tomengineer
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2019
- Messages
- 269
Three of us hunted a draw unit in SW Colorado for the 2025 third rifle season. Two of us had tags and we were both successful. It was a fun and physically challenging hunt. We had encounters each day and passed up some barely legal bulls on day 1. I thought I'd share observations and lessons learned.
Location Selection - The unit is approximately 25 miles square and offered many potential trailheads to use as a home base. Elevation was the primary question based on the time of year and relatively warm and mild weather for the area. We ended up hiking 2.5-3 miles back and up approximately 2,200 feet. We did not see another hunter over the course of the week. Tags are relatively limited. This turned out to be a good area and we saw legal bulls immediately and then every day of the hunt.
Hunt Tactics - We are from the east coast and the hunt ended up unfolding similar to a whitetail hunt. I used glassing initially but realized in short order that elk were following a daily pattern of early morning and dusk feeding in meadows while bedding in timber during the day. So our tactic ended up being "ambush" hunting field edges at morning and dusk. One of us ended up shooting his bull at 3:30 in the afternoon however, which was 1.5 hours before legal light. It was just right place right time.
Logistics - Big lesson for us here. We have hunted the west 5 times now. Previous trips were for mule deer and antelope. This was the first time we were success with elk. Getting two elk and a euro mount on the plane was interesting. Total charges ended up at $1,250 for additional checked bags. I got shipping estimates on my euro mount and they told me $1,000 after packaging. I flew with it as a checked bag for $350. See my packaging lol.
Lessons Learned - In no particular order. 1) A great glassing spot allows you to not only see animals but approach them and get a shot. I had picked out a great glassing knob day 1. I saw a nice elk from it. Then realized that I would have a 2 hour hike getting to a position where I could potentially take a shot at it. 2) Physical preparation was essential. It allowed me to hunt where I wanted and also made the pack out possible. As a group we had varying degrees and physical capability and that affected how each of us hunted and packed immensely. 3) Go to the hard place for less hunting pressure. The unit had a flood of guys hunting from side by sides. We had an awesome hunt with very little pressure because we were in a location that prevented entry for most of these people. 4) Logistics - If you are coming from the east, having at least one person drive will make your life so easy compared to flying with rifles and meat and a head. 5) This might be an unpopular one. If you are from the east, or another far away location I would consider holding off on CO elk until you can hunt a draw unit. We had tried OTC archery for the last two years and it almost killed our desire to hunt in the west. Low odds hunts like OTC are so different from the hunt we just went on. Hunts help you gain experience with your equipment and understanding how to navigate western hunting areas, and understanding how far you can hike etc. but it's also mentally tough to take a week's vacation, buy the NR tag and have very few, if any encounters with game. To each his own but after finally hunting a draw unit, and now having enough points to continually do so in WY and CO I'm not sure I would spend the energy I did on OTC hunts.
Had an awesome hunt. Looking forward to WY mule deer next year. Thanks to those on HT who gave me advice when I posted a month ago about finding the correct elk elevation for a warm third season. 10,500 ended up being the ticket.
Location Selection - The unit is approximately 25 miles square and offered many potential trailheads to use as a home base. Elevation was the primary question based on the time of year and relatively warm and mild weather for the area. We ended up hiking 2.5-3 miles back and up approximately 2,200 feet. We did not see another hunter over the course of the week. Tags are relatively limited. This turned out to be a good area and we saw legal bulls immediately and then every day of the hunt.
Hunt Tactics - We are from the east coast and the hunt ended up unfolding similar to a whitetail hunt. I used glassing initially but realized in short order that elk were following a daily pattern of early morning and dusk feeding in meadows while bedding in timber during the day. So our tactic ended up being "ambush" hunting field edges at morning and dusk. One of us ended up shooting his bull at 3:30 in the afternoon however, which was 1.5 hours before legal light. It was just right place right time.
Logistics - Big lesson for us here. We have hunted the west 5 times now. Previous trips were for mule deer and antelope. This was the first time we were success with elk. Getting two elk and a euro mount on the plane was interesting. Total charges ended up at $1,250 for additional checked bags. I got shipping estimates on my euro mount and they told me $1,000 after packaging. I flew with it as a checked bag for $350. See my packaging lol.
Lessons Learned - In no particular order. 1) A great glassing spot allows you to not only see animals but approach them and get a shot. I had picked out a great glassing knob day 1. I saw a nice elk from it. Then realized that I would have a 2 hour hike getting to a position where I could potentially take a shot at it. 2) Physical preparation was essential. It allowed me to hunt where I wanted and also made the pack out possible. As a group we had varying degrees and physical capability and that affected how each of us hunted and packed immensely. 3) Go to the hard place for less hunting pressure. The unit had a flood of guys hunting from side by sides. We had an awesome hunt with very little pressure because we were in a location that prevented entry for most of these people. 4) Logistics - If you are coming from the east, having at least one person drive will make your life so easy compared to flying with rifles and meat and a head. 5) This might be an unpopular one. If you are from the east, or another far away location I would consider holding off on CO elk until you can hunt a draw unit. We had tried OTC archery for the last two years and it almost killed our desire to hunt in the west. Low odds hunts like OTC are so different from the hunt we just went on. Hunts help you gain experience with your equipment and understanding how to navigate western hunting areas, and understanding how far you can hike etc. but it's also mentally tough to take a week's vacation, buy the NR tag and have very few, if any encounters with game. To each his own but after finally hunting a draw unit, and now having enough points to continually do so in WY and CO I'm not sure I would spend the energy I did on OTC hunts.
Had an awesome hunt. Looking forward to WY mule deer next year. Thanks to those on HT who gave me advice when I posted a month ago about finding the correct elk elevation for a warm third season. 10,500 ended up being the ticket.
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