Colorado Units Overrun by Recreation?

[cnelk]

Probably a good idea not to hunt anywhere near where the Rainbow Family has been

 

[Kurts86]

Strava heat maps are a very quick way to assess where and the intensity of running, biking and hiking.

You should be googling perspective trail heads for trail reviews, pictures and # of ratings. Remember hunting is one of the few outdoor activities that values secrecy of location information. Most of other outdoor pursuits broadcast the details of their trips extensively.

 

[Dakota_Rookie]

Anything east of i25 will probably fit the bill of avoiding crowds.

Thats where i was thinking of heading so i appreciate the confirmation!


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[RockAndSage]

It’s a thing, but only if you let be a thing.

^^^ This really hits it on the head.

I can't speak on elk, but for mule deer, they adapt their behavior. The same buck that would bolt over a saddle if living in a remote area would just stay low and frozen with a truck driving by its home 200yds away, if trucks, dirtbikes, etc, regularly drive that road.

That's why it's so important to get our boots out into likely areas bucks will feed in, bed in, or travel to and from those places through, especially where people frequent, over just relying on glassing first. Tracks don't lie.

 

[Wapiti66]

It depends. The mtn biker illegally riding on wilderness trails probably didn’t bother any game. But the hippie ladies big ass barking dogs that woke up the entire mountain side when I walked a couple hundred yards by her tent at sunup probably did. The elk I was after were silent all day after that. I don’t think most mulies care, but I don’t believe elk have much patience for it. They may not entirely leave the area, but they seem to stay very quiet and nocturnal when they sense any human presence. If I’m elk hunting and the area is well known for the hiking sightseeing crowd I believe it’s worth relocating to a less desirable area to the granola crowd. This is based on sep archery elk

 

[LongWayAround]

Thats where i was thinking of heading so i appreciate the confirmation!


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Eastern Colorado blows. Nobody is doing anything out there. If there's a lake people will fish. If it's one of the river units, expect a lot of duck hunters. Otherwise, it's not really a heavy recreational area.

My experience is in the units along or north of I-70. Maybe it's different in the southern half, but I doubt it.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Get 4 hours away from the front range and recreation is a fraction of what the rest of the state is…

 

[supersonic_g&t]

I have decided to follow the rule of “rough roads is where I want to go”. It’s beautiful country, but not a legitimate place to hunt while the weather is still nice.

^This is some good advice. Easy access for other hunters is probably the bigger risk.

We found a great spot with a rough road to the top of a ridge and we'd drop down the back side for some good bow hunting. They graded the road and last time we went four hunting camps were setup up top. There isn't much public before you hit private there so that spot was dead. The private still holds a bunch of elk, but it doesn't seem like they venture onto the public much anymore.

 

[Poser]

I regularly do see climbers/peak baggers off trail and in what most would describe as random areas where I would not expect to encounter anyone who wasn’t looking for animals.

 

[SandyCreek]

My experience is above treeline especially around the opener of archery is a crap shoot. People really like to find strange places to do yoga..

 

[ColoradoV]

Some places not so bad others it will have an impact on what you hunt.

Anywhere the CDC or Colorado trail goes is getting to the point where they almost need to limit the number of people maybe via a draw. They do move from the trail to camp etc. Most are hiking very early to avoid the afternoon storms or heat.. Seeing 20-30 a session rather than 2-3..

Around Aspen and CB (Crested Butte) or anywhere between it is getting to the point there is a noticeable impact almost anywhere on or off trail. Deer are pushed around and the elk have 100% changed patters. Bikers have just as big of an impact as hikers in some places.

Bagging of random peaks and high spots is getting to be a big "thing".. Battery powered 14k mountain bikes sure move folks as well. Not to mention any trailhead w a 14er is impacted..

Even the rec users are seeing the giant leap in user days in some places pushing them off trail just about everywhere I go.. Yea yoga skylines on ridges does not help hunters..

Any place w a waterfall, hot springs, high lake, or the like will be crowded on or off a trail..

Fair to say both deer and elk have changed their patters due to the pressure folks out there. Sometimes 6-10 folks a day did not impact the deer but with 50+ a day it does.. Many hikers w 1-5 barking dogs and some w a bluetooth speaker... Many spots have changed or are forever ruined the only way to know is to get out there and look.

The pressure is much less in the Northern part of the state or anywhere a fire has left a bunch of downfall as that seems to weed people out..

 

[FOS373]

The wildlife has just adapted. I do a fair bit of motorcycle trail riding, and as many of you may know, there’s a very well used OHV area south of Denver. Nearly every time we are there, I see elk, deer and turkey. I’ve ridden in that area during hunting season and seen hunters and game; albeit no hunters with game, because I think this area attracts very lazy hunters.

 

[ElkArcher918]

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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If rec. people bothers you or think that they impact hunting quality, stay away from large population centers. I personally don't hunt elk closer than 2-5 hours away from home. Even close by, I can still get away from the fruit & nuts granola non-hunters. Just gotta work a little harder and have an understanding of the lay of the land your hunting. You'd be amazed how elk adapt and survive in crowded areas as long there is enough security cover, feed, and water.

 

[Weldor]

Our cabin is within a 3 million acre NF, about 60 places. The Elk walk down the road all year long and graze in peoples yards. All while SxS's quads, mtn bikers and hikers with dogs off lease of course making tons of rackett. After summer it slows down, but those Elk are habitualized to all the human smells and noise. We hunt near by. the only time they change patterns is when orange army shows up.

 

[TaperPin]

Don’t forget a number of summer peak baggers and hikers are also hunters. If you go in with the assumption you’re the only hunter in a sea of people, it might be disappointing. Most hunters have figured that out and hunt away from the front range, but you will still have plenty of company.