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  1. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Small game in GMU 85 – what are you seeing?

    Curious what folks are seeing for small game in 85 these days. I’ve got a place near Walsenburg and there always seems to be a fair amount of activity—rabbits, squirrels, and the occasional covey of birds moving through the draws and thicker cover. Seems like those edge areas really hold most of...
  2. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Turkey activity in GMU 85 (Walsenburg area) – what are you seeing?

    Curious what folks are seeing for turkey activity in 85 this year. I’ve got a place near Walsenburg and every time I’m down there I’m seeing birds moving through—mostly along the draws and edges, especially early and late. Seems like they key in on those same transition areas as the bigger game...
  3. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Mule deer movement in southern CO (GMU 85) – curious what you’re seeing

    Curious what guys are seeing for mule deer movement in 85, especially with pressure. I’ve got a place near Walsenburg and it seems like deer really key in on those transition zones—edges of draws, thicker cover, and low-pressure pockets. Some days they’re around consistently, other times they...
  4. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Anyone running a small private basecamp in GMU 85? Curious what’s worked for you

    Curious how guys think about this—especially in 85. I’ve got a 35-acre place near Walsenburg that I’ve used more as a basecamp than anything else. It’s been nice having a consistent spot and a hub for nearby public, but access/pressure still seem to drive everything in that unit. For those that...
  5. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Four elk poached in Las Animas County Colorado $1k reward

    Stuff like this is just flat-out frustrating to see. That’s not hunting—that’s someone with zero respect for the animals or the resource. Leaving bulls wasted like that is about as bad as it gets. Hopefully they track whoever did it down. It hurts everyone—especially the folks who are trying to...
  6. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Colorado Filming Permit Denied

    I hear you—access can definitely be frustrating in some units, especially if you’re coming in blind from out of state. That said, 85 is actually a pretty solid unit overall if you go in with realistic expectations. There’s a good mix of terrain, consistent elk presence, and opportunities if...
  7. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Colorados gmu 85 fact or fiction

    From what I’ve seen and heard, 85 definitely has some good bulls—but most of the “big elk” reputation comes from private ground. A lot of those bigger bulls tend to hang on large ranches or shift there once pressure picks up. I’ve got a place down there and spend a fair amount of time in the...
  8. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    CO Unit 85 elk

    That matches what I’ve seen in the Walsenburg (Unit 85) area—plenty of sign and animals around, but they tend to hang where the pressure and access work in their favor. That country around Cokedale has some really nice habitat though—mix of cover and feed that keeps them using it. Should be a...
  9. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    CO Unit 85 elk

    Yeah, that’s been my experience down there too—plenty of animals, but they definitely know where the boundaries are. A lot of that country is checkerboarded or just straight private, so access becomes the real challenge. Seems like if you can piece together even small pockets of public or find...
  10. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    First Elk hunt in Colorado unit 67

    That’s awesome—nothing like your first elk hunt, especially with your boy along for the ride. Sounds like you’re doing all the right prep too. Unit 67 is a cool area with a lot of different terrain to figure out—should be a great experience. Elk will humble you quick, but that’s part of the fun...
  11. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    1st elk hunt/I need a psychiatrist

    Man, that’s a tough one—but you handled it about as well as you could in the moment, especially not sending another shot without being sure. I wouldn’t give up yet. If you dropped him initially, there’s a decent chance he’s hit and just not showing blood yet. I’d back out, give him several more...
  12. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Turkeys

    Haha, yeah they can do some pretty weird things this time of year. From what I’ve seen, that shorter, stiff snood usually means he’s keyed up and on alert rather than fully strutting—kind of a different “mode.” Turkeys are funny like that… they can look completely different bird-to-bird...
  13. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Western CO LWCF Win

    That’s a really exciting project—hard to beat consolidating inholdings like that and opening up access at the same time. Sounds like a big win for public access, especially with that stretch of Escalante Creek and the Gunnison. Also pretty incredible habitat down there—seeing desert bighorns...
  14. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Gohunt Colorado Elk

    I feel your pain on that—GOHUNT usually updates after states release the prior year’s final draw data, so it’s often late winter / early spring right before application deadlines. I wouldn’t rely too hard on “100% odds” anyway—point creep and applicant swings can flip that fast. With 7 points...
  15. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Best Colorado antelope units?

    Good question—CO antelope is mostly a draw, so I’d start by looking at units with decent public access out west rather than the eastern plains unless you’ve got access lined up. You definitely don’t need a guide for a DIY hunt if you’re willing to e-scout and put in some miles. Antelope are easy...
  16. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Best Colorado antelope units?

    Good question—CO antelope is mostly a draw, so I’d start by looking at units with decent public access out west rather than the eastern plains unless you’ve got access lined up. You definitely don’t need a guide for a DIY hunt if you’re willing to e-scout and put in some miles. Antelope are easy...
  17. Fred_WalsenburgRanch

    Gohunt Colorado Elk

    Really enjoying following this thread—lots of good info here. I’ve spent some time down in southern Colorado (GMU 85 area near Walsenburg), and it’s always interesting how much animal movement seems tied to those terrain transitions—open ground into draws and thicker cover. Curious what you...
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