Colorado Elk hunting unit 18 DIY

[Foxxyfires]

Hey guys new to this forum and looking for some good advice. I am from Iowa and am experienced in white tail hunting with bow and gun. I am planning a elk hunt to Colorado looking at unit 18 DIY hunt. I’ve read that it’s a big unit to hunt and a unit that has a lot of hunters in it. I am looking at rifle season 2. I am wanting to stay in a tent or pull a small pop up camper to stay in. Can you just pull off the beaten path and set up camp. Do you have to camp in certain areas? Also looking at the trails are you allowed to drive on these trails to get off the paved streets. I do plan on hiking a bit but the further you can drive the better right. Looking for some advice on this. Thank you in advance.


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[BCSojourner]

As you note Unit 18 is a big unit. Much of it is relatively road-less and for that reason it has been included in wilderness bills in the past. The Forest Service (USFS) portion is referred to as the Troublesome Roadless Area. There is a smaller BLM Wilderness Study Area located in the NW portion of the Unit. There is roaded access via USFS roads from east the northwest off Highway 125, from the south off of US 40 (BLM to start), from the west via US 40 and USFS Road 103. There are a lot of dispersed campsites along the USFS roads however they do get filled up during hunting season. The area was also ground zero for the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic resulting in dead lodgepole pine everywhere (need to exercise caution camping and hunting). It is not wilderness so you can use a chainsaw for cutting firewood etc.; however be prepared for fire restrictions if it is dry. If you are willing to hike in a few miles from a dispersed roadside camp you can get away from many of the hunters but there are horse users and outfitter guides who also frequent the unit. Less outfitting from the west off the 103 road but also steeper with deep drainages. Best bet is to download Hillmap and start studying the area (use dropdowns to pull up USFS layer on Caltopo), then make a trip out during the summer and check out the access and potential camp spots. This is a popular unit and it has a lot of dead and downed timber so trails may be tough to navigate. It does hold some real nice muleys and healthy numbers of elk.

 

[Foxxyfires]

Thank you. This is why I love forums. People like you rock. Beings this is my first elk hunt and I really don’t expect to take a elk. If I do then great but I know the success rate is low. That don’t mean i won’t try. I get it I’ve spent many many hours in Iowa and came back empty handed. Now I’m playing in big boy land. Would you have any recommendations on OTC hunting units that would give a good experience. My wife wants to go with but she doesn’t want to hunt. She wants the outdoor back country experience.


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[cnelk]

Why go the 2nd season with everyone else buying an OTC tag?

Put in for the 1st season ES tag as your first choice.
At least it’s somewhat limited in hunter participants

 

[Jbehredt]

If your wife wants to go along do archery. September in the Rockies as a photographer tagging along is what got my wife started as an elk hunter.

 

[realunlucky]

Have you ever been in a area with heavy dead fall? Don't underestimate it.

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[Foxxyfires]

Realluck. I have not. This will be something new to me. Colorado is a whole different kind of hunting. This is why I’ve joined this forum. Any advice on that one.


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[Jbehredt]

Have you ever been in a area with heavy dead fall? Don't underestimate it.

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We did that across the road from 18 this past season. Planned to hunt along the ridge and cover 3 drainages over 4 days. Bailed early at the end of day 3 because we were so frustrated. Would have ended a lesser friendship!

 

[cnelk]

Expect this

 

[Foxxyfires]

We did that across the road from 18 this past season. Planned to hunt along the ridge and cover 3 drainages over 4 days. Bailed early at the end of day 3 because we were so frustrated. Would have ended a lesser friendship!

From what?


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[realunlucky]

Realluck. I have not. This will be something new to me. Colorado is a whole different kind of hunting. This is why I’ve joined this forum. Any advice on that one.


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It falls in a tangled mess can stack up easily 4+ feet in the air. Makes getting anywhere quick impossible and just grinding though a test of mental toughness. Elk do love it and it's amazing where they travel within it.
Just saying it can make you rethink your plans on how to access and cover country. I'll personally add extra miles to avoid it. It's something to consider and not overlook.

