Need some advice in colorado

[MichaelO]

Dad and I are currently in colorado hunting 15/27. I have a muzzleloader tag and he has an otc archery. What we have seen so far has not even convinced me that the area even holds elk. No one we have talked to has seen any and they all look pretty depressed so I'm believing what they say.

That said we have been here 6 days and have another 5 to go. Would you forgo the muzzy tag to move to a different area to hunt the otc archery tag of keep hitting the mountain hard hoping to find one?

I ask because this is our first elk hunt and if this was. Deer hunt and I couldn't even find month old sign I would pickup and leave.

 

[Gerbdog]

Well i only have a humble opinion to offer but..... get the heck out of there. Move until you find red hot sign, if the mountain your on doesn't smell like elk move until you find a mountain that does. From the sounds of it your in an elk deadzone, they're just not there currently. There's always a small chance elk will move into the area your in but... i sure wouldn't put a bet on it.... sounds like a great way to get tag soup though!

 

[Ucsdryder]

I know that area well. I’ve hunted it and never seen a bull if that helps! I absolutely would not hunt an area where I’m not hearing them or seeing fresh sign. Not saying you should give up on the unit, but I would hunt fast and hard and see if I can find fresh sign.

 

[wildwilderness]

Move til you find elk! the OTC archery tag is good til the end of the month. No need to rush it. OTC will get less pressure once the MZ hunts are done anyway. You need to cover the whole units til you see an elk

 

[Corvus Corax]

If you’re truly not seeing anything, then I’d consider moving now while you have enough time left to get a good hunt In somewhere else. If anything you’re going to learn more areas for the future.

 

[D.Blake]

Bail! You still have time. Good luck!

 

[Indian Summer]

I know nothing about that unit but my first thought is to move pretty far but stay in the unit so the muzzy tag is valid if it’s a big enough unit. At least the tag was easy to get and the drive was shorter than other states right?

 

[puckhead]

There is enough room in those two units that I would stay within them and move spots. The biggest bull elk shed I've found came out of 15 while deer hunting two years ago, so they're in there

 

[Brian_Holcombe]

I agree with the others. Also, find water and water that has recent sign. With our dry summer, the elk are there. If you find water and there's no recent sign, move on.

 

[MichaelO]

Thanks for the advice all. I'm gonna make a big move inside of the units and dad's gonna hit an ajecent unit. Best of both ideas hopefully. Spread out and cover ground. Gotta do something since we aren't finding them.

 

[Gerbdog]

Good luck! when your into fresh elk sign you'll know it

 

[Next Ridge]

Sounds like a solid new plan to me. In general if you aren’t seeing elk, elk sign or hearing them you should move. I would say where to move to really depends on how much of unit 15 or 27 you have hunted. That general area is roughly 160 sq miles, there are elk there.

Also, just from an encouragement stand point Last years elk was killed in a spot 3 groups said they hadn’t seen anything in days.

 

[cnelk]

Due to the drought/heat conditions, In that area, The elk are low, near water and in the dark timber.
At least that’s where we found them a couple weeks ago

 

[Newtosavage]

Dad and I are currently in colorado hunting 15/27. I have a muzzleloader tag and he has an otc archery. What we have seen so far has not even convinced me that the area even holds elk. No one we have talked to has seen any and they all look pretty depressed so I'm believing what they say.

That said we have been here 6 days and have another 5 to go. Would you forgo the muzzy tag to move to a different area to hunt the otc archery tag of keep hitting the mountain hard hoping to find one?

I ask because this is our first elk hunt and if this was. Deer hunt and I couldn't even find month old sign I would pickup and leave.

Been there, done that. You need to move and move until you find some fresh sign. Don't be afraid to move miles if you need to. NE slopes with water is what I'd be looking for right now.