Colorado Resident - First Elk Archery Hunt, limitless planning time

[coloteacher]

While I have lived in Colorado for 5 years, I have yet to chase elk. As I am relocating to WI come October, I am determined to give the elk a fair chase this fall in CO.

I have the wonderful opportunity to have really limitless scouting time as well as the first two weeks of September to hunt.

I am doing everything I can to prepare for the hunt; physical conditioning, elk literature, physical conditioning, meet with CPW etc. I also completed the CBA becoming a bowhunter program a few years back; and unfortunately missed a whitetail.

Just wanted to network for any information I had, and also to see if any members had suggestions or insights. I am wiling to put in 110% of the work for a successful hunt - completing recognizing that hunter success averages around 10%.

I am doing a lot of research on units, 21, 22, and 161.

 

[chasewild]

Maps and boots on the ground. Good luck!

 

[BearBow77]

Try the " Radical Elk Hunting" approach. Perform locator bugle. Once located, move in. Dont bugle back and forth while staying put for 4 hours. bugle, let em return there call, maybe do one more....then move in quickly. move briskly. 20-40 yards at a time pending how much cover you have. In colorado, I know for a fact there is a lot of thickets. Moving should be good, and dont worry about making noise. Elk are used to clumping around...throw out a mew every now and then...once in 100 yard range or less.....consider yourself in the bull elks domain . Throw out bugles and cow calls repeatedly for 5 minutes or so. Be aggresive with your calls....itll eventually piss the bull off. He will come in. I used this tactic with a buddy of mine for his tag. Got the idea from the developer Mike Lapiniski. He wrote the book on it......and it WORKS!!!!

 

[trophyhill]

Yes sir. Call and move. I love the aggressive approach! Although if they don't bugle back, they could be coming in silent. Cold Blind calling is a deadly tactic early on
Choose your calling locations carefully where your sound will travel, and the elk have to look for you.

 

[Marble]

If you haven't been in the woods where you plan on hunting, you should be. Locate elk and watch and learn.

 

[MOcluck]

Pick a unit close to the house and spend a lot of time in it. Hike it, camp it, fish it etc. If you got the time put your work in and reap the rewards! Good luck!

 

[BearBow77]

The biggest piece of advice, try not to do what 90% of hunters do, and hunt the roads. Get back from the road roughly 1 mile at least. Then begin scouting\calling

 

[trophyhill]

If you haven't been in the woods where you plan on hunting, you should be. Locate elk and watch and learn.

True dat!

 

[Catahoula]

Good luck with your hunt...

 

[coloteacher]

Thank you for the info, boots on the ground and relative proximity to Fort Collins is what I am planning on. Looking to get out scouting say 8/21-8/24; and then back up to set up camp on 8/28.