Colorado GMU 81 connection

[swampokie]

Bawana is spot on. Half the muzzleloaders in Texas will be stuffed near spruce hole

 

[blmedlin]

If possible I'd go before muzzy season, the southern areas above Chama NM get hit hard by the muzzleloaders, and they have a lot of horse camps set up in those areas.

Thanks for the heads. We do plan to be there the week prior to Muzzleloader season. Do you by chance bow hunt this area?

 

[gerardoxg]

I’ve hunted 81 the last two years. Can’t PM you because I’m also a new user. But I will email.

GG


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[bawana]

yes I have, fairly heavy pressure, not much bugling but that goes with the pressure. Most of the elk that we found were high, in the 10,000 ft range. Have been there twice, stayed near Jasper Colorado once and camped near Trujillo Meadows the other time.

 

[trophyhill]

Here's what I can say with certainty. You are likely to see other hunters at some point. Slim chance you won't though so not all hope is lost.

Bulls can be hard to find but they're somewhere nonetheless. There's a lot of steep in 80-81.

 

[scubafishunt]

We hunt far Southern middle 81 and theres a ton of pressure, we just sit and wait for people to run them around.

 

[TradAg02]

I’ve spent a lot of time in 80&81. The amount of pressure varies week to week each year, but has seemed to increase each year. Muzzle loader season receives the most pressure each year. As stated above, it is very steep and most of the elk stay above 10,000’. The beetle kill is unreal. With few exceptions you will spend much of your off trail time crawling over deadfalls. If the unit ever burns, it will be a disaster.

The elk are there, but you either have to get lucky or be willing to go where others are unwilling or unable to go. This doesn’t necessarily mean going deeper. Also remember that getting into a spot with elk is only the start, being able to get your elk out is a whole different matter.

If there is a trail, there will be horses and multiple trucks. If you get more than a few miles deep, you are likely close to another road. I’ve packed my elk out the last two years on different roads than I hiked in on.


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[Uttlc]

I'm planning a hunt in this area as well, and we're doing it as a combined Muzzleloader/archery hunt, so I'll be following along here.

 

[Blue Falcon]

Bawana is spot on. Half the muzzleloaders in Texas will be stuffed near spruce hole

Last year there had to be 40 camps around spruce hole during archery season. I stopped and talked to a guy from Texas who was very upset about people constantly walking through his spot.

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[Daniel0307]

I hunt above Chama, it gets hit hard from opening day on.. it has elk and I’ve been hunting there along time so I don’t feel like moving to a new spot.. I guess I’ve gotton used to the people but the above post was so true people follow you to your spot... I have encountered a lot of good hunters and a lot of inconsiderate rude hunters that do the unthinkable on opening morning and walk 50yds from you after you wave them down on there approach oh and did I say it was 730am...
Sorry off my rant... good luck

 

[Daniel0307]

I hunt above Chama it’s very busy from opening and everyday after.. there are new people who come every year and park next to the other 25 trucks and trailers, I’ve gotton used to all the traffic and I stay for 2-3 weeks so it gives me a higher chance at tagging out.
Good luck

 

[trophyhill]

I hunted it 3 seasons ago. Before that it had been a couple years thanks to luck of the draw. What others have said is pretty much spot on. I could not believe that beetle kill since the last time I had hunted it. In places where typically every tree you'd stop under, you used to have those pesky squirrels barking and dropping pinecones at you. Now there are hardly any squirrels. Deadfall was horrendous. If a fire breaks out, it will be way worse than the Haymen fire several years back if you can imagine that. Really is sad.

If I were to hunt it again, I'd change up my tactics and hunt the Aspen patches and some of the lower elevations in the unit.

I still haven't grown a set big enough to hunt Canon Diablo

 

[trophyhill]

Last year there had to be 40 camps around spruce hole during archery season. I stopped and talked to a guy from Texas who was very upset about people constantly walking through his spot.

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There really are no secret spots in 80/81. A guy used to be able to hunt Spruce Hole with relative impunity. Not anymore. It's been logged, beetle kill, everyone and there grandma know about it now, and the elk move out quickly once the pressure starts.

 

[TradAg02]

I still haven't grown a set big enough to hunt Canon Diablo

The helper at Gold Pan swears by that drainage. He tells every hunter that walks into the store or restaurant the same story.


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[blmedlin]

I hunt above Chama it’s very busy from opening and everyday after.. there are new people who come every year and park next to the other 25 trucks and trailers, I’ve gotton used to all the traffic and I stay for 2-3 weeks so it gives me a higher chance at tagging out.
Good luck

Thanks Daniel. Where you are is exactly what we've been looking at. I've talked with local game and fish and have been given much of what your saying regarding people. He did offer one piece of advice I found possibly helpful. If your open to having a quick chat, let me know. Thanks

 

[Sapcut]

I bowhunted 81 in 2012 and 2017. In '12 I camped high on the top the last 10 days of the season. There was a lot of elk sign but it looked to be 10+ days old. I saw 21 people there. Some hunters, some hikers and some fishermen and some Amish. The Amish group were there along time and supposedly killed five bulls. But I saw first hand the trash they left behind at their camp site. I saw a hand full of elk and not one bugle did I hear.

In 2017, I hunted low from the trailhead the first week or so. Walking in we met up with the Amish again with them packing a bull out. I did hear a bull but no luck. Did see several more hunters, hikers and fishermen. Rather popular place and the elk get bumped quick.

 

[Daniel0307]

Thanks Daniel. Where you are is exactly what we've been looking at. I've talked with local game and fish and have been given much of what your saying regarding people. He did offer one piece of advice I found possibly helpful. If your open to having a quick chat, let me know. Thanks

Hey haven’t been on here for a bit I actually just got back from Chama for my summer trip ... it was great but yeah we can chat

 

[njdoxie]

There really are no secret spots in 80/81. A guy used to be able to hunt Spruce Hole with relative impunity. Not anymore. It's been logged, beetle kill, everyone and there grandma know about it now, and the elk move out quickly once the pressure starts.

Not to derail the thread, but durn, sounds like a nightmare, glad I don’t hunt there.


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[blmedlin]

Hey haven’t been on here for a bit I actually just got back from Chama for my summer trip ... it was great but yeah we can chat

Shoot me an email ([email protected]) with your contact info if you don't mind. Thanks

 

[Bcorn]

I hunted just up from Chama last year had one encounter with a bull in a spot I never would of believed there was an elk in there. I do plan on going back this year to the same area. It is definitely a mad house when muzzleloader season opens. The only time I saw other hunters was when on a hiking trail . Never saw another human off the trail.
Let me know if you have any questions or just want to bullshit about the area. My email is [email protected]