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Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: Gehrke145 on August 23, 2008, 09:17:00 PM

Title: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 23, 2008, 09:17:00 PM
Well I've been told by several people on here to do a post on elk.  So I figure I'll try to do a play by play of my elk season, that starts next weekend.  I also have bear and fall turkey tags as well.

Area i'm hunting is in 74,75,751.  Most of my hunting is in my honey hole in 751 (where my bear tag is good for as well).  

Im hunting with a tradtech titan riser with 53 lbs at 28 Hoyt limbs.  Im shooting easton axis 400 with 2 blade 170 grain magnus heads (total arrow weight 450 ish).  Pack is a internal frame bruzer gear pack,Elk nut chuckler bugle, berry reeds,jet boil stove system with the pan,Nikon 8x42 binos,camel back hydro system,sierra disign flash clip tent.

Here's a few pics from some of my stands that are set up.  also a few areas where the double bull will be set up.

This pics messed up cause a bear played with the camera shortly before he showed up.

The camera on this one is strapped to the base of my stand.
        (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/wifishkiller/CO%20elk%20scouting%2008/045.jpg)
Some cows that will hopefully end up with my cow archery tag.
        (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/wifishkiller/CO%20elk%20scouting%2008/023.jpg)
        (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/wifishkiller/CO%20elk%20scouting%2008/018.jpg)
some of the back up areas that have a few 5x5s i've been watching.  There were bugling thursday night when me and the girlfriend packed in to keep tabs on them.

Oh and this is the road we drove in on last year where the big 5 point walked infront of my truck mid week of the season.  Still dont know why I didn't just step out and shoot him.  
        (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/wifishkiller/CO%20elk%20scouting%2008/012.jpg).

These are my after work places that hold PY bulls during the season and are with in a few 100 yards of roads!  Come on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 23, 2008, 09:18:00 PM
I no the times messed up in my camera lol
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: ChuckC on August 23, 2008, 09:36:00 PM
I will be up in Unit 521 probably next Sunday.  Be there for two weeks.  I have a bear tag and an OTC either sex elk tag in my pocket.  Getting excited.  
ChuckC
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 23, 2008, 09:41:00 PM
Good luck!  To bad you not closer down by me I'm hunting solo again (girlfriends filming though)till my old man gets down here the last 10 days of the season.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Paul J. on August 23, 2008, 10:52:00 PM
gehrke,
        I will be in your area in about 2 weeks.
       Good luck, and maybe we will meet up!!

                                      Paul J.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: ChuckC on August 23, 2008, 11:59:00 PM
Thanks.  good luck to you as well.
ChuckC
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 24, 2008, 12:42:00 AM
Paul J Where you hunting at, close to durango.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Paul J. on August 24, 2008, 07:43:00 AM
gehrke,
        I will start out in 74, and 751. Cherry
       creek, and beaver meadows.

                                     Paul J.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 24, 2008, 07:58:00 AM
You by any chance one of Jims friends?
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Richie Nell on August 24, 2008, 08:24:00 AM
I will be in Unit 74 on Sept. 12-19
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Richie Nell on August 24, 2008, 08:27:00 AM
I think in the Hermosa Creek area
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Paul J. on August 24, 2008, 08:41:00 AM
Yes, I am a good friend of Jim's.

