Colorado Wilderness: Holy Cross vs. Eagles Nest - Any Ideas?

[bogeyboy555]

Gents,

I am new to the forum - glad to be here! As a 30 year old CO resident, I am trying to get a muley, bear, and elk OTC tag for 2015. I hunted all last year covering several miles a day, all wilderness areas, but was not able to get any meat. I noticed last year that hunting Byers Peak Wilderness, Vasquez Wilderness, and Eagles Nest Wilderness - the issue was that the trails had a TON of non-hunters on them. Even at 5 miles in, we had a group of 6 hikers come through our drainage at nearly 12,000 feet. I am looking for a better wilderness unit, with less foot traffic in general, and the most difficult terrain (to keep people away). Unfortunately, I don't have the time to be able to properly scout wilderness areas that are way off the beaten path. My assumption is that the further I can get from Denver, the less issues I will have with people. But I do need to consider travel time. I am getting ready to close on my first home purchase in Frisco and feel that my best option would be to explore Holy Cross Wilderness. I use Google Maps a lot to determine best routes to the high country. I am not afraid of covering a dozen miles, I enjoy the sticks as much as the hunt. Questions for you gents:

1) Has anyone hunted Holy Cross Wilderness? Thoughts?
2) Are there any guides that service this area? I have been looking around online and actually have not found anyone who really guides there?
3) I am ultimately debating Eagles Nest vs. Holy Cross. HC has a 14'er on the far east side of the wilderness and gets a ton of traffic - but Eagles Nest is 30 miles closer to denver and has to deal with the 10's of thousands of people that lives in Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne.....

Any help is much appreciated!
dustin

 

[Tanner]

Nevermind...

Tanner

 

[CrzyTrekker]

dustin,

I've spent a few weeks in the Eagles Nest (lived in Summit County for 7 years) and done several short trips into Holy Cross as well. They are both very popular areas with backpackers, dayhikers, even trail runners. Having said that, if you get a little creative with your route finding you can easily get into areas that have no trails.

There are canyons in the Gore Range that only see a couple parties each year. Start by breaking out your maps and mark areas that appear to have no trails. Then look at the surrounding trail systems, and figure out how you can get close (using a trail system) and then go cross country to your destination.

This doesn't have to be ultra hardcore. Some of the best backcountry hunting and fishing is only a mile or two from the closest trail or road.

Best wishes,

Eric

 

[Jazzdog]

i'm planning on the holy cross for this fall as well, I think i have the beginnings of a plan but i'm sure it will shift as more information is gathered. for me i think coming in from the west side is going to make the most sense.

 

[Beendare]

As Eric touched on- you have to get off the trails.

i've hunted a couple of the wilderness areas mentioned- one I've hunted a lot- once you get into those pockets off the trails, you rarely see another hunter. its that way everywhere- wilderness or non wilderness.

We hunted an area last year in Wyo that had a extremely rough road/quad trail on the border of a wilderness. I swear there was more traffic before light on that trail than on the main highway. But then you drop 3/4 mile down into one of those nasty pockets- (where the elk were bugling!) and there was no one.

 

[zman]

2) Are there any guides that service this area? I have been looking around online and actually have not found anyone who really guides there?


Never hunted with these guys but talked to them at a show last year. Seemed like good guys. Said they mostly hunted dark timber in real rough areas...in the Eagles Nest. My guess is that is to get away from hikers and the like.
http://summitcountyoutfitters.com/

 

[nomadd2727]

From google maps in Unit 371 I am seeing a decent amount of Big Horse Trailers which I'm assuming are Outfitter? I am trying to stay away from the outfitter. If anyone has info let me know!