Colorado GMU 81 connection

[OneShot]

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[Ry_Harr_81]

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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I just started reviewing this area as well. I was looking around Archuleta Creek...I zoomed in and saw trailers on onX, but was mulling over just using that trail as an access point and camping deep in near the creek. I also saw an area around Chama River trail 738. Any familiarity with these areas? Pinorealosa Mtn and sheep Creek area? So far a buddy and me are eyeballing 22 and 81 as a couple gmus that caught our attention. Going during archery around labor day week.

 

[loggerchas]

Well, after specifying in a public forum the exact unit, trail numbers, drainages, and major topographical features, you can be sure of one thing: you will have plenty of folks in those areas hunting with you.

 

[Ry_Harr_81]

Well, after specifying in a public forum the exact unit, trail numbers, drainages, and major topographical features, you can be sure of one thing: you will have plenty of folks in those areas hunting with you.

It's really not that big of a deal, there's ways to get in touch with me as a response to be discreet correct? I can mention specific roads, doesn't mean I know the area. I literally looked at images on onX and randomly picked out areas with no idea of what the area is like....not exactly leaving morsels for everyone to gobble up.

 

[Bcorn]

I just started reviewing this area as well. I was looking around Archuleta Creek...I zoomed in and saw trailers on onX, but was mulling over just using that trail as an access point and camping deep in near the creek. I also saw an area around Chama River trail 738. Any familiarity with these areas? Pinorealosa Mtn and sheep Creek area? So far a buddy and me are eyeballing 22 and 81 as a couple gmus that caught our attention. Going during archery around labor day week.

I just started reviewing this area as well. I was looking around Archuleta Creek...I zoomed in and saw trailers on onX, but was mulling over just using that trail as an access point and camping deep in near the creek. I also saw an area around Chama River trail 738. Any familiarity with these areas? Pinorealosa Mtn and sheep Creek area? So far a buddy and me are eyeballing 22 and 81 as a couple gmus that caught our attention. Going during archery around labor day week.

Shoot me a email if you want to talk about hunting that area. [email protected]

 

[coelk81]

Reality of it is, is that 90% of 80/81 is public land, and you are always going to have hunter pressure. I have hunted 80/81 my entire life, including my grandfather who guided there since the 50's till the early 80's along with my dad. My dad has shown me plenty and I have learned plenty on my own. So yea there are plenty of hunters, and there are plenty of elk. You are paying for an opportunity not the elk and I hope you realize that. With that said, pm me and I will help you out best I can. Listen to the naysayers all you want, but if you want to hunt elk just hunt elk and everyone else be damned!

 

[Ry_Harr_81]

All,

Just looking to hear about observations based on personal experiences in 81. Aside from an elk tag, I was mulling over getting a second tag; non-resident deer or bear. I read in either the CO hunt planner or Big Game Brochure a tidbit encouraging folks to try to hunt bear out there. I assume it's because there may be higher numbers than the state wants? Idk. But, either way a non-resident bear tag is substantially cheaper than a deer tag. If I'm heading to the Western area of 81....not in BLM...(Rio Grande / San Juan), would you say you've seen bear just as frequently as deer? And a good volume of them? Just curious. Idk I guess I'm trying to figure out which tag may be more likely to get a chance on filling.

 

[Ry_Harr_81]

Hey, so I come from a low elevation state with a lot of marshes, we are close to the ocean and long story short mosquitoes are the size of Cadillacs out here and they will eat you alive in early season. Iv never hunted out west at high elevation. Dumb question, but I'm looking at my poor pack and it's stuffed to capacity. I'm mulling over every ounce I can cut that I don't need, and space I can save. I live and die by a thermacell early season. Is that something that is really needed out there? Or should i just scoop some permethrin after I land? bugs a pain in the ass in 81 at high elevation? Thanks.

