Planning my first elk hunt (Colorado)

[DWinVA]

We will be doing a guided pack in high Mtn hunt around Grand Junction, CO.

God Bless.

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

Is that tinker cliffs in your photos?

 

[Finch]

Is that tinker cliffs in your photos?

No, that is McAfee's Knob up Rt. 311 near Catawba. I would like to go up to Tinker Cliffs though.

 

[Finch]

For my 2015 hunt... Should I plan on purchasing an OTC tag or try to draw a tag? Should OTC be my last resort? Is it to late to purchase a preference point to possibly help me out for next year?

 

[nirvanafan]

Check the CO Parks and Wildlife website for information. They have statistics on how many elk were harvested, how many points it took to draw a tag, etc.

I decided on a GMU by examining past success % and referencing how many points it took to draw a certain tag. The Parks and Wildlife website has all this info on it. My plan is to put in for the draw. I picked an area that has had a 100% draw rate for the past 5 years, but still has a good success rate. If for some reason a million people put in for this unit next year and I don't draw a tag, I'll hunt OTC somewhere.

http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Statistics.aspx

 

[Bar]

What's even more important than how many elk were killed is how many hunters the unit had, and what was the success percentage. This is very hard to figure out in an OTC unit, because the DOW has no clue how many hunters were there. It's usually way more than you can imagine.

 

[DWinVA]

PM sent.

 

[Bonedalien]

for what its worth finch,i have always hunted OTC.i hunt in two GMU every year,sometimes three.

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

It's to late to get a point, you have to do it through the application process.

 

[Finch]

Thanks guys, I answered my own question after reading through the elk university a bit. I'm sure OTC will suit me just fine.

 

[Bar]

Enjoy the company you'll have.

 

[Finch]

Well, I just ran a couple miles at the local school track. It sure was nice to run on flat ground than in my hilly neighborhood. Actually, I believe this is the first time I've ran two consecutive miles in my life. I really don't like running but I'm trying to. All I can think about is elk and I have a friggin' year to go. I really hope I can stick with the exercising. Probably won't be running during deer season since I usually spend a lot of time in the woods. We'll see though.
Oh, I'm trying to eat better too although I'm not going to be a hard core dieter. Just trying to make healthier choices. The pizza I had tonight was not one of them though. Bacon, eggs, and cinnamon rolls wasn't the healthiest breakfast either. I've always eaten what I've wanted but never had workout routine. I'll graduate to lifting some weights here soon. Have all of that in a spare bedroom that just collects dust at the moment.

I'm currently 186 lbs at 6'0. I think 170 is a realistic goal. Wish me luck.

 

[kad11]

Hey Finch,

I was reading through this and recognized McAfee's Knob on page 4! I grew up in Lynchburg and went to school in Lexington. Best of luck with your preparation.

 

[DWinVA]

Keep at man. I was never a runner, actually hated it through school as part of conditioning for sports. Then 3-4 years ago I figured out it was going to be my best avenue to keep weight off and I've been a runner ever since.

God Bless.

 

[rodney482]

If there are bleachers around that track.. Take advantage of them!
you will know your getging in shape when you can run that 2 miles and only
breath in through your nose!

good luck

Well, I just ran a couple miles at the local school track. It sure was nice to run on flat ground than in my hilly neighborhood. Actually, I believe this is the first time I've ran two consecutive miles in my life. I really don't like running but I'm trying to. All I can think about is elk and I have a friggin' year to go. I really hope I can stick with the exercising. Probably won't be running during deer season since I usually spend a lot of time in the woods. We'll see though.
Oh, I'm trying to eat better too although I'm not going to be a hard core dieter. Just trying to make healthier choices. The pizza I had tonight was not one of them though. Bacon, eggs, and cinnamon rolls wasn't the healthiest breakfast either. I've always eaten what I've wanted but never had workout routine. I'll graduate to lifting some weights here soon. Have all of that in a spare bedroom that just collects dust at the moment.

I'm currently 186 lbs at 6'0. I think 170 is a realistic goal. Wish me luck.

View attachment 17800

 

[Finch]

Hey Finch,

I was reading through this and recognized McAfee's Knob on page 4! I grew up in Lynchburg and went to school in Lexington. Best of luck with your preparation.

I went to high school in Lexington. I grew up in Natural Bridge Station. Did you go to VMI or W&L? I'm assuming you meant college?

 

[Finch]

DWinVA - I'm still sticking with it. Running one mile in my neighborhood definitely wears me out more than the two miles at the track did. Neighborhood has some hills.

Rodney- no bleachers but I wish there were. I'll be hitting the mountains and carrying some weight on my back. I also plan to hunt a lot deeper than I normally do. Hoping to practice the gutless method on some deer and pack them out this season.

 

[hflier]

Your not crazy. I started backpack hunting 2 years ago (now my 3rd season coming up) at the age of 50! I go solo because it is hard to find anyone to go with me. I have gone in AZ and CO. Go, you learn a lot. Last year I didn't connect in AZ, but I was into Elk daily and had some great encounters. I ran into several groups of road hunters that were bitching there were no elk. News to me I was seeing them everywhere. Get back there makes all the difference. I wish I would have started this decades ago. The biggest issue you have to learn to deal with is being alone in remote areas - plays a little on the mind at first. You are also a flatlander like me and need to understand the altitude factor and how to manage that at first. Be in shape. If I could quantify that for you, I would say walk up a steep 500 foot climb in your area at a brisk pace and see how winded you are with your pack- now that same climb at altitude will make you 2x as winded.

 

[hflier]

Also if your state allows it, do the gutless method on any deer you kill this year to prepare you for doing it out west. I did this last year in Oklahoma and I will never drag another deer out of the woods again!

 

[kad11]

I went to high school in Lexington. I grew up in Natural Bridge Station. Did you go to VMI or W&L? I'm assuming you meant college?

Yea, I went to VMI. Got over to Panther Falls as much as possible too...that was always a fun place. I really liked Lexington when I was there.