New Elk Hunter Advice GMU 6

[AM_Hunter]

First off I’d like to apologize because I know this topic has probably been posted a thousand times but...


I recently pulled a first rifle elk tag for zones 6,16,17,161, and 171. From what I've seen a lot of the land in this area is private land. This is my first time hunting elk and my first time to Colorado so I'm trying to get the best information/opportunities I can as for some personal reasons I may not be able to come back out there for a few years.
I’ve read through as many posts as I could find on here and figured it was time I posted myself. Like everyone else that posts I’m obviously not looking for people’s personal locations or honey-holes, just some advice. I’m going to be limited to public land as far as I know so I was wondering which GMU you think would give me the best chance at an Elk. GMU 16 and 161 seems to have the most national forest land and since I’m planning to backpack in for the week I figured they were the best option. However after looking at the harvest statistics for first rifle in 2018, considerably less elk were taken than in GMUs 17 and 6. The harvest statistic show that GMU 17 had the best results but the national forest land out there is smaller and roads get kind of deep there so im worried it’ll be more pressured with road hunters. And I don’t know if the elk taken in that GMU were mostly on pvt or if it’s public or BLM. Also is BLM a viable option in these GMUs? I am hoping to get the input of anyone that’s hunted these areas on all that stuff I just blurted out. I’ve seen people like @cnelk responding a lot on here and you all seem knowledgeable so any advice would be much appreciated.

I’m well aware of what I’m getting myself into with backpack hunting an elk, but to be honest I have no idea what I’m doing trying to find an elk. I’ve spent the last few years OTC hunting on public land in California and it’s been a nightmare. So any help will go a long way.

Thanks!

 

[Gerbdog]

Welcome to the forums AM, shooting the elk is the easy part, packing the elk out is the work, and finding the elk is the hard part. I havent personally hunted those units so i cant tell you specifically what they will be doing, but in first rifle its likely still going to be warm enough they will be up high and theres a good chance you can still call in an elk, or they will still be talkative and you can locate them with bugles. OTC hunting public land in CO can be a nightmare, as youve experienced in other states, but dont let that discourage you. You're just gonna have to either out work, out smart or out luck the other hunters in orange to make it happen (and the elk obviously), there are elk in CO, and i know it sucks to find them, but they're there. If i were you i'd read these forums religiously and google search as much as you can about elk behaviors in the the late rut / just after rut phase and then if you can at all make it happen i'd get out here for a scouting trip with that knowledge of what elk behavior *should* be and look for signs that elk are in the area during that phase of their breeding cycle. Walk until you find an area with the sign your looking for, dont find elk in the summer and expect them to be their in the fall. Another good bit of advice is call the wildlife officer in that area and call a biologist for that area. Both have always been helpful to me, they know the animals better than most and theyre more than happy to help people find them (in my experience). Asking the right questions helps a ton, so gain some knowledge on the finding elk issue, have some spots in mind, and THEN give them a call, if you have an idea of the lay of the land, mountain names, passes, etc. they are better able get you into elk and they'll probably just be happy you did a bit of homework. I wouldnt mind the statistics too much on the units, you only get to kill 1 elk, its finding that 1 elk thats the hard part.

 

[cnelk]

@AM_Hunter

I’ve hunted elk in every unit in North Park. They all have decent elk opportunities and each one is peculiar in their own way.

If you haven’t been in the area before, be prepared for TONS of beetle kill blowdown timber.

Every year is worse and worse and that changes the elk patterns.

1st Rifle isn’t a bad time to hunt NP. The elk are still pretty much scattered but it won’t take long and the shooting starts and they will be making their way to the Duck Farm (Arapahoe Natl Wildlife Refuge)

The BLM land is pretty low and the elk usually winter in those lands.

If you can find some NF access in the 9k - 10k elevation would be a good place to start.

Other than that, it’s a popular place for otc elk hunting and be prepared for company.

 

[AM_Hunter]

