Colorado OTC Archery Elk Advice

[GPool1842]

Ok, obviously Im in the wrong here based on responses. So I will try this again. I do mean this in a polite way with no disrespect meant. Can anyone tell me about the overall drought conditions north vs south and fire conditions north vs south. Im talking about oct archery areas west of the divide. Im prepared to move around until I get into some elk but wanted to figure out which part of the state im headed to first. I have units in both areas that Ive picked out but without being able to be there, I cant get current conditions. Any other info your willing to share would be great, anything helps. As for honey holes, I guess Colorado is a little different than where I come.

Good job manning up...

I don’t have a bunch of knowledge, but was in unit eighty one on the divide over July 4th. It was incredibly dry, stage 2 fire ban (driest I have ever seen it). I believe the ban has been lifted in the past few weeks when my brother was down there a couple weeks ago.

Was talking to a guy near the Buena Vista area last week and he mentioned it had been raining recently and had already snowed some.

Sometimes here in OK we will get those weather patterns coming in from CO. We had a hell of a past couple weeks getting absolutely pounded with water. Flash flooding everywhere, multiple days in a row. Halted some of my projects in west Texas, east Texas, and Oklahoma for a few days. Could have been storms coming from the west after soaking CO...

 

[WV Mountaineer]

Pick an area, look at a topo, develop a plan A, B, C, etc.... based on what you see, then ask the CPW biologists in that area. Use what he tells you to refine that. You'll likely have to talk to him several times after pouring over a topo and Google earth. You are late to the party as he likely isn't going to be in his office much over the next month or two. Do the same here for Justin Pincher. He works in the woods and likely has more everyday access to elk hunting grounds in CO ten anyone here. You screwed the pooch man.







Seriously, look for things like expected access for people, where elk could get away from that and, start looking at it when you get to Colorado on the ground. If you get after it, you won't look long before you find some. Colorado has a lot of elk. Don't settle down at any spot until you find some to hunt. That is the key to your success

 

[Beastland]

Thanks for the responses, I didn't look at the dry conditions that way but makes sense that elk might congregate more towards water. I agree with staying away from units with fire too. I read the regs on cwd but Im a little confused still. Do you have every elk tested or just if you think its a problem?

 

[Blackbruin]

If you go in 43/ west side of rt 133 is easier than the east side. If you get one you will have your hands full hiking in maroon bells etc. Can be a handful just getting it to a trail on east side

 

[H2PVon]

For the record, justinspicher has helped me a ton in the past. If you search the forum for not looking for honey holes I bet you get hundreds if not thousands of threads. OTC units are hit hard so finding areas with less pressure, let alone more elk is a challenge. I'd just suggest asking more pointed questions...what's the water situation on x mountain, is the fire from x year on x mountain producing much good feed etc. Hard to find someone to tell you a given area has a few elk with not many people chasing them.

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Yep, good guy.

 

[Beendare]

Funny thread.

There is no secret to these OTC areas. Does anyone ever watch the Cory Jacobsen videos? Those guys get into elk.....and they are covering 10+ miles a day over rough ground. [it helps he is a world class caller]

I've hunted a bunch of these Co OTC units over the past 30+ years and if there is a secret...its hunt longer and harder than most of these chumps that make a 2 mile circle around camp tippy toeing around in the woods in areas where the elk USED to be.

BTW, I don't know Justin from Adam....but I've learned over the years....he is one of the guys that when he posts....its good info.

OK rant over....best of luck to everyone

 

[CoBowhunterJeff]

Thanks for the input on the draught stats - that's new to me. OTC hunts are gonna be inundated with hunters this year dt fires and the general warmth. Glad to hear that Buena Vista gets damp - snow even better in the high, tough access far back country.

Best of luck in your OTC hunt - post up your experience, we'll all learn from it.

 

[Coveyleader]

Dry and hot means water. Makes elk hunting about as easy as it gets and no need to do much walking.

 

[sneaky]

I give out info on what I know because I know my info is only gonna help get them closer, there feet on the ground and being there is what its gonna come down to. If you were willing to give some help you could have phrased that in a questuon like "what kind of info are you exactly looking for?" Instead you just gave a smart ass response. I get it, you know your area and dont want outsiders to come in, thats fine just dont respond. I put those things you quoted in there as a courtesy, it was a sign of respect thats all. You could have also just told me what you said in your last response the first time.

Why don't you just post over on Monster Muleys? Seems to be your kind of crowd, because you aren't off to a good start on here.

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[Bdubwright23]

How did ur him go this year bud

 

[chasewild]

This is classic. The OP has a total of 11 posts -- all of which were on this thread, and never showed up again. Classic example of how NOT to plan a hunt.

How did ur him go this year bud

Bdubwright23, probably better read the other 10 posts asking for help on OTC areas.

 

[Bdubwright23]

Didn't want help with otc just wanted some info on the units I asked about thx for the comment tho