Colorado Rifle Elk question from an Oregonian!

[bhowren]

Not looking for a secret spot, just hoping for a point in the right direction. My nephew lives near Denver and wants me to take him/ teach him how to hunt Elk. I am more than happy to do so! Excited would be more the term! Anyways, I am looking for a unit with decent draw odds and elk population somewhat close to Denver (within 3 or 4 hours- we have a trailer to camp in). I would prefer a Bull hunt, but don't care about trophy quality, just looking for a good chance at success. While I used to Rifle hunt, I am an Archery nut now! Any help would be greatly appreciated! I have only been just around Denver, so no experience with areas to go. Hoping to get things figured out for a unit, then use Google Earth to help pick out some areas to have my Nephew put up trail cameras (If local Game laws allow- Need to look up the regs, but he just recently asked me about doing this). The beauty of this is I can still hunt archery here in Oregon, then hunt rifle in Colorado! Thanks again for any help!

 

[bhowren]

No help with a unit? I really want my Nephew to have a good first experience hunting. He is new to the sport!

 

[realunlucky]

Did you check out the hunt planner? Colorado publishes all that info every year draw odds and success rates in each unit.

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[wannakillabigbull]

Colorado posts hunting statistics for every unit and every season. Success rates, number of hunters, etc. Pour through it and find a unit that matches what you’re looking for.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife -
Hunting Statistics

Once you find a unit or group of units that sounds good, go to the Colorado Hunting Atlas. It’s an interactive map that shows you unit boundaries and summer range, winter range, etc. for elk. That’ll help you find a spot that looks elky during the season you’re interested in going.

https://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/indexM.html?app=HuntingAtlas

There’s lots of info that Colorado provides, you just gotta put in the time to do your research.

 

[bhowren]

Yes, I have looked at the hunt statistics/hunt planner- however not being from there I figure I might be able to get some info from others who are actually from there. You know, weather, elevations, etc... Since I can't actually scout, would like to point my nephew in the right direction for scouting, scout cameras, etc... As I said, not looking for secret spots, but If I can narrow down by weather, elevation, etc... I can give him better direction for pre season scouting trips. Not sure of the times elk will start to their winter range there. Just hoping for all the info I can get. Yes I plan on looking at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife sight more, but the more info I have for him the better. I will only be able to actually go there for the time we are hunting. Thanks for the help!

 

[bozeman]

So not looking for 'secret spots', but help me find where to hunt? I am from AL, much further than you, but would at least go take a few vac days first and glassing on my own and come back with some questions........these posts kill me......Yes, u r looking for secret spots.......I spent several days with an outfitter to learn some tips and tricks......as stated in many posts and I understand it more now.......put your boots on the ground...can't beat it.

If and when you kill an elk, I'm looking for info, but can you post the coordinates?

 

[zrodwyo]

If your motivated anyone with a decent understanding of elk should be able to find elk in every unit in the state west of I-25. Honestly, it’s not that hard.


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[Mosby]

Not sure what week you are looking at but the earlier the week, the higher the elk, just like most places. I would look at ranges above 10,000 unless snow comes early. You can cover a large part of the state within 4 hours of Denver, so I would look at the hunt planner, statistics etc., You might be better doing an OTC hunt than a draw, just because OTC is certain and easier to plan and your nephew can focus on fewer units. No wasted time. As previously stated, their is some good information on the hunt planner. It is where I have spent several hours looking at OTC units the last few weeks.

 

[Phaseolus]

Ranges above 10,000 feet and all the way down into the oakbrush.

 

[bhowren]

So not looking for 'secret spots', but help me find where to hunt? I am from AL, much further than you, but would at least go take a few vac days first and glassing on my own and come back with some questions........these posts kill me......Yes, u r looking for secret spots.......I spent several days with an outfitter to learn some tips and tricks......as stated in many posts and I understand it more now.......put your boots on the ground...can't beat it.

If and when you kill an elk, I'm looking for info, but can you post the coordinates?

I wasn't aware that asking for elevation and weather traits for a unit was "Asking for your secret spot"! Paranoid much??? Pretty sure that the units are big enough that I wouldn't be in your back pocket just by knowing weather patterns and elevation for a particular time of year. Are these units really "That Small"???