Welcome to the forums AM, shooting the elk is the easy part, packing the elk out is the work, and finding the elk is the hard part. I havent personally hunted those units so i cant tell you specifically what they will be doing, but in first rifle its likely still going to be warm enough they will be up high and theres a good chance you can still call in an elk, or they will still be talkative and you can locate them with bugles. OTC hunting public land in CO can be a nightmare, as youve experienced in other states, but dont let that discourage you. You're just gonna have to either out work, out smart or out luck the other hunters in orange to make it happen (and the elk obviously), there are elk in CO, and i know it sucks to find them, but they're there. If i were you i'd read these forums religiously and google search as much as you can about elk behaviors in the the late rut / just after rut phase and then if you can at all make it happen i'd get out here for a scouting trip with that knowledge of what elk behavior *should* be and look for signs that elk are in the area during that phase of their breeding cycle. Walk until you find an area with the sign your looking for, dont find elk in the summer and expect them to be their in the fall. Another good bit of advice is call the wildlife officer in that area and call a biologist for that area. Both have always been helpful to me, they know the animals better than most and theyre more than happy to help people find them (in my experience). Asking the right questions helps a ton, so gain some knowledge on the finding elk issue, have some spots in mind, and THEN give them a call, if you have an idea of the lay of the land, mountain names, passes, etc. they are better able get you into elk and they'll probably just be happy you did a bit of homework. I wouldnt mind the statistics too much on the units, you only get to kill 1 elk, its finding that 1 elk thats the hard part.

Lots of great info, thanks! I’ve been checking trailheads and mountains in the units for the last couple hours so I’ll take that info any try and reach out to some of the biologists and see what they can tell me. I hadn’t even thought about contacting them but that’s a great idea. Appreciate it!

 

[AM_Hunter]

@AM_Hunter

I’ve hunted elk in every unit in North Park. They all have decent elk opportunities and each one is peculiar in their own way.

If you haven’t been in the area before, be prepared for TONS of beetle kill blowdown timber.

Every year is worse and worse and that changes the elk patterns.

1st Rifle isn’t a bad time to hunt NP. The elk are still pretty much scattered but it won’t take long and the shooting starts and they will be making their way to the Duck Farm (Arapahoe Natl Wildlife Refuge)

The BLM land is pretty low and the elk usually winter in those lands.

If you can find some NF access in the 9k - 10k elevation would be a good place to start.

Other than that, it’s a popular place for otc elk hunting and be prepared for company.

Thanks CN! I’ve been seeing a lot of people talking about beetlekill, I need to look further into what that means and how it’ll affect the elk. Most of the areas I’ve been looking at range from 8.5-11k so I’m glad I’m on the right track. First rifle is limited draw so while I am expecting to run into plenty of hunters, I’m hoping that it is not an absurd amount and that with the limited number of hunters there will be less shots ringing out and therefor little less pressure on the elk. I think the tag quote is like 785 hunters for all those zones. And the 2018 stats showed around 100-225 hunters hunter each zone. Oh well we’ll see, every year is different. I’m gonna spend some more time researching what elk in thag area eat and how to identify it along with whatever other signs of elk I should look for. Any idea about bears in that area? I heard there were a decent number so I’m considering buying a tag in case I don’t see elk but come across a bear. Gotta double check the seasons to make sure I can tho. Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[cnelk]

This pic was taken just north in Wyoming but it’s the same way in Colorado

 

[Gerbdog]

Thanks CN! I’ve been seeing a lot of people talking about beetlekill, I need to look further into what that means and how it’ll affect the elk. Most of the areas I’ve been looking at range from 8.5-11k so I’m glad I’m on the right track. First rifle is limited draw so while I am expecting to run into plenty of hunters, I’m hoping that it is not an absurd amount and that with the limited number of hunters there will be less shots ringing out and therefor little less pressure on the elk. I think the tag quote is like 785 hunters for all those zones. And the 2018 stats showed around 100-225 hunters hunter each zone. Oh well we’ll see, every year is different. I’m gonna spend some more time researching what elk in thag area eat and how to identify it along with whatever other signs of elk I should look for. Any idea about bears in that area? I heard there were a decent number so I’m considering buying a tag in case I don’t see elk but come across a bear. Gotta double check the seasons to make sure I can tho. Thanks a lot for the help!

Bring a bear tag, no better bear repellent on earth

 

[Titan_Bow]

I’ve hunted 16/161 the last handful of years during archery. I’ve shot 2 cows and a bull out of there. The hunting pressure in the wilderness has skyrocketed the last few years. I came out of the woods on the following Monday the archery opener last year and stopped counting at 30 trucks at the trailhead. There was probably 10 or 15 when I headed in might before opening day. There are good elk opportunities in these units but they do get hammered. You got to get creative with where you find elk. 2 of the 3 elk I’ve shot in there were on opening day and they were bailing out of the country because of hunters coming into the basin with the wind. My advice would be to base out of your truck and hunt different spots until you find the elk. Backpacking into a spot you’ve never been to and don’t know if there’s elk there, usually ends in a really scenic nature walk and camping trip


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[AM_Hunter]

