Planning my first elk hunt (Colorado)

[COLOelkman]

A lot of guys (myself included) like to have a hard copy map, as well as a gps or phone with a topo app, as it's sometimes easier to see a bigger picture of things rather than just on a gps. USGS topo maps show the best topo/terrain details. Another option is something like you find at diyhuntingmaps.com as I just bought one for a WY hunt I'm doing hopefully this year. They are typically hunting unit specific (or sometimes more than one unit) and they are waterproof and also show more things like campgrounds, lodging, more trail info and road details, etc. Anyway, I saw one last year and thought they looked nice so I ordered one and got it in a couple days. If you're set on a specific spot, then maybe the USGS maps are the way to go if you don't think you'll be relocating. I think once you pick an area, you can probably get more input from others that may have hunted it, then figure out what to get for maps if you want to also have a hard copy.

 

[Finch]

Elkman - yes, I do plan on having hard copies and a compass as well. I've been practicing navigating the national forest nearby. I found myself checking myself sometimes with my phone to make sure I was where I thought I was on the paper map. I thought I could do the same in Colorado. Honestly, maybe depend more on the GPS for finding our way back to camp but I have every intention of using the paper copy more for the "big picture".

I think I printed off a topo from the the USGS site, whichever one was free (although I seem to remember having the option to buy as well???). I'll check out the other link too. Liking the idea of it being waterproof and more detailed. Thanks for the help!

 

[COLOelkman]

As a comparison, my DIY map is 1"=1 mile whereas a USGS quad is more like 1" = .4 miles. The only problem I've had with the USGS maps is that is seems like I'm hunting right where 4 maps come together so I've often had to buy 4 maps. So the smaller scale DIY map helps in that regard!

 

[bz_711]

Gear update:
I picked up a Garmin Etrex 20 today for $50 from craigslist. It's essentially brand new. I guess I need to buy the hunt maps chip now. Anyone have any advice on the Etrex 20? Anywhere to get free topos so I can play around with it?

Yes - I've had the Garmin Extrex 20 the last 3 seasons. Great all around budget GPS that does all I need. Although I'll say each of last two years I've used my phone more and more...with last season being almost exclusively phone, not only because I love the phone's aerial/satellite views, but turns on/off much faster for quick reference...and I also use a free Altimeter app that gives me my altitude which is what I used my GPS for more than anything...but the Extrex 20 is still always in my pack "just in case."

But - with you backpacking, I strongly recommend a reliable GPS (like the Extrex 20), even if you have backup power for smartphone.
I also used the gpsfiledepot.com site for free topo and works great on my Extrex. Has all roads and water marked, and of course the topo helps when making decisions to go "up and over" or "around".
Here is old link I used for free CO map: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/197/
The "how to" tutorial toward bottom of page stepped me easily thru adding it to my GPS. Also downloaded free copy of BaseCamp on pc for easier viewing/planning routes, then can upload to your GPS. I was very impressed with all of this being a free download.

 

[Finch]

Glad you replied, Matt. I saw an old post of yours saying you had the Etrex20. So do have the Hunt Maps chips that everyone raves about or do the gpsfiledepot maps suffice? Any other features of the E-20 that you use a lot?

 

[Karlkortemeier]

I use mytopo.com for hard copies of maps. You can get them in lots of sizes and on waterproof paper. You can set the designation when you print your maps to lat/long or utm grid. UTM's are much easier to use. Its based on meters, and the squares are all the same size. Lat/long changes sizes from side to side and from top to bottom. You also have to set the type of info the topo uses. I use nad27. I also use a gps. I use it mainly to confirm my location on the map. If you do use a gps in conjunction with your map, you will need to set your gps to utm and nad27. This may be more info than you need, but the more I learned about maps and how they work, the better and more confident I became going off trail.

I'm following along on this thread. I'm planning my first elk hunt for 2016. Great thread.

 

[zman]

I've literally been researching gear since I started this thread and still haven't decided on anything. Got a ton of bookmarks saved though.

