Where to elk hunt away from the crowds

[xl mammal]

In all my elk hunting in Colorado and Wyoming, I can tell you this:

There aint no secret spots

Dude specifically said he wasn't looking for a "secret spot." RIF.

 

[cnelk]

Dude specifically said he wasn't looking for a "secret spot." RIF.

Dude...
The meaning behind that statement is most anywhere in the elk woods, near or far from the truck, it isnt a secret spot.
SOMEONE has been there before, and will be again.

 

[mtwarden]

I've found the "crowds" do thin significantly when you combine good vert and distance, but if there are elk back there (and you sure hope there is after that ) - there are always like minded folks that are willing to tough it out to get to them. What I have found is that the few folks I do bump into elk hunting are folks that I don't mind bumping into. They are serious about their elk hunting (as am I) and not afraid to put some work into harvesting one. They also tend to be pretty open with "intel" on what they've seen (or haven't).

As others have said, if solitude is what you're solely after there are many areas that would qualify, but very unlikely to hold elk (during elk season anyways)

 

[xl mammal]

Dude...
The meaning behind that statement is most anywhere in the elk woods, near or far from the truck, it isnt a secret spot.
SOMEONE has been there before, and will be again.

So, back to the "dude's" original question. Any suggestions?

 

[cnelk]

Sure I have suggestions. And I PM'd him just as he requested. RIF

 

[mtwarden]

someone from Montana just post up a map with their secret spot marked w/ an X please, it's Christmas after al!

 

[Brendan]

So, back to the "dude's" original question. Any suggestions?

So, new elk hunter from the east coast.

New to backpack hunting, wants to do DIY and pack in 5-10 miles.

Was planning to rifle hunt, but open to archery.

Wants to avoid crowds and hunting pressure

No Points, doesn't want secret spots.

Wants a chance at seeing more Elk than people

My suggestion? Realistically the OP should reset expectations and go out treating it as a learning experience, because that list above isn't all that realistic unless you get lucky. Be flexible and have lots of backup plans and go to have fun. Pick an area that has less elk and is reported to be harder to hunt - and you'll probably see less people. Pick an area that has great hunting or that gets suggested on an open forum or in a magazine - and there'll be people all over it. There are Elk all over the damn place out west - pick a place that has the type of terrain and experience you're looking for, and then start planning the details, and go have fun. I'd also pick archery because you can hunt the rut (for the most part) and the weather is better for someone just starting out.

I personally have hunted an area that wasn't supposed to be all that great, and have been into Elk both times I've been there, with minimal people off the road. I've hunted another area that's less remote, has a reputation for being better, and ran into some people, but realized there was still plenty of space to hunt without bumping into people like you're used to out east. Hunted one day of rifle season this year and ran into more people than the previous 33 days of archery Elk. One thing I have never done, is even post about the unit online. Closest I've gotten to letting people know where I hunted was a region or general area of the state.

 

[c.brown]

Copy all. I'll keep doing my research. I appreciate the replies (helpful and sarcastic). I know it's damn near impossible to find what I'm looking for which is why I thought I'd ask the good folks on here for advice on where to find it. I'm a new guy and don't know dick about elk hunting. I fully intend for this to be a learning experience. I know it gets crowded and I know there is no elk sanctuary devoid of hunting pressure. I know it takes a lot of work to get in and out, especially if you fill a tag.
I'll try to stay out of your guys secret spots if I stumble upon them. Happy hunting to those of you who still have a tag and congrats to those who've tagged out.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

 

[Dougfir]

I'm no expert, but I can offer a few tidbits based on my own experience hunting unit 54, in Colorado. First, carrying an elk out, on your backs, at altifude, for 5-6 miles would be BRUTAL. People do it, but you may well find that at 10,000 feet, that's beyond your ability. It may also be problematic if the weather is warm when you're there. Second, in much of the Rockies, you have to remember that there are folks with horses (including a lot of outfitters), who will be setting up their camps 5-6 miles back. You may actually find that the quietest spots are the ones that are 2-3 miles back, past the day-hunters, but not as far in as the outfitters. Just as a general rule (with exceptions, I'm sure), I think you'd probably find solitude easier to come by in Idaho than you would in CO.

 

[justinspicher]

There is no right answer. You just gotta jump in and work through it all. You'll have good days hunting elk and you'll have bad days. The bad days are still better than being at work, but they are just frustrating. At that point stop and take a nap in the woods.

Some days you'll see people, some days you won't. You could be stuck at Walmart.

 

[xl mammal]

So, new elk hunter from the east coast.

New to backpack hunting, wants to do DIY and pack in 5-10 miles.

Was planning to rifle hunt, but open to archery.

Wants to avoid crowds and hunting pressure

No Points, doesn't want secret spots.