I’ve hunted 16/161 the last handful of years during archery. I’ve shot 2 cows and a bull out of there. The hunting pressure in the wilderness has skyrocketed the last few years. I came out of the woods on the following Monday the archery opener last year and stopped counting at 30 trucks at the trailhead. There was probably 10 or 15 when I headed in might before opening day. There are good elk opportunities in these units but they do get hammered. You got to get creative with where you find elk. 2 of the 3 elk I’ve shot in there were on opening day and they were bailing out of the country because of hunters coming into the basin with the wind. My advice would be to base out of your truck and hunt different spots until you find the elk. Backpacking into a spot you’ve never been to and don’t know if there’s elk there, usually ends in a really scenic nature walk and camping trip


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That’s very true. Although I’m hoping since it was a limited draw there will be less people than what you’re explaining, maybe I’ll spend the first few days backpacked in and if it’s really that dead I’ll head out and reposition. I’ll be well into the mountains by opening morning though so we will see. Hunting on OTC tags in California on public land I’m all to familiar with seeing a hunter every 100 yards lol. The only times I’ve run into game is when I got creative and picked spots no one thinks of checking or people aren’t willing to go. If the worst thing that happens on this trip is a scenic backpacking trip and a lot of walking I’ll gladly take it . A successful hunt would be a major bonus though. Thanks for the info!

 

[Gerbdog]

That’s very true. Although I’m hoping since it was a limited draw there will be less people than what you’re explaining, maybe I’ll spend the first few days backpacked in and if it’s really that dead I’ll head out and reposition. I’ll be well into the mountains by opening morning though so we will see. Hunting on OTC tags in California on public land I’m all to familiar with seeing a hunter every 100 yards lol. The only times I’ve run into game is when I got creative and picked spots no one thinks of checking or people aren’t willing to go. If the worst thing that happens on this trip is a scenic backpacking trip and a lot of walking I’ll gladly take it . A successful hunt would be a major bonus though. Thanks for the info!

Same concept here in CO OTC units, go to the places that are over looked or no one else wants to go

 

[AM_Hunter]

This pic was taken just north in Wyoming but it’s the same way in Colorado





View attachment 297871

Damn. Ive been seeing a lot of this on Google maps in the areas. From what I read elk avoid these areas during the day right? Thanks for the photo.

 

[Overdrive]

I'm a believer in glassing and glassing some more until I find where the animals are, time is valuable and I don't want to waste it hiking through the woods not knowing if the Elk are there. I glass timber and small open ridges in the evening and this sets me up for a good morning hunt.
I don't like to tie myself down to one camp site I may find the Elk 40-50 miles or more away from where I planned to camp/hunt and that's a long drive to hit it in the morning if Elk are spotted the evening before, keep you camp in your vehicle and be as mobile as you can.
Plenty of area to hunt in the North Park units, there's a lot of beetle kill which makes it easier to glass through now but not so easy to hike and pack out. But I have watched elk work through the deadfall like it's nothing to them. Hope for some early snow fall definitely helps with locating elk from a distance.

 

[AM_Hunter]

I'm a believer in glassing and glassing some more until I find where the animals are, time is valuable and I don't want to waste it hiking through the woods not knowing if the Elk are there. I glass timber and small open ridges in the evening and this sets me up for a good morning hunt.
I don't like to tie myself down to one camp site I may find the Elk 40-50 miles or more away from where I planned to camp/hunt and that's a long drive to hit it in the morning if Elk are spotted the evening before, keep you camp in your vehicle and be as mobile as you can.
Plenty of area to hunt in the North Park units, there's a lot of beetle kill which makes it easier to glass through now but not so easy to hike and pack out. But I have watched elk work through the deadfall like it's nothing to them. Hope for some early snow fall definitely helps with locating elk from a distance.

Good stuff. From what I’m gathering keep it mobile. If I don’t see signs or hear any bugles don’t waste my time, try to relocate. From what I’m seeing it looks like I’m going to be starting in the 10-11k range. If I don’t see anything after a few days I’m going to drop in elevation to the 9-10k range and see if anything changes. Thanks for the info!

 

[Jaquomo]

Having hunted and guided for elk in North Park since the early '70s, I would STRONGLY advise against simply backpacking into someplace blind, unless someone else has tipped you to a basin where there are elk. First rifle is only five days. Elk are often in big herds by then, and many have fled to private land from archery pressure. It can be feast or famine, usually the latter in those units. Be mobile, hit different spots from your truck camp where others are overlooking. If you find elk too far in to day hunt, then consider backpacking in. But remember, you have to pack it out. Good luck!

 

[elkyinco]

Good stuff. From what I’m gathering keep it mobile. If I don’t see signs or hear any bugles don’t waste my time, try to relocate. From what I’m seeing it looks like I’m going to be starting in the 10-11k range. If I don’t see anything after a few days I’m going to drop in elevation to the 9-10k range and see if anything changes. Thanks for the info!