Kinda rethinking our plan. Instead of sleeping where we find ourselves each night (bivy), I've been leaning more towards the basecamp idea. When I say basecamp though, I'm not meaning where the truck is parked but maybe a mile or so in the woods. It seems like it would put us closer to elk and cut down on our hike in/out times each day. If we do have a basecamp a couple miles in, doesn't that mean we need more tents? Would we set up a base camp tent but also have a tent or two for if we get on elk and decide to spend the night away from base?

For this hunting style, what types of tents or sleeping recommendations would you recommend? I'm really trying to get this figured out so I can start buying this stuff to test it out.

You don't necessarily need a whole new slew of gear for basecamp. Basecamp can be as cush or as Spartan as you like. Some guys pack in nice bottles of scotch. Other guys just have a nice tent and extra food at camp. All works... just do what will be fun. My basecamp is just a tent, stove, extra food about 4 miles in. Then I can bivy from there.

 

[bz_711]

Glad you replied, Matt. I saw an old post of yours saying you had the Etrex20. So do have the Hunt Maps chips that everyone raves about or do the gpsfiledepot maps suffice? Any other features of the E-20 that you use a lot?

Donny,
I do not have the Hunt Maps...and the free gpsfiledepot maps have given me everything I needed. I hardly use the other features...primarly just to mark truck/camp, and key finds such as elk encounters & active wallows...and as mentioned I find myself checking my elevation a lot during day as I usually know where I want to be in an area based on elevation (and you don't want to lose elevation all day only to have an uphill to get back to camp/truck). My #1 use for GPS is just finding my way out at end of each day. Coupled with smartphone, the Etrex with free maps would be all I ever see myself needing in the lower 48.

 

[Finch]

Thanks for the map tips fellas! I need to go ahead and download the gpsfiledepot maps and check them out. Nice to know I don't "need" the hunt maps. That'll save some cash.

Karl, good luck with planning your 2016 hunt. Never to early to start!

Silly question but I gotta ask. I'm 6'0 tall and approx 185 lbs. I'm looking at sleeping pads and I'm wondering if I need a long pad. Seems like a 72" pad should suffice but I swore I've read where some guys my height opt for the longer pad at 78". Any insight?

 

[JFKinYK]

I'm 6foot 1 inch and never used a long pad. 72 in should suit you fine, especially if you are a side sleeper and bend your knees at all. Longer pads are heavier!

Some guys use short pads or women's pads and then put their pack or extra clothes under their lower legs for sleeping. Your core is the important part to have insulated from the ground and you'll have extra stuff to shove under you if needed.

 

[Bar]

Pine boughs make a nice bed.

 

[bz_711]

I'm 6foot 1 inch and never used a long pad. 72 in should suit you fine, especially if you are a side sleeper and bend your knees at all. Longer pads are heavier!

Some guys use short pads or women's pads and then put their pack or extra clothes under their lower legs for sleeping. Your core is the important part to have insulated from the ground and you'll have extra stuff to shove under you if needed.

Agree - would not see the need for long sleeping pad unless someone well over 6' or they sleep with legs/body fully extended.
The few times I've used my sleeping pad on ground...my issue is figuring out the proper pillow. Inflatable has not worked that great the couple times I tried, also have a small backpack pillow that worked much better the one time I used but it is very small...I'm thinking extra clothes/jackets might be best of all...

 

[Finch]

Well, I bought an exped synmat ul 7 lw yesterday from the classifieds. I know I know...I probably don't need the longer pad but I didn't have to pay full price. It's 5 ozs heavier than the regular size. At least after a hard day of hunting, I can get all "sprawled" out and hopefully get a good night's rest.

 

[xziang]

Congrats on taking the plunge and heading out west. One thing I have is a separate bigger tent for car camping. (cheaper one) I see that you are going with a partner this year which is good. Two people can motivate one another. I went solo last year and believe I’ll probably go again this year but I kept close to establish hiking trails for the safety aspect. This year I’m going to try a different area which has a distinct mountain range to keep me in check of where to go/not go.

Last year I car camped for I wanted to have a light pack for scouting before I hauled all my gear into a ‘new’ area. I didn’t find any good sign so I ended up moving to another area with no luck. I’ve only been out west 3 years to hunt so still a rooky at it.

