Elk hunting Colorado

[Bluefeather]

Last year we hunted unit 68 the last 2 week of the season and elk were hard to find although a few were called in and 1 taken. We're going to try the first 2 week this year.

[buckster]

Tim and Wayne.  Rob & I will plan to hunt our old haunts to arrive around mid-Sept.  Would be great to hook it up with yall.

[michaelschwister]

We go opening week most years.  Last year we got on them, but ATV pressure messed us up bad.  My cousin and his buddy went 3rd week in our area using our intel and they both shot one within 48 hours! Gonna buy a preference point for 16 this year and try for another OTC area  for 15.

[The Night Stalker]

I thought ATV's are limited after Labor Day.

[Pete McMiller]

Originally posted by The Night Stalker:
I thought ATV's are limited after Labor Day.

Depends on where you are.  It's not universal throughout the state.  In recent years ATV trails have been cut back - again, only in certain areas.  Contact the headquarters of the national forest you will be hunting and ask for an updated ATV map.

[bucknut]

We hunted 79 and 80 for years until the ATV's  just got to the point you couldn't stand it.  (mostly Texans) Sorry just the facts.  Not all hunters, a lot of rec. riders.  The drop in elk population didn't help matters either. From about 08 on the elk sightings really went down hill.  The last couple trips west we have went to NM and had good results.

[pumatrax]

Just talked to a long time game warden from here (now retired)...he told me the Division of Wildlife has been working on reducing the number of elk here for years....due to pressure from cattle ranchers and hay producers (crop damage) ...looks like they have done a good job from the elk numbers we are seeing now...seems way down to me but they are still selling A LOT of licenses ....just sayin'

[Orion]

I've hunted OTC units 16 and 42, I believe.  I've almost always hunted the last two weeks of season, more to get away from other hunters than anything else.  

Lots of folks go early, the first two weeks, and I believe ML season is the third week of the season, maybe the second.  I've found the last week of season to be much more serene.  

As Pistol Pete notes, the elk have been hunted hard and are more spooky and often holed up in some pretty isolated cover.  But if you find them, can have a very good hunt.

Probably see more elk early though because there are so many folks chasing them around.

[bucknut]

Past results have shown the last 2 weeks have generally been the best for us. Just gotta keep an eye on the weather. The over selling of tags is what the locals blamed the low elk populations on. Who knows?  I just know the hunt quality went south in a hurry.  I cant speak on the quality of other units, but 79 really suffered.