 

[Back Country Hunter 2]

I feel like it is so much more fulfilling when you do all the research yourself. Back when I was in college I couldn't drive to where I grew up because I would miss too many classes. Where I grew up I had taken elk while hunting with my father and brother. I went on the CPW page, back then it was the DOW, and pulled all of the statistics of every OTC unit and picked one that matched up with what I wanted out of a hunt. I did internet research and Google Earth research. I took a weekend in the summer and scouted it as well. I ended up finding elk on the 4th afternoon I was out there and connecting on an OTC 2nd Season bull with my dad's old pump action 30-06. That has been my favorite bull to date. I did that! I didn't rely on anyone else. No one told me where to go or where to hunt. I did all the research all by myself. It is the smallest bull I've ever taken, but it was my favorite. The hard work that I put into that hunt is very self satisfying.

 

[bhowren]

If your motivated anyone with a decent understanding of elk should be able to find elk in every unit in the state west of I-25. Honestly, it’s not that hard.


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Thanks! I haven't been able to look in any of them yet. Any time I have been able to visit, it was around Holidays and we didn't have any time to get into the Hills.

 

[bhowren]

I feel like it is so much more fulfilling when you do all the research yourself. Back when I was in college I couldn't drive to where I grew up because I would miss too many classes. Where I grew up I had taken elk while hunting with my father and brother. I went on the CPW page, back then it was the DOW, and pulled all of the statistics of every OTC unit and picked one that matched up with what I wanted out of a hunt. I did internet research and Google Earth research. I took a weekend in the summer and scouted it as well. I ended up finding elk on the 4th afternoon I was out there and connecting on an OTC 2nd Season bull with my dad's old pump action 30-06. That has been my favorite bull to date. I did that! I didn't rely on anyone else. No one told me where to go or where to hunt. I did all the research all by myself. It is the smallest bull I've ever taken, but it was my favorite. The hard work that I put into that hunt is very self satisfying.

And here I thought using the Colorado Parks and Wildlife sight, AND/ AS WELL AS Asking others with knowledge questions Was doing research.?.? Who knew??? I guess you are saying that trying to get info from other knowledgeable people is not research??? So when you were in college, did you listen to instructors at all, or only do your own research at the library??? Short on time, so trying to get as much info as possible. Work schedule and coaching high school baseball are taking a lot of my time right now, so trying to use as many resources as possible.

 

[cnelk]

Pretty sure that the units are big enough that I wouldn't be in your back pocket just by knowing weather patterns and elevation for a particular time of year. Are these units really "That Small"???

Seems like they're getting smaller all the time.

BTW. There isnt such a thing anymore as a 'secret spot' or 'honey hole'

 

[Felix40]

I think what you are not realizing is that everyone who hunts colorado is already covered up with other dudes in their unit. In the last 5 years Ive seen a 5x increase in the number of people in the unit I hunt. I bowhunt so I dont know anything about rifle seasons but I can say that Ive seen them from 12k all the way down to the desert sage flats. Ive also seen it be snowing one day and be hotter than hell the next in september. I guess all I can say is that its hard to give meaningful help because its hard to predict anything. The basin with 50 elk in it one year may be totally empty the next.

If I had to guess I would say that water will be pretty important during early seasons this year.

 

[bhowren]

I think what you are not realizing is that everyone who hunts colorado is already covered up with other dudes in their unit. In the last 5 years Ive seen a 5x increase in the number of people in the unit I hunt. I bowhunt so I dont know anything about rifle seasons but I can say that Ive seen them from 12k all the way down to the desert sage flats. Ive also seen it be snowing one day and be hotter than hell the next in september. I guess all I can say is that its hard to give meaningful help because its hard to predict anything. The basin with 50 elk in it one year may be totally empty the next.

If I had to guess I would say that water will be pretty important during early seasons this year.

Good info. Haven't seen what the weather patterns are, except for Oregon. Yeah, getting crowded everywhere. Here, not much for migratory elk, so not as familiar with this. Thank you!