CO unit 49

[knobby]

  My son and I have been accumulating elk and mule deer points in Colorado for quite a while now. With my turning 67 later this month it's time to cash in my points before it's too late for this flatlander to get into the high country. 
  I'm wondering if any members have spent any time in unit 49?  We should have enough points to draw an archery elk tag but it would be nice to know if that unit is worth burning over a dozen points on.  I'm not looking for "trophy" elk, just decent elk numbers because any elk would be fair game to me. 
  We'd be looking at a pack in hunt, more than likely.  So water availability and type of terrain information would be helpful. 
  Thanks for any assistance!   

[Wudstix]

This must be a real honey hole!!!  Nobody wants to open up.
 

[stevem]

PM sent

[knobby]

Thanks Steve, back at ya.

[Wudstix]

Thanks Steve.
 

[knobby]

Thanks to stevem for sharing his knowledge of the area.

[artifaker1]

I have been involved in a couple of hunts in 49. Also hunted 44 OTC for a week and a weekend later in 09. The one in 49 I was just helping my mothers husband and not hunting myself. A lot of private land in the flatter areas of the park. The elk will travel surprising distances, and usually end up on private property and the end of a run from being spooked. This is a problem in many units ..... You can often see the elk along HY 285 standing with the cattle after being spooked off of public areas ..
In 09 I hunted an area with the 60# widow, I think it was called Castle Peak and I know there were a number successful hunters early in the season (area 44) but right next to the area a large big communications outfit had bought a huge chunk of the property and wouldn't even allow tracking wounded elk. and that is where the elk were later on in the season ..... so timing is important ...

[knobby]

Thanks, Larry.  So getting after them early might be better than waiting until later when they may be more vocal. 

[artifaker1]

((((Thanks, Larry.  So getting after them early might be better than waiting until later when they may be more vocal.(((
So in unit 44 in 2009 it was real quiet, no buggles until labor day weekend and then you had all the hunters coming up and calling each other, a free for all so to speak. Most boe folks I know were getting them with cow calls .......
There was also a very short Blue Grouse season in the first week of archery and we had some some guys walking around with those .17 caliber guns shooting all over the place ...
As far as timing it depends on the situation and if you had permission somewhere the elk end up, after the first part of the season then that could be better later. Sometimes the DOW will go in and spook the elk off of the areas where you can't hunt. Including public areas off limits to hunting, around dams, and ranchers will sometimes request DOW to run the elk off their property to save on grazing for cattle and so on.
I guess it would good to hit town and at least eaves drop in the cafe to see what is going on in some cases, especially OTC ...

[frassettor]

  My son and I have been accumulating elk and mule deer points in Colorado for quite a while now. With my turning 67 later this month it's time to cash in my points before it's too late for this flatlander to get into the high country. 
  I'm wondering if any members have spent any time in unit 49?  We should have enough points to draw an archery elk tag but it would be nice to know if that unit is worth burning over a dozen points on.  I'm not looking for "trophy" elk, just decent elk numbers because any elk would be fair game to me. 
  We'd be looking at a pack in hunt, more than likely.  So water availability and type of terrain information would be helpful. 
  Thanks for any assistance!

Looking forward to hearing about the trip knobby. What setup will you be using ?

[knobby]

I'm not sure what bow I'll be carrying to chase elk.  My most recent bows are on the light side for elk, in my opinion.  I have inherited a couple bows that are plenty heavy for elk but too stout for me.  Guess I'll have to go shopping.

[Wudstix]

What poundage range are you looking at?
 

[knobby]

I'd like to be around 50#@28".  It's only five pounds heavier than I use now but for elk I feel it would be an important five pounds.

[Wudstix]

Sharp broadheads and shoot straight, you'll be fine.
 

[kerry]

I finally drew it in Covid era.  Great hunt.  Take as much or all of your vacation to scout and hunt.  I flew out in late July to scout and my advice from that trip is the grass at very top is not lush on Sept 1 like it was 5 weeks earlier.  Parched actually. 
IIRC, its the 4th highest average elevation of all GMU's so be in the very best shape.

Many ORV recreation folks.  Sightseers.  But we only saw other hunters in the field twice in two weeks.

Plenty of bugling, though the bulls were more hesitant to come in than any other hunt I've ever seen.

Private Message me for more specifics.

[knobby]

Thanks, Kerry. I'll pm you.

[Hud]

You can check with CO fish and Game for private land access, may include a trespass fee in areas adjacent to high pressure units, where the elk go when it gets too crowded. Some states have a list on line of private land owners that allow hunting.