Colorado OTC - North vs South?

[yardwork]

I see a lot more discussions of southern Colorado OTC units than the north. My research has me digging into a few northern units so I'm a bit curious if there were reasons for this? Most of the northern units have had CWD detected, is that the reason?

Thank you.

 

[sodaksooner]

I hunt further south because it's closer, living in OK.

 

[MTNRCHR]

Northern CO hunters keep secrets better

 

[Bar]

Northern CO hunters keep secrets better

Nah! You guys are always giving it up.

 

[quent]

the two biggest herds are in the northern part. the first being in estsy park and second being in the north western part. For those units you need to draw a tag to avoid heavy hunting pressure on those herds as apposed to the southern unit that have smaller herds spread through out those units. That and some of the national part and wildlife areas in the southern part of the state are easier to get to IMO.

 

[Tdiesel]

Most of the guys discussing are from southern states south is closer to Texas Arkansas New Mexico ect up north ya other options than Colorado so discussion is spread throughout Colorado Idaho Montana Wyoming

 

[Bearshirt]

How does the weather compare between the two during the month of September? Does the northern part get snow early? Or more snow over all threw the year?

 

[quent]

I've never had it snow on me during September. I'm usually down by westcliff and the Spanish mountains. I usually see it during the rifle seasons. even then there's not to much. in my experience the snow really doesn't start coming till December for the most part. I haven't really hunted the northern part so I can't speak on that.

 

[COlineman78]

How does the weather compare between the two during the month of September? Does the northern part get snow early? Or more snow over all threw the year?

I've had it snow for one day during muzzy in the last 10 years at 9000ft, but I've had it snow in July up at 12000ft, so it depends more on altitude than latitude. The southern mountains are going to be drier as that is the nature of them, but it's usually not too wet that time of year anyways (although it did rain almost the entire season last year). IMO, the northern areas are a little more crowded especially by locals. If I were coming from out of state I would try to hunt areas that I know there are elk, but not much water because then it becomes easier to virtual scout because you know they'll be heading to water at some point. Since the southern mountains have less water I would tend to look at them first.

 

[5MilesBack]

The southern mountains are going to be drier as that is the nature of them, but it's usually not too wet that time of year anyways (although it did rain almost the entire season last year).

Actually that was 2013 when it rained almost the entire season. Last year was dryyyyyyy. Wait a minute......which season are we talking about? I always have archery season on the brain when I hear OTC elk.

And actually the southern mountains historically get rain in September, I would guess more so than the northern area from my experience.

 

[COlineman78]

Actually that was 2013 when it rained almost the entire season. Last year was dryyyyyyy. Wait a minute......which season are we talking about? I always have archery season on the brain when I hear OTC elk.

And actually the southern mountains historically get rain in September, I would guess more so than the northern area from my experience.

2013 was awesome because the daily thunderstorms were so loud they made the elk ignore most sound including muzzleloader shots. I missed high and they just stood there letting me take a second shot. Last year was very dry until muzzy opener in my hunting area where it did rain the entire week, but it was pretty isolated as I know a lot of the state stayed dry; just goes to show how unpredictable the weather in the mountains are.

 

[chindits]

Yup, 2013 was a rainy one in 76. However, I get snowed on almost every year in Sept and it doesn't surprise me to get snowed on occasionally in the summer. I'm sort of central west slope but clumped in with the southwest CPW region. Elevation and local weather matters since down in the basin they might see little rain all summer long. I think that northwest herd was under publicized until recently. I also get the sense that the southwest is a bit more tourism developed then up north, but that could just be my shallow perception.

 

[W.D. Crawford]

Yup, 2013 was a rainy one in 76. However, I get snowed on almost every year in Sept and it doesn't surprise me to get snowed on occasionally in the summer. I'm sort of central west slope but clumped in with the southwest CPW region. Elevation and local weather matters since down in the basin they might see little rain all summer long. I think that northwest herd was under publicized until recently. I also get the sense that the southwest is a bit more tourism developed then up north, but that could just be my shallow perception.

Oh I wouldn't call it a shallow perception! I live as far in southwest CO. as you can get and still be in CO. and it is ALL about tourism!