                      Paul
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 24, 2008, 09:17:00 AM
Good deal, I prolly met you last year in cherry creek?  Anyway i'd hit cherry creek first.  The road has elk all along it now (and they are bugling already), called in a 5x5 last year by the river shortly after I ran into you guys.  Only hunted it the one morning. Let me know where your camping and ill try to swing by and see if you are on any.  I've been scouting it hard the last few weeks and know where a few are hidding.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 24, 2008, 09:31:00 AM
Nell you hunting with an outfitter?
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: steadman on August 24, 2008, 11:45:00 AM
Good luck Adam. Hope you take lots of pics. I miss CO.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 24, 2008, 04:40:00 PM
My camera and video camera will be along during the entire season, so will see how it goes.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Richie Nell on August 24, 2008, 06:40:00 PM
Gehrke...Yes I'm hunting with Mike and Danny Murphy.  Had a blast last year so I am going again.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 24, 2008, 07:18:00 PM
Good luck and shoot straight, been touching up broadheads and going throught the pack all week lol.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Richie Nell on August 24, 2008, 08:29:00 PM
Do you know Mike Murphy with T Bar M Outfitters in Durango?
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 24, 2008, 08:32:00 PM
I do not but I have some buddys that no him.  I've heard nothing but good things
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on August 29, 2008, 05:25:00 PM
Went out yesterday for a little pregame look.  Saw a BIG 4x4 muley (no tag) somr new sign at a little water hole.  And to top it off saw another mountain lion.  This one wasn't as curious as the one that I ran into in spring!  Anyway got called in for a few hours tonight for an OT shift but will be done and 0230 and I'll run home grab a shower and snag the pack and up the mountain I go!!!!!!!!  Good luck and pics when I get back monday.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: bbairborne on August 29, 2008, 06:42:00 PM
I am in the Flattops on the 19th. Cannot wait.

Good Luck!!!!

----------------
Wapiti chasing 10 days out of the year and lovin' it!!!
Longbow: ACS-CX 58#@28. Arrow: GT5575 Traditional, 100gr. Brass insert, 125 gr. Magnus 2-blade: 530 gr. total.
 www.tradrag.com (http://www.tradrag.com)  <- Stick & String or Cap & Ball
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: leatherneck on August 29, 2008, 11:55:00 PM
You guys are killing me. I still have 9 days until we'll be there.    :banghead:  

Mike
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: tradtusker on August 30, 2008, 03:29:00 AM
man i can't get to CO fast enough!
good luck
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 01, 2008, 07:14:00 PM
Well Got back Sat night because of the weather.  Saturday morning started out in one of the stands i hung several weeks ago.  Nothing came through but I did glass 6 bulls several hundred yards away.  One nice 6 point and 2 ok 5x5's.  Saw a ton of turkeys (they are fair game from now on!)  Set up camp on one of the ridges to glass the rest of the bowl I was hunting.  Towards evening I saw a few nice muley and had a badger show up in camp and fall in love with my jet bowl cup lol.  I couldn't get pics of this because of my pack right next to him.  Pictures are few and far between because of the weather, but did snap this one when it cleared up glassing from camp.  More to come going out Wed-Sat.
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/wifishkiller/posted%20pics/003-2.jpg)
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: kennym on September 01, 2008, 07:47:00 PM
Hey Adam,
 Its always enjoyable in the mountains! Any bugling yet?
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 01, 2008, 07:51:00 PM
not in the morning but right before dark a few started singing
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: L82HUNT on September 01, 2008, 07:59:00 PM
2 long more weeks of work til I get out there.  Will be outside of Paonia,
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: leatherneck on September 01, 2008, 08:05:00 PM
Adam,

Heading out to unit 70 on Mon for 2-weeks. New to the elk game so don't laugh at my questions. How high are you hunting? How do you determine if you have found a good stand site for elk? Is it a wallow or something else that tells you? What can we expect come next week? Any advice would be appreciated.
The experience alone is going to be awesome. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Mike
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 01, 2008, 08:13:00 PM
Im at a little over 6000 feet at the place I hunted for the opener.  Stand sites over water are just general travel areas (trails just like hunting whitetails)  I start running and gunning as the season moves on.  I think its better to move around (run and gun)but stand hunting some areas is good because I can hunt and see elk for the season, most times out and dont push elk out of areas.  When I find elk I go out of my way to not let others no where im at!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: CSUkid on September 01, 2008, 08:19:00 PM
Im a freshman at CSU and I was hunting down near deckers for mule deer and I have an Elk tag for up here now. If anyone has any tips or suggestions cause I have never hunted near Fort Collins before
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 01, 2008, 08:38:00 PM
Keep moving around alot looking for fresh sign!  When you find it hunt slow (good maps are a must, also hit up google earth)
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Autumnarcher on September 01, 2008, 08:55:00 PM
L82hunt, Are you hunting with Bear Creek Outfitters? I've hunted the Paonia area a few times, awesome country. Lots of bears too.

