hunting a different unit for 4th rifle next year, then I'll probably go back to good old 52 the year after that.

 

[justinspicher]

I have hunted the same place for the past four years, just at different times. So far I’ve always seen elk, just haven’t had the opportunity I needed to get a shot. I always think about going to another area, but I’m lazy and I don’t want to relearn a new area, I haven’t even fully learned this one yet.

 

[CoSwede]

Had 4 guys hunting the Flat Tops area 2nd rifle and had fresh snow most of the days. Covered a ton of miles checking out all of the usual places and all of the nastiest places we could find. Never saw so much as a single track all week. Never saw or heard of another camp bringing home an elk either. It was the most unusual year I've ever seen up there.

 

[durangobrad]

We shall see. I believe the current fad of big game hunting will inevitably wane when the gloss of a Fresh Tracks video crosses paths with the reality of living on a mountain. We haven't even had a bad storm yet.

I hope so, for now Im done hunting OTC archery and have been picking up limited tags of the leftover list. I like archery season, but the crowds in SW Colorado have gotten to the point its not the experience I am after.

Im in the minority here, but I was able to scout some elk up and seal the deal on opening morning of 1st rifle. I didnt see any other hunters in the woods, during scouting, hunting 1 day and packing out the next day, I did see plenty just driving around on the roads though....

 

[justinspicher]

I agree with you on the crowds in SW Colorado. Not many folks in the woods but lots of camps everywhere.

 

[hflier]

I’m curious how many guys will come back to Colorado after this season.

I will go back, but will have a different game plan. I will not assume that hunting hard will put me into Elk. I will also hunt higher. I went to 10,000 but needed to be near tree line.


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[Poser]

Wife and I just hunted 74 and never saw an Elk. Covered a lot of ground. Insane!


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I haven’t hunted 74 in several years but I do Mtn Bike the high country sections heavily between July and September. I know of 2-3 pockets that tend to hold elk until the snow pushes them down, but these spots are basically impossible to hunt unless you are a long range shooter. The vast majority of that unit just gets hammered with hunting pressure and hikers and bikers. Purgatory area is a shit show of ORVs zipping all over the place. Engineer Mtn and Molas Pass trailheads get hammered as well which pretty much covers all of the ground between the two passes + there is an outfitter on the North side of Engineer and another one on the south side in Cascade canyon. If you cross to the west side, then you are within range of FS roads from the backside of Purgatory where half the state of Texas will be performing a (helmetless) ORV assault. I work with a guy who killed a really nice bull during Mzl in 74, but that was straight Local knowledge with years of experience in that unit.

 

[CJohnson]

Got home from one of the aforementioned units earlier this week that everyone says is swamped with people. Went in about 7 miles the Thursday before the season. Saw tons of sign and a few elk and deer on Friday. Didn't have an opportunity at any elk on Saturday or Sunday. Decided to move back out to the trailhead due to snow on Monday. Saw a nice 5x6 and a cow within 2 miles of the trailhead on the way out and couldn't get my rifle out in time. Rode back to the trailhead, unloaded the pack horse. Went back to the same meadow where we saw the bull and cow and within 10 mins the cow came back out and I shot her. At least 8-10 people walked/rode by within a half a mile of where I shot the cow within 10 mins of pulling the trigger. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good I guess.

 

[Fullfan]

On way back home now, hunted an hour north of Craig. So did everyone else, saw 14 guys the first day. Made a change and got away from the crowd. Shot this guy on the second day.

 

[Bigjay73]

I will go back, but will have a different game plan. I will not assume that hunting hard will put me into Elk. I will also hunt higher. I went to 10,000 but needed to be near tree line.


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Probably not the best game plan. I'd check out the grounds lower instead of getting tree line tunnel vision

 

[Darrin]

We hunted our rear ends off in the snow. We couldn't find any sign. We switched units the last day. We came across a huge herd of more than 100 elk. At least 10 big bulls and a bunch of rag horns and spike. Buddy missed a big bull. Later that after noon. My other buddy missed a mulie buck. I cant explain the day but it was absolutely insane with all the animals we saw. They all seemed to be congregating in the same area. Not sure what drew us to that area but thankfully we did. It will be remembered for a long time.

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[BeastOfTheTrees]

Struck out crazy hard today, made a horrible decision on a route to a trailhead ended up rucking like 10 miles in sand..... I’m done with low elevation period, next year I’m turning mountaineer at least in the unit I was in. They were all high real high apparently according to a park guy. Tried to do the whole “hidden drainage that people walk right by thing”. Just hard to do on day hunts, all I had this year.

 

[Donjuan]

Judging by the trucks on I70 today, I cant imagine how crowded it had to be

 

[justinspicher]

Went out for a bit today. Saw four does and a mountain goat. Then the wind picked up.....

Talked to a buddy last night, he said he’s heard/seen ten bulls pulled out of 74 so far.

 

[TruckMonkey]

Buddies cleaned up this year in central part of state. I haven’t hunted yet.

 

[Mosby]

My hunt had to be cut short. Only hunted a few days. Most guys seem to be driving on the roads or do loops on trails. Area I was in has potential but I just ran out of time. Might come back. I70 was awful. I didn't see any salt or cinders. Saw a truck flipped over and cars all over the road. Not sure why people can't slow down. It was a sheet of ice on the passes.

 

[Clarence]

Heard alot of four wheelers on the roads, and saw alot of hunters looping the trails as well. Buddy kicked up a small bull, it leaped over the trail and cleared it by several yards. Ran into a hunter later on the trail complaining about not finding any tracks

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[jdubrr]

Shot a cow Elk on day 4 of my hunt near Creede now my freezer is full

 

[Bulldawg]

2nd season was tough I reckon, killed a good bull opening day and took us another 4 days to find anymore elk and get the last bull killed. Never saw another group of elk hunters, a lot of guys were staying in town because of the cold and snow I think.


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