Making progress...decided on a unit but have some general questions

[Finch]

Just the other day I had it "narrowed" down to 14 units and yesterday I think I decided on the "one." I think I read waaaay too much into the stats and my natural indecisiveness didn't help the situation either. Anyway, think I've decided on GMU 15 (CO). If nothing else, it could be a backup spot if I find something better but at least I've gotten this far.

The places I'm looking to hunt look just as good as any. It all looks like it would hold elk. Although, It's probably not the best choice but I was stressing not having it narrowed down to a single unit. I got it narrowed down to the bar I'll be parking my truck. It's a Nat'l Forest road and the warden said I should be able to make it all the way to the bar w/ no issues.

1. The place that I'd like to eventually end up to hunt is approx. 4 miles from the truck. This isn't too unrealistic for packing an elk out on your back w/ 2 ppl is it? Of course, we might not even make it that far depending on what we run into.
2. Once we park the truck, it appears the road continues on for about a mile before the road runs out. So not bad there but the rest will be dark timber it appears. I zoomed in on satellite view and didn't see a ton of blowdowns. Does this sound like a good plan, traversing though the timber?
3. The elevation here is right at 10,000 feet. I'm not sure how either one of us will do in altitude. Thoughts? Too high for flatlanders to start hunting? We'll getting there a few days into the season. Don't really want to waste a couple days of doing nothing to get acclimated.
4. How close do you guys like to be to the nearest town? We still might come out halfway through our 8 days of hunting. Maybe not but I'm not going to rule it out. Looks like the closest towns are 45 minutes and 1 hour away. I'm researching meat processors in case we decide to have them take care of the processing. I also contacted an outfitter about pack horses to have as a backup plan in case we can't get the meat out ourselves. What else do you guys like to be fairly close to? (there's also a hospital about 1 hour away).
5. Anyone have experience with DIYhuntingmaps.com? http://diyhuntingmaps.com/p/paper-topo-map-features.html
6. I'd like to have at least 3 areas picked as possible hunting locations (2 being backup locations). I might have 2 locations in the same unit and Plan C would be an entirely different (but close by) unit. Thoughts?

Anything else?

 

[Finch]

Nothing?

 

[jmez]

1. Not unrealistic at all. 4 miles is doable.

2. If the road ends you don't have much choice than to traverse the timber. Rucking three miles with a heavy pack through blowdown will suck, bad. Everywhere I've hunted in Co that had dark timber had a lot of blowdown.

3. You will just have to see how you do with the altitude, it affects people differently. I have no troubles with it and one of my hunting partners has a headache and is nauseous for the first three days every year. Just set your pace accordingly.

4. Distance to town is of no concern to me. I don't plan on coming out until I'm done hunting. With only 8 days to hunt I wouldn't plan on coming out. You are going to spend 4 days just learning the area. You come out that takes up 1 day minimum, leaving you a three day hunt. If I need to take game somewhere then the distance isn't much of a concern as I'm done, I can take a day off. With that elevation and only an 8 day hunt you should have no trouble keeping meat cool with coolers and block ice. Keep in mind with a processor, they will only have a couple of days to cut the meat, likely all they will do is burger and steaks because of time constraints. You won't be able to get any type of sausage or salami made. As far as the hospital, I don't really worry about that either. If it's bad I'll be riding in a chopper.

5. No experience. I use My topo to get maps

6. Good plan. This one has bit me before. Along with hunting locations, have specific areas picked out in each location that you want to key in on.

 

[hobbes]

4 miles isn't too far, but it could be depending on a few things.

You are likely way ahead of this but here are several things to consider:

What physical condition are you in? (be truthful)

How do you deal with being away from civilization or your family for that many days? May be easy when there are bulls bugling their heads off, but what about on day 4 and the only elk you've seen is a cow you spotted running over a ridge a mile away. I came out here (out West) in the late 90s with a friend or two (friend of a friend) and a couple guys were ready to go home within a few days. The hunt overwhelmed them. They were too accustomed to treestands, guaranteed opportunities, and a cushy bed, and that was from a truck camp next to the trailhead.

What kind of terrain is it? Blowdowns? Extremely steep and rocky? I had trouble visualizing just how big and steep things were when I made a couple trips from the midwest (before moving to CO then MT)

There is nothing wrong with hunting heavy timber, but if you're not in the elk it can be discouraging. If I find them in heavy timber that is great, but I like the ability to have options for glassing. To each their own but the ability to glass big country at least part of the time makes the hunt more enjoyable for me.

You may be able to withstand the physical part of packing an elk 4 miles, but will the weather allow the meat to last the amount of time required for getting it all out? You and a buddy can do it in two trips (one with a medium to small cow). You'll need an additional trip to pack out gear.
I've been skipping on hunting a good area during early archery because I question wheather my son and I can pack a bull out before losing meat and I don't want to shoot a cow that far from the truck. It is just a limitation that I have (I've been trying to do something about removing the limitation).

I don't want to discourage you. By all means............hunt elk. If you're like me and many others, it will change you forever. You may be in them day after day and it will be all you ever dreamed of, but know that it can be very tough. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[hobbes]

I assumed you were elk hunting. You may be planning on deer hunting. Most of the same still applies, but the pack out will be much easier, and I wouldn't want to hunt them any other way than high country treeline stuff.

 

[Finch]

jmez- This is our first big hunt so I was keeping the "going into town" option on the table in case we need it. I'm hoping the hunting is so good that we don't give it a second thought!