Not going this year, its killin me.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: MountainTool21 on September 01, 2008, 08:55:00 PM
gehrke145  great thread man. I head up to steamboat this coming friday thru following Sunday. How is the mid day weather? Stars at night? Good luck
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 01, 2008, 09:40:00 PM
here its been high 80s during the day and rain at night
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: leatherneck on September 02, 2008, 07:29:00 AM
Gehrke- Thanks for the advice. We plan on hunting from the ground unless we find something really good. Then we might hang a stand. BTW- I've been looking but cant find it in the regulations. What are the regs. for Colorado in reference to screw in steps? In Ohio you are not aloud to use them on state land. thanks again.

Mike
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 02, 2008, 10:02:00 AM
No prob back up the mountain tomorrow!  Going to try to fill the turkey tag so I should have some bloody arrows by saturday!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: wingnut on September 02, 2008, 10:43:00 AM
Cool!!  Always nice to see elk.  A word of advice is to stay out of that bedding area.  If you get after them coming and going you can hunt the heard for quite awhile.  But if you bump them in the bed they usually will move out.

I usually only hunt bedding areas on the last couple of days of the hunt.

Mike
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: buckster on September 02, 2008, 03:40:00 PM
I will also be in Unit 74 on Sept. 12-19 hunting with TBARM Outfitters.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: bohuntr on September 02, 2008, 04:29:00 PM
Looking forward to following this thread! Good luck to all you guys!!!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: L82HUNT on September 02, 2008, 05:51:00 PM
Autumnarcher I will be with Hubbert Creek.  Good friend of the family is a guide there.  The friend said he has seen more elk then ever before, and some biggins.  I'm already starting to twitch a little.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 02, 2008, 06:09:00 PM
good luck guys!  I have the last 10 days of the season off so i have tons of time!  Gotta get that cow tag filled first!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: foxchef on September 02, 2008, 08:17:00 PM
Just got back from 31/2 days in areas 7,8 and 191 in NE Colorado hunting on some private but mostly National Forest lands . Lots of sign.
No bugling yet. Just hunters bugling on Saturday and Sunday. All quiet yesterday and today. Figuring the rut probably won't start up here for another week week and a half. Hunting in some pretty thick timber. Spooked a couple late Sunday pm as I was coming out but it would've been to dark to shoot. The weather's been really hot even at 9400'. Temps did drop to the 20's last night and thought it was going to snow. Saw some really fresh sign going to a waterhole this morning but lost the trail. Had to get back early today. That darned work thing that keeps the archery habit going!! Won't have a chance to get out again until Sunday afternoon or Monday.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: leatherneck on September 02, 2008, 08:42:00 PM
BTW- when are the dates for the smokepole guys? Just wondering when to head for the high country while we are there.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: foxchef on September 02, 2008, 09:52:00 PM
September 13 through the 21st for muzzle guys I think. Have to be nice to them. My elk camp is set up on one of those guy's place!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 03, 2008, 06:07:00 AM
Sgt. let me flex out early!  Im headed up the mountain after this post!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: leatherneck on September 03, 2008, 06:56:00 AM
Go get em 145!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 05, 2008, 11:45:00 AM
Well put on some miles this week, and NOTHING!  I didn't see one elk!  Saw a mess of coyotes and 4 sets of lion tracks.  So figured I'd use this weekend to unwind and chase some turkeys.  So me and the girlfriend head out early on the 4th to try are luck.  We saw a few but it was kind cold and we called it at 0900.  (oh by the way the jet boil stove works for a long time as a heater lol the gf had a death grip on it.) So today roles around get out of bed tell the gf to get moving so we arn't late.  She tells me she's sleeping in, so im off solo to chase the birds again.  Get to my little brush blind at 0600.  20 minute role by and here come about 12 down the ridge passing by at 20 yards I draw and blacky (my black titan with KAP limbs I tried to sell then talked myself out of it!)let the string slip and watched the arrow disappear in the middle of the bird.  A few flaps and it was over.  Now back after the elk in my other secret spots, and maybe a little side trip to help a tradganger from Texas with a muledeer.
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: steadman on September 05, 2008, 06:34:00 PM
:thumbsup:  Congrats!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on September 06, 2008, 12:05:00 AM
Thanks, tell your dad congrats on the elk!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: tradtusker on September 06, 2008, 05:01:00 AM
hey way to go! nice bird   :thumbsup:    :clapper:    :clapper:
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Smallwood on September 07, 2008, 10:47:00 AM
good job Adam!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Over&Under on September 07, 2008, 10:58:00 PM
Excellent Adam!!!
It is nice to have a variety of tags on hand, keeps things ineresting