 

[tdhanses]

Hey, so I come from a low elevation state with a lot of marshes, we are close to the ocean and long story short mosquitoes are the size of Cadillacs out here and they will eat you alive in early season. Iv never hunted out west at high elevation. Dumb question, but I'm looking at my poor pack and it's stuffed to capacity. I'm mulling over every ounce I can cut that I don't need, and space I can save. I live and die by a thermacell early season. Is that something that is really needed out there? Or should i just scoop some permethrin after I land? bugs a pain in the ass in 81 at high elevation? Thanks.

Bugs are pretty much nonexistent by the end of Aug, I don’t even use bug spray, leave the thermacell at home.

 

[sick_lids]

Your in for a treat if you head up into high country...I would not expect to be able to huff that poor pack very far your first day, my first day i can get winded sipping water....

 

[Buschy]

I am continually surprised by the level of interest 80/81 generates. I hunted it once and would never do it again. There are many GMUs in CO that are so much better, just takes a little digging and learning the units. Give 80/81 a go if you love continually bumping into other hunters (with a high % of them being rude).

This 7x8 bull was killed in 2019 in another CO unit on a 3rd season, OTC tag on public land. Again, way better options out there and good luck this fall.

 

[Ry_Harr_81]

I am continually surprised by the level of interest 80/81 generates. I hunted it once and would never do it again. There are many GMUs in CO that are so much better, just takes a little digging and learning the units. Give 80/81 a go if you love continually bumping into other hunters (with a high % of them being rude).

This 7x8 bull was killed in 2019 in another CO unit on a 3rd season, OTC tag on public land. Again, way better options out there and good luck this fall.

I think one reason we initially looked into that gmu when we started our planning, is because based on all of the numbers for the most part for archery elk success rates, this one had a pretty consistent success rate for archery that was in an area that had some of the terrain we were looking for. If all else fails and we do not see any elk, my expectations is just to camp and see gorgeous country. I am not going there with the expectation of killing an elk, I'm going there with the hopes of doing it, and being thankful for the opportunity. I am not worried about hi hunting pressure, because we come from delaware. The amount of public land in Delaware compared to the amount of hunters, makes this a very high hunting pressure state. So even during whitetail season, we are used to having to get away from other guys. Even without running into other hunters, I know that that area is very popular for hikers and fishermen. Either way there will be people, and hopefully it helps push elk to us. That's me looking at the glass half full. Here's a document that we looked at regarding the Southwest area of the state and their annual three year and 5-year success rates.

 

[Gerbdog]

I think one reason we initially looked into that gmu when we started our planning, is because based on all of the numbers for the most part for archery elk success rates, this one had a pretty consistent success rate for archery that was in an area that had some of the terrain we were looking for. If all else fails and we do not see any elk, my expectations is just to camp and see gorgeous country. I am not going there with the expectation of killing an elk, I'm going there with the hopes of doing it, and being thankful for the opportunity. I am not worried about hi hunting pressure, because we come from delaware. The amount of public land in Delaware compared to the amount of hunters, makes this a very high hunting pressure state. So even during whitetail season, we are used to having to get away from other guys. Even without running into other hunters, I know that that area is very popular for hikers and fishermen. Either way there will be people, and hopefully it helps push elk to us. That's me looking at the glass half full. Here's a document that we looked at regarding the Southwest area of the state and their annual three year and 5-year success rates.

Well i cant be pushing elk to you... if your the one pushing elk to me?! some reverse psychology there. I have a hunting spot in 81, there are elk there, i have never seen an 8x7 like the photo above... or even close to it in that unit haha, so maybe Buschy will tell us what unit the monsters live. Doesnt mean they arent there but... I think you have the right attitude, its a beautiful area and you will have plenty of company in there. It is really really hard to get away from the hunting pressure. It feels like (and accurately is so) that a lot of the basins and valleys have multiple access points from other points in the unit. So you hike in 5 miles and someone else hiked in 3 miles from the other side and every ones having a back country party in camo along with the weekend campers and hikers. Those southern units of CO get hammered because they are some of the first elk hunting units you access from a large portion of the US. Careful with those success rates your reading about, they can be misleading and dont always paint the full picture.