You are correct to a point with "keep it mobile" but more importantly you have to think like an elk. In any scenario elk think about 3 basic things.
1) Safety
2) water. They have to water everyday and will.
3) Food, but they don't need to feed to max capacity everyday.
Safety from humans is a given at night and at that time they will travel what you may consider long distances through rough terrain (1 + miles) to you, but a short, easy travel time to an elk to get food and, or water and be gone before daylight.
Elk like heavy, steep, but not always, timber to bed in with benches that are relatively flat, but can be very small in size, just big enough for their body or just big enough for the herd. Ideal is a water source very close by, but when pressured they will for go the water source for SAFETY !
I have found the best ridges to hunt are ones with very steep terrain on one side and mild terrain with bedding options on the other. If you look at your topo maps you will find many of these scenarios in the area you will be hunting. How do I know ? I just got a leftover "B" tag for the units you will be hunting for the same dates. I already filled my Archery "A" tag with the bull pictured on September 24th in an unit that was supposedly a "over run with hunters and all the elk are on private". I scouted the area on my OnX using exactly what I described and could have killed an elk everyday be it a cow or bull. I passed on 2 small bulls before killing this one on day 4. I knew where he was bedded as I put him to bed in the morning and set up for him at the closest water source in a remote meadow and at 6:25 PM I put the arrow in him. He went 70 yards and dropped "dead as a door nail". This is not just a one time thing as I have killed many elk using the same concept.
Elk almost always travel ridges when moving point to point and 1 of there downfalls is they like to travel through saddles between ridges and is an awesome place to sit and wait at first and last light, especially if the saddle is between bedding and a water source. Once an elk gets out of his bed to start it's daily routine the first thing they think of is water (Rule #2 above). Water is usually the last thing they do before bedding for the day, also. Get yourself between bedding and a water source, in an area that is showing sign, and you will be golden.
And ALWAYS, ALWAYS keep the wind in your favor. I swear they have the ability to smell a scent down wind, somehow, and for sure will pick you off hundreds of yards away if your scent is blowing at them. No amount of scent lock, wind jammer or any other cover up will fool an elk's nose.
PM me if you would like and we can talk more.

 

[AM_Hunter]

@elkyinco
First of all congrats on the bill that’s epic. Second of all thank you for that info I’ll be sure to utilize it out there in the next coming weeks. I’ll go ahead and PM you if I can so we can talk about a few specific questions. Thanks!

 

[elkyinco]

Sounds good, I'm pouring over OnX as I write this. I have some good starting points and will narrow those down as I look at each unit and based off of the criteria I wrote about.
My hunt should be pretty easy as I have only a "B" tag, but I will hunt the cows the same way I hunt the bulls.
Cows are very receptive to cow calling, especially when using a Hoochie momma calf call in conjunction with a soft diaphragm cow call and often over lapping the 2. The key is to be patient, move very slowly and ALWAYS keep the wind in your face., even if this means circling a mile or more to hunt an area you think holds elk. If they get the slightest whiff of you they will be gone long before you even have a chance of spotting them.
In the timber it is rare to see an elk outside of 30 yards unless you catch a glimpse of movement, or they move through a small opening. You may think they are big, and they are, but they are VERY well hidden even in light timber.
One thing they are not very good at is being 100% silent. This may just be a twig snapping and very slight, but often they snap larger sticks when coming in, or you can hear their heavy hooves hitting rock, or larger downed trees, even when creeping in, and then sometimes they just appear without a sound. This is when your heart goes from a modest 80 BPM to 140 in a split second.

 

[AM_Hunter]

I PM’d you, I think? Lol still learning this forum. I’ve spent countless hours on OnX and Google maps as that’s all the “scouting” I can do this year aside from packing in a day early and scouting my surrounding area. Weather says it may lightly snow the first few days for the area I plan to be so that’ll be interesting. I picked up a couple diaphragm cow calls and have been trying to learn on them in the mean time as well. Let me know if you see my PM.

 

[Ewest15]

Hey, wondering how your hunt went. I found this topic very helpful and informative. First time I went elk hunting with an otc tag and it was a total bust. Mostly because I was such a newbie and didn't understand how different it would be from hunting whitetail. Now I'm just trying to learn as much as possible.

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

Lot of good info here. I am also curious about your hunt. I had in-laws hunting 6/161 that didn’t see a critter but still had some fun.

I wasn’t hunting but sure saw a lot of bulls riding in truck beds throughout the greater NP area.

Did you enjoy yourself?


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