BTW google is your friend for scouting from afar! Also if you have an idea of where you want to go, cut and paste screen shots from google earth into ‘paint’ and print them out in hard copy form!  Hard copy satellite images are great for establishing a plan of attack and what drainages to check. Also put key ‘way’ points into your GPS NOW as to where trails are and watering holes etc. also ‘mark’ these way points on the hardcopy maps too.

Good luck and post up come October with how you did.

 

[NorthEast]

You don't necessarily need a whole new slew of gear for basecamp. Basecamp can be as cush or as Spartan as you like. Some guys pack in nice bottles of scotch. Other guys just have a nice tent and extra food at camp. All works... just do what will be fun. My basecamp is just a tent, stove, extra food about 4 miles in. Then I can bivy from there.

What stove and tent combo are you using to pack in 4 miles?

 

[Finch]

Congrats on taking the plunge and heading out west. One thing I have is a separate bigger tent for car camping. (cheaper one) I see that you are going with a partner this year which is good. Two people can motivate one another. I went solo last year and believe I’ll probably go again this year but I kept close to establish hiking trails for the safety aspect. This year I’m going to try a different area which has a distinct mountain range to keep me in check of where to go/not go.

Last year I car camped for I wanted to have a light pack for scouting before I hauled all my gear into a ‘new’ area. I didn’t find any good sign so I ended up moving to another area with no luck. I’ve only been out west 3 years to hunt so still a rooky at it.

BTW google is your friend for scouting from afar! Also if you have an idea of where you want to go, cut and paste screen shots from google earth into ‘paint’ and print them out in hard copy form!  Hard copy satellite images are great for establishing a plan of attack and what drainages to check. Also put key ‘way’ points into your GPS NOW as to where trails are and watering holes etc. also ‘mark’ these way points on the hardcopy maps too.

Good luck and post up come October with how you did.

Thanks for the tips! Good ideas.

How far do you think you hiked in each day from the car camp?

 

[xziang]

Thanks for the tips! Good ideas.

How far do you think you hiked in each day from the car camp?

1st day I logged 13 miles round trip. I hiked into an area I had previously hunted but took a different trail system and then did a big loop coming back out to the road about 2 miles further away on a different trail. (Unit: 15)
2nd day I went about 6 miles (different area same unit)
3rd day I went 4 miles (Unit: 36)
4th day Didn’t do any hiking but scouted some ‘fire service roads’ along with other camping sites and off road 4x4 roads. (lazy)
5th day I fished 
Last year’s trip was more of a scouting trip/camping trip. If I would have seen good sign I would have stayed in that area and hit it hard. This year I'm hoping it wil be different.

 

[westrnwild]

Finch,
Just wanted to say good luck. Lots of advise on here for you. Probably to much to digest at times. If I were you I'd plan on doing short 3 day out backs and have about 5 plans or trail heads you wanna hit. Keep you going to you find them. Also, start hiking steep grades with a loaded pack by your house. Dragons tooth is a good trail in Catawba. Put all your gear or a sand bag or put the kid in a backpack hiking bag with water and food and do that once twice a week. It will help. Another great trail is in peaks of otter....its straight up..can't remember the nam . But if you get to the point you can hike that under weight with out stopping...you got it.

As for picking a unit in CO it can be a big challenge. The website has a ton of good info but its overwhelming at times. Gpshuntfish.com is web service I use to hone in on units. Shows property boundaries, roads trails the works...its a great asset for planning and tracking your hunts..downloads to your phone too..its not free though.

As for gea . Like others have said..don't cut corners...it will hurt you in the end.

If I were you I'd look for some bowls or basins off a forest road where you can hike in in a few hours, hunt and glasnfor a day or two and hike out and go to another spot...don't always look for trails will be my hint...a lot of pack trails especially in Colorado can be like a highway between hikers,hunters and guides...

 

[zman]

What stove and tent combo are you using to pack in 4 miles?

Clark Jungle hammock and an old coleman peak stove. Need to upgrade the stove but am currently too cheap to do it. I got the coleman years ago as a present... so the price was right!

 

[Finch]

So I've been looking at the CO hunting atlas on the DOW website. It's a pretty neat tool but how do I go about finding trailheads? The plan is to make the 27ish hour ride from Virginia and show up at a predetermined trailhead. What am I missing? I've been looking at the topo layer.