Picking an OTC CO Unit

[ChrisS]

In 2015, I hunted a Wilderness in Wyoming. Horse ride 5 miles deep.
There was more guys there than the otc areas I hunt in Colorado

Everyone is going to 2 places.
1- wilderness
2- burn areas

Seems like a good post for reading between the lines.

 

[RedMule]

great write-up

 

[wannakillabigbull]

Does hunting the primitive/wilderness areas drastically cut down the hunting pressure?

Yes and no....Typically trail heads are packed because they are the easiest access points into the wilderness areas.

As an aside @DBuck, since you're coming from Arizona, it seems half of the state of Arizona circles the couple closest wilderness areas in the southwest corner of CO and head there. Very packed trail heads. I wouldn't bet on those particular wilderness areas having less hunting pressure. Plenty of other great places to hunt in that corner of the state that aren't wilderness. @cnelk's point last night holds true in those areas from my experience.

 

[chasewild]

As an aside @DBuck, since you're coming from Arizona, it seems half of the state of Arizona circles the couple closest wilderness areas in the southwest corner of CO and head there. Very packed trail heads. I wouldn't bet on those particular wilderness areas having less hunting pressure. Plenty of other great places to hunt in that corner of the state that aren't wilderness. @cnelk's point last night holds true in those areas from my experience.

^^ This. Hunted across the state and moved to SW in 2017. The "7" units down here are insanely pressured compared to units I've hunted in MT, WY, and CO.

 

[CREillY]

Thanks for sharing all this information!

 

[DBuck]

As an aside @DBuck, since you're coming from Arizona, it seems half of the state of Arizona circles the couple closest wilderness areas in the southwest corner of CO and head there. Very packed trail heads. I wouldn't bet on those particular wilderness areas having less hunting pressure. Plenty of other great places to hunt in that corner of the state that aren't wilderness. @cnelk's point last night holds true in those areas from my experience.

Heard the southern part has good hunting with decent quality of bulls...hard to beat Arizona’s quality imo. Other reason for looking more into wilderness and primitive areas are due to private. Heard there’s a lot of private in that portion of the state. Or all the state for that matter. Would like to get up to 71 and 73 to poke around

 

[chasewild]

Heard the southern part has good hunting with decent quality of bulls...hard to beat Arizona’s quality imo.

I wish CPW data agreed with this.

 

[DBuck]

I wish CPW data agreed with this.

No bueno?

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Thanks for taking the time to write that up.

 

[chasewild]

No bueno?

https://durangoherald.com/articles/250613

https://durangoherald.com/articles/269771-tough-winter-increases-chance-of-elk-calf-dieoff

The first article was controversial. Not because of the position that elk are on the decline, but because hunters are not the only cause. Todays article basically says what we already know -- big snow year won't help calf recruitment.

 

[trophyhill]

Love the closest to home analogy. That's why I picked the OTC unit I've hunted the most. 2 years ago I was working on the Western Slope and had a choice to make. 7 hours to my favorite OTC unit, or an hour and a half from the RV park I was staying in.

There was no need to scout my fav OTC unit, so instead scouted a nearby OTC unit. Though I didn't see any elk those few times scouting, I saw enough sign and saw what I wanted to see geographically and what I want to see in a good elk unit.

An hour and a half vs 7 hours. I opted to hunt what is now my equally fav OTC unit. If I don't draw my home state, I have a tough decision to make. I will be paying attention to weather patterns more than likely to decide as I believe both units received record snow this year. There were major fires last summer in one unit(s) accompanied by severe drought, so had I not drawn my home state, I would have hunted the other unit. Although drought stricken, there weren't any major fires burning. Great thread!

 

[DBuck]

https://durangoherald.com/articles/250613

https://durangoherald.com/articles/269771-tough-winter-increases-chance-of-elk-calf-dieoff

The first article was controversial. Not because of the position that elk are on the decline, but because hunters are not the only cause. Todays article basically says what we already know -- big snow year won't help calf recruitment.

https://durangoherald.com/articles/250613

https://durangoherald.com/articles/269771-tough-winter-increases-chance-of-elk-calf-dieoff

The first article was controversial. Not because of the position that elk are on the decline, but because hunters are not the only cause. Todays article basically says what we already know -- big snow year won't help calf recruitment.

Some good reads. Could start a thread on this alone. Here in Az, myself as well as many others in my home town have seen a crazy hike up in the amount t of tags given out and feel that our quality of bulls and our quality of hunting has gone down hill drastically. Makes you wonder where Az game and fish’s priorities are, the animals or the revenue brought in by the sales of tags and licenses

 

[Rich M]

From what I've seen, most states can't support the game and fish department on license fees alone. Could be just that folks are allowing opportunity to more people as opposed to managing for trophies.

 

[bmf0713]

This will be my first year elk hunting. I started researching a couple month ago. I went to toprut and found OTC units with 50% or more public land and 20% success rate. Then I narrowed it down to units that where in wilderness areas. I’m from Iowa and I wanted to experience an elk hunt in the mountains. Didn’t matter where 15 hour drive or 18 hour drive isn’t much different. Then narrowed it down a little bit more to population of hunter’s under 750. Looked at access points, I wanted the options to road hunt and the options to hunt 10 miles from a road (not sure how the altitude will affect me). Then I looked at mountain peaks and landmarks to pick the prettiest unit outta my top 5. At least if I’m not killing elk I get a kick ass fall camping trip in the mountains. Like I said before this is my first elk hunt I have never been in the mountains other than driving through Colorado once and I’ve never seen an elk other than tv or the zoo. Haha. Hope I picked the right area if not I think I got a few year left in me going out west.

 

[Rich M]

This will be my first year elk hunting. I started researching a couple month ago. I went to toprut and found OTC units with 50% or more public land and 20% success rate. Then I narrowed it down to units that where in wilderness areas. I’m from Iowa and I wanted to experience an elk hunt in the mountains. Didn’t matter where 15 hour drive or 18 hour drive isn’t much different. Then narrowed it down a little bit more to population of hunter’s under 750. Looked at access points, I wanted the options to road hunt and the options to hunt 10 miles from a road (not sure how the altitude will affect me). Then I looked at mountain peaks and landmarks to pick the prettiest unit outta my top 5. At least if I’m not killing elk I get a kick ass fall camping trip in the mountains. Like I said before this is my first elk hunt I have never been in the mountains other than driving through Colorado once and I’ve never seen an elk other than tv or the zoo. Haha. Hope I picked the right area if not I think I got a few year left in me going out west.

Awesome! That's the best description anyone has given yet. I think you'll have a great time - hope you get a big one.

 

[Fatcamp]

Accounts created, points bought, maps studied. If all goes well we should be able to hunt CO 1st rifle 2020.

SD deer and antelope again this year. Not like that is a bad thing.

 

[sndmn11]

Then I narrowed it down to units that where in wilderness areas. I’m from Iowa and I wanted to experience an elk hunt in the mountains. Didn’t matter where 15 hour drive or 18 hour drive isn’t much different. Then narrowed it down a little bit more to population of hunter’s under 750. Looked at access points, I wanted the options to road hunt and the options to hunt 10 miles from a road (not sure how the altitude will affect me).

How does one road hunt a wilderness area?

 

[Rich M]

How does one road hunt a wilderness area?

Pretty sure he means truck hunt - camp near truck/road/trailhead.

 

[bmf0713]

How does one road hunt a wilderness area?

The OTC units I narrowed it down to we’re not 100% wilderness. There was blm and other public lands along with wilderness.

 

[nursul]

On Rokslide there are a ton of posts asking which OTC CO unit to go to. Being successful in an OTC CO unit takes hard work. Blood, sweat, and tears are spent finding places in OTC units that hold elk consistently. Nobody in their right mind will tell you what OTC unit number they hunt via the internet, if they are consistently successful. So, how can a first time elk hunter pick an OTC unit to hunt? Below is the way I picked a unit for myself years ago while in college. This is the unit that worked for me. Everybody has different wants and needs. This unit worked for me.

What is important to you?

You have to ask yourself that question. There are many different places elk can be. Do you want to hunt sagebrush country or above treeline? What style of hunting do you like the best, spot and stalk, still hunting? Below is a list of variables that I looked for when I was picking a unit. I set them in order of my personal preference at the time. To me this question is what you have to answer before you pick any unit for any tag.

Important Variables to me
Elk population
Close to home
Bull to Cow Ratio
Success Rate

Other Variables to think about
Your Hunting Style
Terrain
Access
Hunting Pressure


There are other variables then the ones I listed, but these are the ones I can think of right now. The variables important to me might be self explanatory to some, but below are the reasons I picked those first and my thoughts about the other variables.

It’s

On Rokslide there are a ton of posts asking which OTC CO unit to go to. Being successful in an OTC CO unit takes hard work. Blood, sweat, and tears are spent finding places in OTC units that hold elk consistently. Nobody in their right mind will tell you what OTC unit number they hunt via the internet, if they are consistently successful. So, how can a first time elk hunter pick an OTC unit to hunt? Below is the way I picked a unit for myself years ago while in college. This is the unit that worked for me. Everybody has different wants and needs. This unit worked for me.

What is important to you?

You have to ask yourself that question. There are many different places elk can be. Do you want to hunt sagebrush country or above treeline? What style of hunting do you like the best, spot and stalk, still hunting? Below is a list of variables that I looked for when I was picking a unit. I set them in order of my personal preference at the time. To me this question is what you have to answer before you pick any unit for any tag.

Important Variables to me
Elk population
Close to home
Bull to Cow Ratio
Success Rate

Other Variables to think about
Your Hunting Style
Terrain
Access
Hunting Pressure


There are other variables then the ones I listed, but these are the ones I can think of right now. The variables important to me might be self explanatory to some, but below are the reasons I picked those first and my thoughts about the other variables.

Very nice write up, especially for those getting into the game. I’d like share some thoughts and offer a parrell experience with a differing set of outcomes. Let me start by saying your YOY results in the unit have been outstanding. I’ve hunted OTC as a non-resident (STL MO) for the last four years in CO unit 36/37 and I’m 0 for 4. Non-resident Elk hunting is challenging to say the least and candidly part of the draw for me (Archery DIY Solo backcountry just adds layers of complexity). I’ll say my approach has been focused more on the “other variables” then your “important variables”. Hence, the difference in our results. I’ve stayed in the same unit because of the positive encounters with wildlife, proximity to Denver and familiarity with unit/terrain. As you might say, I’m pot committed to harvesting an elk in this unit. That said, this year my circumstances have been altered by CPW. unit 36 is no longer OTC (MRS Eastmans BHJ). I’m trying to determine where to go and candidly some of your/our “ other variables” will remain a priority. That said, I am trying to focus more on your “important variables”, however this is tougher than it sounds. Data is everywhere, usually for sale, and trusting the information is tough. I offer this parrellel experience because, well I don’t know why I offer it. For the first three years I’d label each a success. Last year was the only one I felt like a failure. Despite the great encounters with a few big Mule deer and nice bull Moose, it’s just not enough. I want to fill the freezer and perhaps more focus on your “important priorities” is the recipe for the “success” I want now.