Colorado Units Overrun by Recreation?

Dakota_Rookie

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 31, 2020
I’m not sure if this topic is allowed. I’m not asking about specific units or places or even species. I’m wondering if there’s any units that get so much recreation pressure they’re not worth looking at.

I have a unit and season I’m looking to pull the trigger on applying for and curious if that unit comes up.

I’m sure there will be some sort of an answer around the lines of “ALL OF THEM!”


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Recreation numbers have increased no question. But, for the most part they don’t leave trail systems. Go hunt.
 
Appreciate the replies, this probably won’t keep me from applying in my unit, but would help to know what to expect. I’ve hunted around heavily used side by side trails in the past. Animals do seem to adapt and learn to live with it for the most part.


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I’ve hunted some units infested with hikers and it blows me away at the lack of elk and deer in these alpine areas. I mean miles and miles of nothing yet the habitat is incredible.
 
Don't let it stop you but be aware of it. For example, if the unit you are looking at has a popular hiking trail though it and its archery or muzzleloader season, it will probably be busy.
 
I wouldn't screen any unit out based on it. Even the busiest stuff on the recreation side, say the Bells, has plenty spots that feel secluded off the trail systems. Hunters tend to overestimate how much other recreationists ever get off the trails. Most lifelong trail runners, hikers, backpackers, have never gone 300 yards+ off a known trail. I'm not dogging on them, it's just the nature of their activities.
 
Ive seen fresh elk tracks on hiking/motorcycle trails first thing in the morning.
Typically these trails arent used by people until mid to late mornings because they arent 'early risers' ;)
 
I mean your units that are closest to the front range and the “bigger” mountain towns/ tourist destinations will have the most rec. usually isn’t a huge issue. Has led to some funny conversations with recreationalists. September is busy just about everywhere. Oct-Nov is hit and miss, if it’s mild and sunny: expect the yuppies to be out in full force peak bagging, hitting the trails hard. Snowy and nasty: expect it to be just the hunters, some of which will pack it up and leave with the bad weather.
 
Not only do they mostly stay on the trails, but when weather cools off and hunting season starts, most hikers don't venture into the woods in numbers like warmer weather.

I usually see a couple hikers during season, but they are always on trails and rarely back as far as I'm going.

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I live in Salt Lake City and hunt within 30 minutes of town. I’ve called a bull up to trail and had it walk between hikers. I watch mature bucks feed 100 yards away from mountain bikers and hikers every morning in the summer. It really doesn’t effect the animals and if anything makes them a little easier to hunt at times.
 
There are areas that do not appeal to non-hunters.

Sage brush. Lack of scenic alpine lakes/trails. Etcetera...

There are plenty of areas that no one is going to ride mountain bikes, hike, SxS. Look at it, and ask yourself "what would I do here, if not hunting?" If the answer is "nothing," it probably doesn't appeal to those user groups.
 
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