Colorado 3rd Rifle - what to look for e-scouting

[satchamo]

I’ve got a 3rd rifle tag for a pretty good unit in central CO. I’m starting to escout a bit. I have mostly bowhunted elk but I did hunt them late rifle in AZ last year and I learned a lot but that’s a different world than CO.

This unit has a lot of mixed habitat from dark timber to aspen - to open meadows and parks on the top of mountains.

I feel like 90% of my scouting will be to locate glassing spots to watch above timberline at dawn and dusk. The tricky part is finding these perches where visibility is impeded by the trees/cover around you.

So one big question I have is I’m programmed to look for north facing slopes to find them earlier in the rut but by this time of year I assumed it would be more weather driven - IE north facing if it’s warm or midday and possibly south facing to feed early/late if it’s cold?

Aside from which sides to glass - is there any other places I should be looking that elk like later in the season like this? Are they still gonna bed in the nastiest darkest hillsides like they do when it’s warmer?

Anyways I realize a lot of my questions are kind of broad so I apologize in advance.

 

[WISGUY]

Always start with deep nasty spots. But it really depends on snow. Last year CO 3rd season there was 2' feet of snow up high. Elk in the unit I hunt moved 2,000' lower where there was 6". Elk during this season are the most predictable in my experience (if not pressured). If you glass them feeding in the morning, there is a HIGH probability they will be there that evening.

 

[Dakota Dude]

By that time of year the majority of the elk aren't up high anymore, including most of the bulls. I don't hunt above 9,000 during 3rd rifle (especially if it has already snowed a few times). I don't hunt high because the usually aren't there, and it can be pretty miserable. The majority of the elk are not going to be bedding in nasty timber. If there is a lot of snow, most elk will move down to their winter range. I would glass, but I would only do that before the season starts. Thats my experience anyway.

 

[huntnful]

I would not be focusing above alpine much at all.

How did you dictate that it was a good unit? That info should also direct you towards where previous people were killing all their elk as well.

Mid elevation burn will likely be littered with elk if there’s one in the unit.

 

[satchamo]

I would not be focusing above alpine much at all.

How did you dictate that it was a good unit? That info should also direct you towards where previous people were killing all their elk as well.

Mid elevation burn will likely be littered with elk if there’s one in the unit.

It took me 9 points to draw…. Basically point creep outpaced me for the archery tag I wanted so I settled for the next best thing I could afford.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Don't be afraid to talk to the deer hunters. They gave out 550 buck tags for that gmu in 3rd season.

Grab vantage points from roads or real close to roads and try and turn them up with your optics. Don't just hike blindly it's not the rut where you can find them with your ears.

It should be a fun hunt. I'll be just east of you helping my friend with his buck and bull tag. If he tags out pretty early I can come give you a hand

 

[dirtytough]

I’ve hunted an area third season and seen elk from 11k-9k. They are mostly on north facing stuff. The better bulls aren’t with cows.

It’s not easy to get an elk out of. Which is why bulls are there. Lack of hunters. I would look for nasty areas I could glass and go from there.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

I hunted 3rd season CO deer last year and glassed up a lot of bulls. The better ones were in bachelor herds in the steep and nasty stuff between 7500-9000ft elevation. Hunt them as if they were oversized deer and you will be fine.

 

[EZduzIT]

Thanks for starting this thread. I have the same tag probably in a similar area. In the past it has been easy finding small bulls with the big herds down low in open parks but Im hoping for something a little bigger this year! Good luck man. Thank you for all the info guys. I hate to hear they will still be in the steep nasty stuff just lower but hey you have to pay to play!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The biggest factor is the weather in my opinion. I sometimes hunt a unit that is winter habitat for deer & elk. I love to hunt 3rd & 4th season. In this unit I have hunted it 6 times in the last 15 years and only 3 years had the elk migrated to it. I had elk & deer tags for 3rd season in a unit last year on the New Mexico border. Usually they don't get a lot of snow until December. There was 3 feet of new snow 2 days before 3rd season opened.

You plan for the worst and be prepared for it. You just never know. Last year I blew 7 deer points.