Wants a chance at seeing more Elk than people

My suggestion? Realistically the OP should reset expectations....

Sounds like he's pretty flexible. The only thing he's hoping for is a "better chance at encountering elk than people." OP didn't say he wanted to kill a trophy or even a bull. He didn't say he needed to be constantly in the middle of a thundering heard. The defeatist attitude in this thread is depressing.

 

[xl mammal]

Just as a general rule (with exceptions, I'm sure), I think you'd probably find solitude easier to come by in Idaho than you would in CO.

Everyone, be more like Dougfir.

 

[cnelk]

I agree with Dougfir.
Idaho may be better than CO ...

 

[tyeager2964]

Myself and 2 friends hunted in the Flattops this past 1st season. We saw lots of hunters on the way into where we hunted and even more when we drove around to a separate location. All in all when actually hunted we hardly saw anyone. I only ran into 2 people in 5 days that were hunting the same area. We weren't successful but we all saw elk. Like others have said, distance doesn't necessarily equal solitude. Find steed areas or overlooked areas. Try to stay off main trails as much as possible.

You can buy a few points and put in for a tag with lower quota in many states but this may take a few years as well.

I will also say coming from PA the pressure was really not bad at all. I hunt gamelands and public lands for whitetails and the first day and first weekend it seems there is someone behind every tree.

 

[Brendan]

Sounds like he's pretty flexible. The only thing he's hoping for is a "better chance at encountering elk than people." OP didn't say he wanted to kill a trophy or even a bull. He didn't say he needed to be constantly in the middle of a thundering heard. The defeatist attitude in this thread is depressing.

It's not defeatist at all - if you go in with realistic expectations and a solid plan to back it up, you have a much better chance at enjoying yourself, and being successful too. And, part of the journey (and the reward) is in the preparation. Expect to run into other people, expect to have to hit multiple spots because of pressure or lack of animals, have your Plan A,B,C,D,E, etc. Expect to run into crappy weather. Expect to have to adjust, constantly. That way you're prepared for whatever comes your way, regardless if its the frustrating or the amazing.

While we're at it, you're relatively new to Rokslide as well, what is your elk hunting experience? Do you disagree with any of the advice people are giving here?

 

[FreeRange]

The idaho units you mentioned aside from 44 are OTC for archery only, OTC for rifle deer and tough draws for rifle elk. 43 and 48 are crowded even in archery season, 36 maybe a bit less. 44 is tough draws all around. That said, there are a lot of other zones in Idaho that are OTC for archery and will be way less crowded than the units you mentioned, do a bit of research it becomes immediately obvious where's better to go. In my experience in Idaho the last few years the things you should focus on are:
1. Going where ATV's CAN'T go, even if they should not go doesn't mean they won't be there. The key word being CAN'T, as in physically impassable terrain.
2. Stay away from pack trails and easy straightforward access. As has been mentioned above, elevation and difficult terrain mean you'll see less people 2 miles from the truck than you would 8 miles down a trail.

I hunted a unit for rifle deer the week before the OTC rifle elk season opened, didn't see a single person or track until the day before elk season opened, then the pack trails were flooded with guys packing in on stock. If you don't have stock use that to your advantage and go where stock guys don't want to go.

To add another level to the strategy of parking alongside a road, don't be afraid to walk in on an ATV trail and then break off from there because in my observation a guy on an ATV is even less likely to get off and walk a couple miles than a guy who's hunting out of a truck. So a mile off an ATV trail is even more likely to be unpressured than a mile off a main dirt road, if you follow my thinking.

It's really easy to get upset by rampant ATV use but realize it ends up making it very easy to figure out where elk are going to NOT be which in turn makes finding them easier.

 

[Hayguide]

A drop camp will get you away from people-not 100% you may or may not see another hunter. You wont see crowds. I would call an outfitter, call his references and ask them if they saw anyone else. Most people are honest and its a fair question. Outfitters just pretty much give references based on who took an animal- so this is a question beyond that. Just remember- if there are elk in the country-there will be hunters. short of a 10 year tag- your going to have company. If you can be 2 miles away from the crowd- they can chase a herd to you!

 

[justinspicher]

Everyone should go to Idaho next year. Colorado is tapped out of elk.

 

[DWarcher]

c.brown, if you want to get away from people and still have a good shot at a bull, look into a WY unit 7 rifle hunt.

Not sure why you would suggest a unit that takes a minimum of 8 points to even be in the game?

OP...Idaho offers a lot of great options for what you are looking for.

 

[slick]

someone from Montana just post up a map with their secret spot marked w/ an X please, it's Christmas after al!

Merry Christmas!


In all seriousness these would be spots to get away from crowds, backpack in as far as you wanted, there are elk in each of those 6 districts, is very scenic.... but NOT what I would recommend for a first elk hunt if you're trying to be successful.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk