blake_mhoona
Lil-Rokslider
New guy here. I've been lurking for a month and decided it was time to join. Me and a buddy are planning on going to CO for our first elk hunt (BIL is former army and may tag along for the experience but not hunt). We've started making lists for gear, working out, reading everything we can get our hands on.
I've kind of taken the lead on the planning phases of this thing. I have spent hours on Colorado Fish and wildlife website pouring over the past 3 years of harvest stats, the hunting atlas, the draw odds, etc. if you need to know where anything is on that website I'll tell you! I've also ordered a few nat geo wilderness maps and poured over them as well.
I've narrowed it down to a couple different thoughts on units and would like your opinions. Not specific hunting areas just thoughts. We would be doing a spike camp anywhere from 5-8 miles back hopefully in the wilderness areas so as not to worry about ATVs.
751: I like the amount of wilderness this zone has in it and what appears to be straightforward access to the trailhead I like. I also like the lower hunter numbers compared to the other weminuche areas. I don't like the success ratio. Obviously this is other hunters and not us. OTC so more flexibility on which units to hunt
77: I like the OTC success ratio. Not necessarily thrilled on the number of hunters. And less wilderness area. OTC more flexible
78: I like the access (but can be a negative). Like the OTC success harvest stat. Little less wilderness area. OTC so more flexible.
54: like the fact that hunters are limited because of draw (non residents can draw with 0 pp). Don't necessarily like low harvest stats. Like the amount of wilderness area. Have to hunt this zone if drawn
55: like the fact that hunters are limited because of draw. Don't like the low harvest stats. Don't like the amount of wilderness area. Do like the size of this unit. Have to hunt this zone if drawn
551: love the harvest stats, love the draw. No wilderness area though. And size is ok. Have to hunt this zone if drawn
If you don't feel comfortable saying some of these things publically feel free to message. I AM NOT looking for specifics. I'm just stuck on making a decision and need more experienced people's opinions. I have places marked on my topo maps and google earth that look "elky" but first hand experience def more valuable. Everyone I've met from Arkansas that has gone has been to the san juans or rio grandes. Throwing the Gunnison area in is what has me questioning
I've kind of taken the lead on the planning phases of this thing. I have spent hours on Colorado Fish and wildlife website pouring over the past 3 years of harvest stats, the hunting atlas, the draw odds, etc. if you need to know where anything is on that website I'll tell you! I've also ordered a few nat geo wilderness maps and poured over them as well.
I've narrowed it down to a couple different thoughts on units and would like your opinions. Not specific hunting areas just thoughts. We would be doing a spike camp anywhere from 5-8 miles back hopefully in the wilderness areas so as not to worry about ATVs.
751: I like the amount of wilderness this zone has in it and what appears to be straightforward access to the trailhead I like. I also like the lower hunter numbers compared to the other weminuche areas. I don't like the success ratio. Obviously this is other hunters and not us. OTC so more flexibility on which units to hunt
77: I like the OTC success ratio. Not necessarily thrilled on the number of hunters. And less wilderness area. OTC more flexible
78: I like the access (but can be a negative). Like the OTC success harvest stat. Little less wilderness area. OTC so more flexible.
54: like the fact that hunters are limited because of draw (non residents can draw with 0 pp). Don't necessarily like low harvest stats. Like the amount of wilderness area. Have to hunt this zone if drawn
55: like the fact that hunters are limited because of draw. Don't like the low harvest stats. Don't like the amount of wilderness area. Do like the size of this unit. Have to hunt this zone if drawn
551: love the harvest stats, love the draw. No wilderness area though. And size is ok. Have to hunt this zone if drawn
If you don't feel comfortable saying some of these things publically feel free to message. I AM NOT looking for specifics. I'm just stuck on making a decision and need more experienced people's opinions. I have places marked on my topo maps and google earth that look "elky" but first hand experience def more valuable. Everyone I've met from Arkansas that has gone has been to the san juans or rio grandes. Throwing the Gunnison area in is what has me questioning