Colorado unit 45 2 rifle gripe

[standard_lengthy]

Went out near homestake peak on a guided rifle hunt and got skunked. Weather was in the mid to upper fifties during the day, sparce snow and zero hunters below us. Tons of elk sign but not a one seen or heard. We camped at 11500ft and dropped about 1500-1700 ft and hiked between 10-14 miles a day. It was our first elk hunt and we were unprepared for the ruggedness of the terrain. It was straight up and down for the most part. We all had fun but were disappointed not to even SEE an elk. It being a guided rifle hunt we thought we could at least see something! The outfitter said past success rates were around 70% for the same hunt in the same general area. I know thats the way it goes but should I have expected more?

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[dirtytough]

Dang that sucks sorry to hear that. Never been on a guided hunt but I would expect the odds to increase on a guided versus unguided hunt for most inexperienced hunters. Guides know where the elk hang out. Where pressure comes from. Where to hunt once the elk are pressured. So yes I would have expected to see some elk. Especially if you are in shape enough to hunt the area. I would be disappointed myself but as long as the camp was decent and the guide worked hard I would be happy they did what they could.

 

[standard_lengthy]

The camp was great and the guide worked his ass off to try to find us elk. My concern was that despite his best efforts, he had never hunted the unit before. He had hunted the surrounding areas but not this one. Thoughts?

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[lipripr]

Sorry to hear about your hunt. I've hunted 45 the last 5 years it is a steep sumb!tch I was thinking the first three seasons would be tough as warm as its been up there. We're hunting it 4th again this year. I would expect a guide to increase your chances but as long as he seemed to know where to look and just didn't wander aimlessly around everywhere, sometimes they just aren't where we think they should be. Did you see any camps with meat hanging?

 

[standard_lengthy]

There were only two other camps on the road down below us and it didn't look like they got anything either

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[TurkeyBowMaster]

Sorry to hear that, and that is why I don't hire guides...I just don't want to pay someone and then have that same person to blame for a hunt like that...I just don't need that. Not to mention I have 100% success guiding myself and nobody gets mad when I blame myself for a bad hunt if I ever have one. I can also slow down or turn around to it gets too rugged.

 

[Bl704]

I hunted that ridge during bow season and likewise saw sign, but only mule deer. However a guy from the camp next to us took a nice 6x6 off that road.

You said you dropped 15-1700 ft, was that over the back side or down toward Homestake? Just curious...pm if you'd like.

 

[5MilesBack]

Were you all at or above timberline glassing the timber fringes at first and last light? With the warmth and the rifle pressure, I wouldn't expect to see any elk out of the timber much after first light, or before last light. If you're not glassing any during those times, the only way you're going to find them is busting the timber. But if the outfitter has clients booked after you, they probably don't want to risk busting them out of the area doing that.

 

[lipripr]

If the guide did not divulge the fact that he has never hunted the actual unit I would be upset. For the cost I would require an intimate knowledge of the area not a good idea from hunting similar places.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Seems odd to not even see any, esp. with a guide who should be decent at glassing some up (even if impractical to get onto them).

I've heard a lot of chatter about no elk so far this year but that wasn't my experience at 10-11k during 1st rifle and also down at 8k during second rifle. I didn't see or get in on any huge bulls (heard one bugling close during 1st but got busted by some mulies working in) but during both seasons both glassed up elk and also had <200yd encounters. For the latter aspect the consistent denominator was spending some time on my feet pushing deeper into areas where we either saw or suspected elk.

 

[commandoNate]

I hunted that general area muzzle loader season and didn't see a single elk. It's a multi unit tag so I was actually in 44 most of the time I believe, just west of the Sawatch range but not far from Homestake as the crow flies. 3 of us hunted hard in the back country and we have been very successful at finding elk and getting opportunities on them in various units around the state over the last 8-10 years. One guy saw 3 cows and he had the bull tag. Other guy saw one bull and he had a cow tag. And that was the extent of the elk we saw between the 3 of us over an 8 day trip. I read later that the 'frying pan herd' was down in numbers this year. I'm not exactly sure what they meant by that but we weren't far from the Frying Pan, and there weren't many elk. So I'd agree with their assessment! Oh well, that's hunting...

Sorry to hear that you had the same experience especially since you ponied up for guide service! Better luck next time.

 

[Lts940]

I just got back from hunting units 45 and 37. We did a 7 day hunt, didnt see alot of hunters. Did hike way back a few days and camped. So a ton of sign old and fresh is multiple areas. Finally saw elk way at the tops of the tree line on the evening of day 6. 3 legal bulls, but only had about 40 min of light and was not set up right with the wind to get in on them close enough to shoot. So watched until dark, came back the next morning to a white out cloud condition that lasted all morning, needless to say nothing all day. Now i may have made mistakes on the approach/set up, but this was my first diy elk hunt, in a very rugged public unit. The fact that we even tacked and saw some in this slow season makes me feel good, a lot of locals saw nothing. And drives me for a even better one in 2017. Good luck in the future, juat figured i share my experience with 45. And although rugged i like the challenges of the unti, so i will most likley be back to 45 and 37 next season to get my bull i left out there!

 

[bz_711]

If the guide did not divulge the fact that he has never hunted the actual unit I would be upset. For the cost I would require an intimate knowledge of the area not a good idea from hunting similar places.

x2
Not sure what the outfitter has to offer if he had not hunted that area...that would be disappointing. The area he took you is pounded with hunters during archery season.

Hopefully you learned enough that you can just do an OTC unit by yourself from now on and save the money of outfitter...for an outfitter to operate in an OTC unit I'd think they would make their money packing you in miles from road and pressure.