Evaluating pressure Preseason/How deep to hike in

[PredatoryProwler]

Looking at an Archery Unit in Colorado and trying to figure out how much hunting pressure there will be next year, what are some statistics you look at to see how pressured the unit is and what are some things to look at to decide how far to hike in. The Tag covers 3 different units.

 

[Dirtscoots]

There isn’t a formula that gives you exactly how many people hunt an area. If your near roads clearly you have road hunters. If your on horse trails, usually to warrant owning horses people want to be past the day hunters. If you pick an area that other people have hunted for years there could be very little game no matter how far, that is just where they go. If you find a spot that looks easy I doubt you are the only person looking at it. That goes for spots that look very difficult to get to as well however.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Get out and scout any area you find escouting that looks good I guarantee others have as well. It isn’t always about how deep you are either, I have spots that guys hike 6-7 miles in and I’m killing elk 1/4 mile from the trailhead. Theres no formula or rule or anything to elk, and if your following the “rules of elk” from the social media influencers and stuff, look at how many other guys are following that exact same idea. Then you got the guys thinking they are outsmarting the other guys, when it comes down to it, elk are where elk are, and there’s to many factors. Scouting and boots on the ground when ur hunting is the best option. You can scout for 2 weeks prior and a mountain lion comes through the area night before opener. Or Joe blow goes and sets his tent up on the saddle, or comes trudging through to get to “his spot” 9 miles in.


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[PredatoryProwler]

Get out and scout any area you find escouting that looks good I guarantee others have as well. It isn’t always about how deep you are either, I have spots that guys hike 6-7 miles in and I’m killing elk 1/4 mile from the trailhead. Theres no formula or rule or anything to elk, and if your following the “rules of elk” from the social media influencers and stuff, look at how many other guys are following that exact same idea. Then you got the guys thinking they are outsmarting the other guys, when it comes down to it, elk are where elk are, and there’s to many factors. Scouting and boots on the ground when ur hunting is the best option. You can scout for 2 weeks prior and a mountain lion comes through the area night before opener. Or Joe blow goes and sets his tent up on the saddle, or comes trudging through to get to “his spot” 9 miles in.


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Thanks. I have identified a few spots that look like they would hold elk pretty well, but I have no idea what to look for for identifying food that might be in the area. Is this something I should just look for once I get to be able to actually scout it. I have identified some good bedding slopes, glassing spots and there is plenty of water in the area. Are there some other things that I should be looking for before I get boots on the ground?

 

[cnelk]

If you’ve identified spots that look good so have lots of others.

Good bet they aren’t good spots!

 

[2ski]

As to your original question, i think you're overthinking it. As said before there's no way to determine how much pressure someplace is going to have outside of its proximity to a community. And a community of 40k is going to see its near areas have more pressure than smaller locations. However smaller locations tend to a higher percentage of its population be hunters as well. Granted it's wintertime, but I was doing through one small (200 people?) Town and there were elk in a field not a mile out of town. That just goes to show, it's hard to predict.

 

[Indian Summer]

I’m sure you know this but there’s only one way to find out. No online information about hunters per square mile. People move around from year to year anyway.