Hobbes
Well, I'd say I'm in decent physical condition. I've slacked off on my training since it's been pretty hot and humid here and I'm not a big fan of going to the gym. I could wake up in the morning and run 3-4 miles if that gives you an idea. I think I would do okay but then again, I've never done anything this extreme before.

I feel like I could be away from civilization for that amount of time but everyone probably thinks that until they experience it, right? Haven't really been away from the family since my daughter was born a couple years ago. That will be the hard part but I won't be alone on this trip so that will help. I know you aren't trying to discourage me; just keeping it real I suppose. That's what I was looking for. Thanks!

And yes, going for elk.

 

[TWP]

It is all good amigo! You will give yourself an ulcer before you get to the front range. Ha ha ha

You are not climbing Everest or going to the NWT in October. Remember this shit is fun! Well, it can be. Or it can be tough on the psyche and lungs. You already know WAY more than I did when I started and way more than most newbies just by being a Rokslide member.

4 miles is very doable, especially with two people. Not to be a Debbie Downer but you will probably NOT get an elk the first trip, hopefully you will but realize this is a process that takes time in the field. And I am a piss any compared to most the folks on here.
Remember, if you aren't into smoking hot elk sign keep moving!!!! When you find it, STOP moving!!! Seriously, slow the heck down in dark timber. It is frustrating at times, but you absolutely have to be patient when it comes to this type of hunting. Keep the wind in your favor and move slowly and keep your head on a swivel. I blew out a lot of elk and a lot of good Bulls giving up on calling set ups too soon.
Remember, be adaptable and have fun. If dark timber in wilderness is your thing shoot me a PM and I can give you some specific areas you may want to add to your list.

 

[bz_711]

Donnie,
It has to feel good to have picked a spot...you did your homework and that should give you more confidence.

A few responses to your questions:

-4 miles is totally doable, you are not totally new to backpacking/camping so that helps a bunch. And two guys can easily get an elk out that far, just know it will be a serious workout - but I honestly enjoy that kind of pain any day.

-dark timber can be a SOB to hike thru, truly don't know until you get there. Typically a trail, or above treeline is safest bet...but the upside is that others don't like it either and like you said you may not even have to go as far as you think to get into fresh sign. Try to follow game trails the best you can, even if they are going up/down in elevation. If you hit really bad patch of blow down, I've found that an elevation change will typically get you a change in cover and help get you out of the log jam.

-10K elevation is the real deal. Most do just fine, but just know day 1 will be the worst, especially as you start sucking air on your first hill. Do not over push it day 1 and drink more water than you think you need and I think you'll be fine. All the smiling usually helps get over some of the thin air pain.

-I've shared my thoughts on town with you, but we do a truck camp which is totally different animal so we want the conveniences nearby. Personally I'd just want to know the closest shower & restaurant for if you decide to come out for a break...which I still think is time well spent. You should also enjoy this trip some, not just bust balls every day looking for elk. If you're covered in elk a break won't be on the mind, but if hunting is tough...it would be a nice break mentally as well.

-no experience with DIYmaps.

-backup spots are a must, but they don't necessarily need to be far away. It's amazing how much the hunting can change just crossing a valley or up and over the mountain. There are elk in every unit, I wouldn't feel the need to drive an hour or two in a different direction.

Stay Positive! Have Fun! Use your senses...it's best to hear or smell elk before you see them...if they see you first the gig is up.

 

[Finch]

TWP - no worries on the "Debbie Downer" comment. I realize that it's likely we won't be successful on our first trip. I just don't want to have too high of expectations. We'll give it our all though!

Matt - Thanks again for all the help! I referred to one of your last PMs when I was choosing a spot to hunt.

I've included a couple screenshots of the area we'll be hunting. The blue line is not necessarily the route we'll be hiking but the southern point of the blue line is the starting point and the northern point is a drainage I'd like to eventually end up to. As you can see though, there appears to be a lot of good looking places all in between. On the topo, the area circled in red has caught my attention. There is a trail or old road going along these meadows/fields. This is not part of the Wilderness area but the boundary to the north of it is. I realize we could run into some ATVs in this area but a chance we will take I guess.

 

[5MilesBack]

I might have missed it, but you're going archery correct?

The one thing you can't control is other hunters. Archery won't be as bad as rifle, but several years ago a buddy and I planned a trip into an area we'd never been before. On paper everything looked absolutely perfect. We knew exactly where we would camp and then hunt from there. When we got there for the start of the season there were two dozen horse trailers parked and what looked like a block party with RV's and campers.

Thankfully we had 4 other backup plans and things worked out. You definitely need backup plans.

 

[Finch]

I might have missed it, but you're going archery correct?

The one thing you can't control is other hunters. Archery won't be as bad as rifle, but several years ago a buddy and I planned a trip into an area we'd never been before. On paper everything looked absolutely perfect. We knew exactly where we would camp and then hunt from there. When we got there for the start of the season there were two dozen horse trailers parked and what looked like a block party with RV's and campers.

Thankfully we had 4 other backup plans and things worked out. You definitely need backup plans.

Yes, archery. Good example, that will really drive home the need for us to have a backup plan. I'm really just relieved to have one spot picked out so far. I'll pick my other spots hopefully this week. Then I'll order some maps of the area, do some google earth scouting, and just wait for September to get here.