Cordova unit 54

[cormech]

Hello. I have put in for an archery tag in unit 54 this year. I am planning on a backpacking into mill basin around the second week of September on mill - castle trail from Mill Creek Road. I am looking on any info for this area. It will be my first time in this area and will not be able to scout ahead of time. I just don't hav e the leave saved up. From what I can see on the maps I might be able to hop over to beaver creek to the south and south castle creek to the north.
Thanks for the help.

My phone put Cordova instead of Colorado.

 

[Coloradoboy]

My phone put Cordova instead of Colorado.[/QUOTE]

Hello. I have put in for an archery tag in unit 54 this year. I am planning on a backpacking into mill basin around the second week of September on mill - castle trail from Mill Creek Road. I am looking on any info for this area. It will be my first time in this area and will not be able to scout ahead of time. I just don't hav e the leave saved up. From what I can see on the maps I might be able to hop over to beaver creek to the south and south castle creek to the north.
Thanks for the help.

Mill Creek/Mill Basin area sees a good amount of pressure. Primarily due to its the easiest/shortest way to access the west elks from the east side about half the guys there will hit the lowline trail and work back to the north hoping to catch the elk that live on castleton/rockhouse ranch, the other half will head into mill basin and a few over the top of storm pass into south castle basin. The beaver creek is very nasty country but elk will push in there with the pressure from the rainbow lake side. From the years I've spent guiding that country I've found the elk rotate from Mill, South Castle, and North Castle basins throught the summer and mid to late august. By the second week of archery they are out of the high basins and split up. South castle has always produced well for me. I killed 5 bulls out of there this past fall with clients....

 

[cormech]

Thank you Coloradoboy. That saved me about a week on the ground. I figured mill basin would be pressured because of the access. I like the way the castles look and you confirmed what I had thought about beaver creek. One question for you if you don't mind. How is soap basin for archery? It looks like it wouldn't get much pressure from the backpacking hunters and most of the pressure would come from the people that can pack in. My main concern would be the elevation for that time of year.
Again thanks for the info. It helps a lot.

 

[LitenFast]

I hunted up Mill Creek last Sept. PM me and I can fill you in on what I learned, I will be returning this fall as well.

 

[fulldraw1972]

Pm sent

 

[Coloradoboy]

Thank you Coloradoboy. That saved me about a week on the ground. I figured mill basin would be pressured because of the access. I like the way the castles look and you confirmed what I had thought about beaver creek. One question for you if you don't mind. How is soap basin for archery? It looks like it wouldn't get much pressure from the backpacking hunters and most of the pressure would come from the people that can pack in. My main concern would be the elevation for that time of year.
Again thanks for the info. It helps a lot.

Soap can be productive, alot of elk spend the summer in there. Keep in mind though if you drop into the North/South Castle drainages you will have to compete with Tenderfoot Outfitters and If you drop off towards the Soap Creek side you will have to compete with West Elk Wilderness Outfitters... Another place to look into is areas around Swampy Pass... There is zero outfitter pressure in that direction. The anthracites always have elk (pretty basin especially) also look into areas such as cabbage basin and the head of pass creek.

 

[cormech]

Thank you all for the help.

 

[DMiller6868]

Soap can be productive, alot of elk spend the summer in there. Keep in mind though if you drop into the North/South Castle drainages you will have to compete with Tenderfoot Outfitters and If you drop off towards the Soap Creek side you will have to compete with West Elk Wilderness Outfitters... Another place to look into is areas around Swampy Pass... There is zero outfitter pressure in that direction. The anthracites always have elk (pretty basin especially) also look into areas such as cabbage basin and the head of pass creek.

Can you share any further info on Soap Basin? Possibly in a PM or e-mail? I'll be there the first 8 days of the season this year and would greatly appreciate any tips or areas to check out.

Thanks!