elk trip 09', What would you do?

[bttsj1]

We have been making a annual elk hunting trip to southern Colorado for the past 6 years or so. There are usually 5 of us that go. We have taken 1 bull and two cows. All on the same mountain that is not far from town. Last year we only saw 1 cow while hunting the whole trip. The area we've been hunting has easy access to it by atv. Out of our group Iam in the best physical condition and cover more ground followed by my brother. My uncle and his son don't hunt far from their atvs. I feel like we need to try other areas and even though we have seen and killed elk in that area in the past, it may have played out. I'm considering trying to talk them out of bringing the atvs and trying the areas where there not allowed, packing in for two or three days then coming to town to cleanup. I would really appreciate opinions from those who elk hunt. Oh yea, guided hunt or drop camp is not an option for us. Thanks, John

[tim roberts]

No offense, to those that use the ATV's but I'd leave them at home.

[northener]

The ATV's may or may not be the problem depending on if the elk are used to that kind of activity, (most are not and shy away from areas with atv use), would be my guess.

I have used ATV's before to help with camps chores (water&wood) but that is about it. I would try to stay away from my hunting area with any kind of unnatural noise.

You could check the Co. DOW stats, I beleive they post the harvest records for each zone. Might give you some insight for your area and maybe others to try.

Good luck to you and your group.

[Missouri Sherpa]

5 hunters, 6 years is 30 years of hunting seasons.  3 elk, or 1 elk for every 10 years in the field and only one elk seen by 6 hunters last season.  I cannot speak for you but I would be looking for another place and yes, leave the atv's at home.  If we don't average seeing elk every day and working a bugling bull at least every other day we have a problem. With 6 people you shouldn't have any trouble packing out an elk without the atv if one of you connects.

[Kingwouldbe]

bttsj1, Elk hunting is hard and you need to be in top physical condition.

This Bull was killed in a wildness area no vehicles allowed it took 3 days and 7 trips to pack it to the truck.
 

If I could use a quad I would, but I always hunt far and deep, you can't get a quad in there, and I think that's why the Elk are there
 

As Woodrow F. Call said: Rather have it, and not need it, than need it, and not have it.

[John Scifres]

I'd hunt in one of the OTC areas in the White River National Forest.  There's more elk there.  Lots of hunters too.  But you should at least get into them some.

[nurayb]

The key to elk hunting is being mobile.  If there are not elk in the area move on.  In some of the best places I have hunted, with elk everywhere, there are still areas with few or no elk.  Sometimes just 5 or 10 miles down the road there could be animals all over the place.  There is a lot of country out west, why be set on one spot that is not producing?

[dan ferguson]

nurayb is right on. I fished a bass tourny once down on a lake in Texas while we were fishing the person I drew wanted to fish this certain stretch of water, after fishing for alittle while with no luck I asked him why we were fishing this stretch, his answer was back when there was a weed bed here it used to hold fish, but they came in and sprayed it. No weeds, no fish. If the food supply is good for them Elk this fall they might be there in good numbers if not move. Maybe it will be to hot and they will be higher etc. You should know the area good by now so that could be an asset.

[dragon rider]

Unless you're seeing elk wearing leathers, I'd leave the modified motorcycles (ATV's) and get back in to where you're actually seeing animals.  

Kingwouldbe is right - if you're not in top physical shape, you'll pay for it hunting elk.

[nurayb]

Oh and by the way, a big thumbs down to atv's.

[Nate Fikkert]

Any of the top elk states have good places to hunt.  Get away from the atv's and the roads.  Buy lots of maps, they are cheaper than wasting hunting time in poor areas.  I really like the National Geographic USGS software programs.  I can "virtual scout" by scanning through the maps and find areas that look good.  Scout via maps, do some research, call some biologists, and get off the roads.

Elk are my nemesis and I have yet to kill one, but most states I have hunted them in I have been "on elk".  Mostly using maps to guide my hunts.

Nathan

Nathan

[bttsj1]

Thanks guys, I knew I would get some good info here.

[steadman]

Nathan, it's gonna be hard to break the curse livin in WI        
How the heck are ya, and hows the wife with the little ones?    
Miss you out here!

[smokin feathers]

I know you said no guides, but I have a buddy that is an outfitter in Southern CO that is elk hunting private land at this moment on depredation tags. Cows are very inexpensive and he is charging less than half than most on the bull hunts,with the opp to take a bull in velvet. I am going next month to hunt a cow, shoot some prairie dogs and ride the horses in the mountains before I go back to work for the fall. If not get off the road and go deep. Unit 25 in the white river is over the counter deer and cow elk tags most years and if you get up high in the wilderness area you can do good. the late rifle seasons are good in that unit as well with deer and elk down low on the blm.

[twitchstick]

I hunt a very hard unit for elk that has so much atv access it is sick.But it close to home.The frist elk I killed took me 5 years,now I kill almost every year.You just have to think outside the box.Study maps and airal photos look for water near steep terrian,funnels,roadless near privite property, wallows ect.elk will adapet to people,they may go quite and nocturnal but they are there.One friend has killed 4 elk from a tree stand that is in a fork of two roads(eats dust all day), but its a good funnel.One herd I hunt beds within 50 yard of a major hwy but most everyone drives in to far.Another spot I have kill two bulls and a cow is off a tourist trail were they are use to human scent but not to hunting,and is much lower elevation than most think of elk.Hunt the ground you know and every year will get better.good luckand study hard.

[PAPA BEAR]

elk are definately afraid of motorized vehicles of any type....you really should look into a wilderness area with no roads like stated,you'll find it worth the extra effort and you should see a lot more elk and less hunters.this is why we hunt,to get out into the wild and experience all the wonders and just plain get away from it all..........    good huntin bro.(ps.if you do take the plunge and go wilderness hunting,my advice is to rent an emergency locater beacon of some sort)

[elknut1]

John, you wanna kill elk consistently or just go on great hikes? Listen to what "twitchstick" wrote, it applies to hunting areas far out or close by, it's on the money. Knowing your area well is a key to ones success! Take a bit of time to learn a few elk sounds & what they mean so when used you know exactly what you're saying. More important you also want to understand what elk are saying for the most part. This will up your odds in figuring out an encounter & "fitting in"---Do a little homework & you'll give yourself a fighting chance!

  ElkNut1

[ChuckC]

Elk are weird and a spot you know (from scouting) holds elk can be vacant in a couple days if pressure or "things" change..

Last year, we had weather issues,moon phase issues (with almost no bugling at all),  construction of a pipeline, complete with  helicopter fly overs every twenty minutes, more new folks   AND about 10,000 sheep in one of the major drainages (which pushed the folks that normally hunt that drainage into the others.

We shoulda moved and we didn't .   Not a great hunt.  On the other hand. . . I had a great vacation from work.
ChuckC