Congrats!!!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on November 04, 2008, 09:44:00 PM
Well I figure I should finish this up lol.  I've been real busy, in the process of moving into a new house.

Anyway elk season was hard called in a few bulls the last week but couldn't get an arrow in any of them.  I did end up arrowing this calf (I passed on the cow to make packing easier)

On a side note the heavy grizzys WORK!  The first shot was at 15 yards on the run.  She came in right on top of me and when I drew she ran. I hit here 1/4 away mid ship and the griz came out right behind the shoulder.  She ran out to 50-55 yards and I shot at her again as she took off hitting her threw the hind 1/4s.  The arrow cut the femur in half and poked out the other side!  Not bad for a 48 lbs bow, (I dropped 5 lbs at the end of the season for a hurt hand)

How she fell, notice the 160 grizzy
     (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/wifishkiller/posted%20pics/002.jpg)
and after clean up
     (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/wifishkiller/posted%20pics/010.jpg)
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: steadman on November 04, 2008, 09:47:00 PM
Elk, it's what's for dinner! Way to go!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: kennym on November 04, 2008, 10:45:00 PM
:thumbsup:    :clapper:
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on November 05, 2008, 12:05:00 AM
I have to say the bloodtrail was GREAT also.  That was a big worry for me with the grizzy.  I dont see myself changing after seeing what it did to the femur
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Over&Under on November 05, 2008, 12:51:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by steadman:
Elk, it's what's for dinner! Way to go!!   :thumbsup:  
My thoughts exactly!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Brian Krebs on November 05, 2008, 01:20:00 AM
tasty tasty tasty !!! good shooting!  :thumbsup:    :campfire:    :archer:
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Chris Surtees on November 05, 2008, 01:24:00 AM
:thumbsup:     :archer:
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on November 05, 2008, 02:22:00 AM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: tradtusker on November 05, 2008, 04:40:00 AM
well done thanks for sharing   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Horne Shooter on November 05, 2008, 08:17:00 AM
Great thread....thanks for sharing.

Nice shots too on the calf!
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: wingnut on November 05, 2008, 09:12:00 AM
Everyone wants a hero pic with a big bull.  But I would have been extremely happy with a calf like that.  No finer eating out there.

Mike
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: cacciatore on November 05, 2008, 09:33:00 AM
Yes, femour  hits always live excellent blood trail, pretty hard to loose also uphill                     Felix
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: bohuntr on November 05, 2008, 10:20:00 AM
That calf looks absolutely delicious!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Elk season in CO!!! The ending finally!
Post by: Gehrke145 on November 05, 2008, 11:33:00 AM
Thanks guys!  The second arrow wasn't needed but if they are still standing I keep shooting.  I have to say she is GOOOOOD eating.  Had the ribs lastnight.