All that aside, folks kill elk there, they do the same thing successful hunters in CO do in every unit.... walk straight into the worst looking spot they can see on the mountain side and wonder why a bull lives on a tiny bench surrounded by nothing but cliff faces and scree.

Good luck friend and i hope your trip here to CO is awesome, stay safe. Bring a fly rod !

 

[Ry_Harr_81]

Well i cant be pushing elk to you... if your the one pushing elk to me?! some reverse psychology there. I have a hunting spot in 81, there are elk there, i have never seen an 8x7 like the photo above... or even close to it in that unit haha, so maybe Buschy will tell us what unit the monsters live. Doesnt mean they arent there but... I think you have the right attitude, its a beautiful area and you will have plenty of company in there. It is really really hard to get away from the hunting pressure. It feels like (and accurately is so) that a lot of the basins and valleys have multiple access points from other points in the unit. So you hike in 5 miles and someone else hiked in 3 miles from the other side and every ones having a back country party in camo along with the weekend campers and hikers. Those southern units of CO get hammered because they are some of the first elk hunting units you access from a large portion of the US. Careful with those success rates your reading about, they can be misleading and dont always paint the full picture.

All that aside, folks kill elk there, they do the same thing successful hunters in CO do in every unit.... walk straight into the worst looking spot they can see on the mountain side and wonder why a bull lives on a tiny bench surrounded by nothing but cliff faces and scree.

Good luck friend and i hope your trip here to CO is awesome, stay safe. Bring a fly rod !

Thanks man! For sure on bringing a rod. I got an okuma travel pack because I definitely want to put some fresh trout in the skillet. I definitely agree that the success rates can be misleading, for example, and also to show my optimism, those numbers don't reflect all of the guys that saw cows and passed up on them because they wanted to make sure they shot a bull during their visit. I will shoot a cow in a heartbeat. While an incredible trophy would be nice, elk steaks are still delicious. I don't discriminate based on sex.

 

[Gerbdog]

Thanks man! For sure on bringing a rod. I got an okuma travel pack because I definitely want to put some fresh trout in the skillet. I definitely agree that the success rates can be misleading, for example, and also to show my optimism, those numbers don't reflect all of the guys that saw cows and passed up on them because they wanted to make sure they shot a bull during their visit. I will shoot a cow in a heartbeat. While an incredible trophy would be nice, elk steaks are still delicious. I don't discriminate based on sex.

Agreed! I'll drop you a PM with what advice i can offer

 

[GPool1842]

Hey, so I come from a low elevation state with a lot of marshes, we are close to the ocean and long story short mosquitoes are the size of Cadillacs out here and they will eat you alive in early season. Iv never hunted out west at high elevation. Dumb question, but I'm looking at my poor pack and it's stuffed to capacity. I'm mulling over every ounce I can cut that I don't need, and space I can save. I live and die by a thermacell early season. Is that something that is really needed out there? Or should i just scoop some permethrin after I land? bugs a pain in the ass in 81 at high elevation? Thanks.

I was backpacking in 81 last week from 8500 to 12200’. Bug spray and thermacells weren’t needed but it was windy as shit all day and night of all 6 days of our loop. I think if the wind settles, one would have preferred to have bug spray or thermacell.

 

[Buschy]

Full transparency. I did kill an elk the one time I hunted 80/81, but the incredibly high number of hunters in the unit seriously impacted the quality of the hunt. I just prefer significantly less pressure and a better experience. Killing an elk doesn't necessarily make the trip a success. FWIW, the biggest bulls my wife and I kill in CO are not in the high county.

Good luck to everyone this fall and I hope you find success, however you define it.

 

[will.averill]

Just poking around…headed to 81 for third rifle. Any new biologist contacts or other intel anyone is willing to share?

Looks like some snow is starting to accumulate above 11,200ft so they should be moving down.


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