Drew Unit 53 archery elk for this fall! None of us have hunted this unit or the West Elk Wilderness before, so I’d be grateful for any advice people are willing to share.
We’ve hunted the Walden/Steamboat area in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and hunted Unit 55 in 2023, all with decent success. We also have experience in the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness in Unit 161, but this country lays out quite a bit differently.
We’ll have a group of four backpacking in mid-to-late September. The current plan is to set a spike camp and hunt/bivy out from there individually or in pairs. I’m not looking for anyone’s specific spot, just general advice on terrain, access, pressure, elk behavior, or things you wish you knew before hunting the unit. Happy to trade info on the units we’ve hunted via Direct Message.
We’ve hunted the Walden/Steamboat area in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and hunted Unit 55 in 2023, all with decent success. We also have experience in the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness in Unit 161, but this country lays out quite a bit differently.
We’ll have a group of four backpacking in mid-to-late September. The current plan is to set a spike camp and hunt/bivy out from there individually or in pairs. I’m not looking for anyone’s specific spot, just general advice on terrain, access, pressure, elk behavior, or things you wish you knew before hunting the unit. Happy to trade info on the units we’ve hunted via Direct Message.