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[Jbehredt]

Climbing under over and through downed trees. I forget the exact math but we calculated our all out land speed on a move up the ridge at like .13 mph.

 

[cnelk]

This what navigating deadfall looks like

 

[Foxxyfires]

It falls in a tangled mess can stack up easily 4+ feet in the air. Makes getting anywhere quick impossible and just grinding though a test of mental toughness. Elk do love it and it's amazing where they travel within it.
Just saying it can make you rethink your plans on how to access and cover country. I'll personally add extra miles to avoid it. It's something to consider and not overlook.

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Probably not best to just throw up camp site in an area like this. Can you throw up camp sites anywhere in this area or do you have to camp in certain areas?


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[realunlucky]

The dead trees are still standing so definitely be aware when you set camp up as they can be blown over in a storm. It's just something to lookout for.
Typically on Forest lands you can camp about anywhere contact the office and ask and verify the fire restrictions. They'll also have a travel map which will lay out what roads/trails are open and what type of vehicle.

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[bsnedeker]

The dead trees are still standing so definitely be aware when you set camp up as they can be blown over in a storm. It's just something to lookout for.
Typically on Forest lands you can camp about anywhere contact the office and ask and verify the fire restrictions. They'll also have a travel map which will lay out what roads/trails are open and what type of vehicle.

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This is no joke! A buddy of mine hunted there this year and setup camp in the dark. Got up in the morning and saw they were surrounded by dangerous trees so went out scouting to look for a new spot to camp. 3 hours later when they came back to their tent there was a tree laying on top of their tent that would have killed him and his dad had they not gotten up and out...scary stuff!

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

As stated, lots of deadfall that can slow ya down real quick. I would agree on applying for the 1st season either sex tag. Gives you more opportunities when you get to that 3rd day and haven’t seen a thing. A cow starts looking real nice.

Did see some nice mule deer so you could do 2nd season and get 2 tags.

I’d also recommend working on your cardio STAT. You won’t be prepared for the terrain, regardless, but I’d strongly recommend getting a jump on it. Work your legs good too with squats, leg curls/extension, leg press. Also do some farmer walks/carries for if/when you’re successful.

Study some topos hard too. Have realistic expectations for hiking in deep, but also getting an animal out in certain spots. We had that occur in 18 this year.

Good luck! It’s a beautiful place


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[BCSojourner]

All of the advice above is excellent. I believe the 2nd season includes the heaviest hunter concentrations but goes for 9 days. I'm an archery hunter so don't always follow the rifle seasons. I do know that the first season is only a five day season and is typically better weather although not this year. Bulls may still be bugling during the first rifle season. Safe campsites could be tough to find in some areas particularly off of the beaten path (well-traveled roads_. There are some trails into the Troublesome off of the Corral Creek Road. Because of the all of the standing dead and down timber I would advise you to make a scouting trip for potential camp sites/staging area during the summer. Bring your wife so she will have an idea of the area and you can check out some of the trails. You can still hike into some really nice areas in the Troublesome. Another issue to be aware of is the wildfire potential. The Silver Creek Wildfire forced evacuations and displacement last year of large numbers of hunters just west of Unit 18 (Units 15 and 27). The wildfire potential in the Troublesome will be very high if we have weather conditions similar to last year (little/no monsoon flow in July/August).

 

[Cjeppard10]

I would second the comment on the wildfire potential Wouldn’t be a half bad thing if 18 went up though. If they could ever get it stopped that unit area could really benefit from some understory being cleared out and some new growth. The beetle kill is really tough to play with. Be prepared for lots of cloning over trees and try and find areas where the deadfall isn’t as think and avoid it at all costs.


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[Fatcamp]

If a person has never experienced deadfall they cannot imagine what a hassle it is.

Once in it you can't just decide to go home, and injury potential is very real. That said, it probably keeps a lot of people out.