Colorado unit 61

[Cody Lightfoot]

I wlll be in there as well. Only thing I can say, is you will have no issues with that trailer on Divide Road. Huge pullouts, turn arounds, camp spots etc. There are couple main roads that drop off of Divide that are real good, county roads. Those too, no issue. Any of the standard FS roads, forget it.

Yes to this...unless there's a bunch of rain or early snow. Some of those roads turn into a slip and slide. Just keep it in mind if there's weather and you should be fine.

 

[cnelk]

When I hunted 61, I camped about 100yds of a main road.
There were bulls bugling and fighting at night right outside the wall tent.

I hunted from my camp with atv and got into elk all the time near roads.

Ended up killing my bull less than 1/4 mi from my atv.

61 isn’t your typical unit where you have go deep to get into elk. There are so many elk in there.

Don’t over think it.

But it’s your choice

 

[Wapiti66]

When I hunted 61, I camped about 100yds of a main road.
There were bulls bugling and fighting at night right outside the wall tent.

I hunted from my camp with atv and got into elk all the time near roads.

Ended up killing my bull less than 1/4 mi from my atv.

61 isn’t your typical unit where you have go deep to get into elk. There are so many elk in there.

Don’t over think it.

But it’s your choice

Thanks to all of you guys for your input. I’ve wondered this also, if road camping and leaving the ponies home would be more efficient than dealing with the daily chores of the animals..? You hunted 2012 correct? Is the hunting pretty similar now compared to then? We typically cover 5-8 miles a day regardless of where we camp when we elk hunt so if we could stay in that range and have good elk encounters that’d be more hunting, less work in the end. However if packing in with the animals would be an advantage I’m willing, this is once in a lifetime.

So anybody else out there that has hunted 61,what say you?? Would the animals be an advantage to pack in a little deeper or does road/trailhead camping offer the same opportunities? FYI, once I’ve reached camp and set up, my animals stay tied up except for a 1-2 hour midday graze and then again when I get back at dark 30 until bed. So not a huge hindrance but takes a little each day. I walk from camp to hunt, we don’t ride the animals to hunt. Thanks in advance.

 

[Cody Lightfoot]

Thanks to all of you guys for your input. I’ve wondered this also, if road camping and leaving the ponies home would be more efficient than dealing with the daily chores of the animals..? You hunted 2012 correct? Is the hunting pretty similar now compared to then? We typically cover 5-8 miles a day regardless of where we camp when we elk hunt so if we could stay in that range and have good elk encounters that’d be more hunting, less work in the end. However if packing in with the animals would be an advantage I’m willing, this is once in a lifetime.

So anybody else out there that has hunted 61,what say you?? Would the animals be an advantage to pack in a little deeper or does road/trailhead camping offer the same opportunities? FYI, once I’ve reached camp and set up, my animals stay tied up except for a 1-2 hour midday graze and then again when I get back at dark 30 until bed. So not a huge hindrance but takes a little each day. I walk from camp to hunt, we don’t ride the animals to hunt. Thanks in advance.

I think for packing out of some of the places in 61, horses could be a huge asset! A huge portion of the unit is straight downhill from Divide road and if you find your bull in the bottom of one of those, the horses could make the next part much easier. I don't think they'd be worth it for the pack in, but I could be wrong as I have never hunted it for more than turkeys.

 

[Coveyleader]

My scouting last year told me, horses would be useful for packing elk out and that's about it. The amount of roads, and the layout of the unit, I really don't think horses would do much good other than packing out.

 

[wannakillabigbull]

61 isn’t your typical unit where you have go deep to get into elk. There are so many elk in there.

x2. Even during the middle of the season there are often big bulls right off divide bugling their heads off. Getting into elk isn't the issue, it's drawing the tag.

 

[cnelk]

Here's a short clip of my bull coming in right before I shot him

For you guys that drew 61 tag... would you shoot him?

 

[Wapiti66]

I didn’t draw the tag, but yes I’d shoot him. Congrats

 

[Firewillie77]

Oh for sure I would shoot it

 

[cnelk]

BTW - the bull taped out just under 300"

 

[Coveyleader]

This is exactly the type of bull I'm looking for. See him, no brainer.

 

[Buschy]

I had the 3rd season bull tag last year. Many mature bulls, but didn't see anything over 310. Three of of us punched tags on 6x6 bulls, all DIY. A fun hunt!

 

[wannakillabigbull]

Three of of us punched tags on 6x6 bulls

Any chance we could see some pics? Nobody likes a tease

 

[Buschy]

No monsters, though we did see some better bulls. Just a fun hunt with good friends.

 

[Kstitz]

I hunted 61 3rd season last year. I usually hunt off of horse back but I see no need for horses in this unit. The majority of the elk that we sae were within a 1-1.5 miles from the road. Do not let that distance fool you this country is very steep and choked full of oak brush. I killed a very large bodied 6 pt that was probably a little under 300. I saw alot of bulls but only 2 that were over 320 and both of them were broken. This was one of the funnest hunts I have been on. If you do not get caught up in killing a 350 you will have an enjoyable hunt.

 

[Phaseolus]

It was beautiful up in 61 the last few days...killed a nice 300 bull 2nd season a few years back. Spent the last 4
4 days around Windy Point just for fun.

 

[Firewillie77]

It was beautiful up in 61 the last few days...killed a nice 300 bull 2nd season a few years back. Spent the last 4
4 days around Windy Point just for fun.

I was up there two weeks ago and it was beautiful, excited to get back!


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[IrkedCitizen]

Coveyleader and firewillie did either of you kill a bull with your tag last season?

 

[Firewillie77]

I did

 

[Firewillie77]

Was a super fun hunt, amazing place down there


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