CO OTC Archery Elk

[Colberjs]

What is a good unit to archery hunt elk OTC in CO? Preferably the southern half of the state to save on driving.

Also, is it Colorado where you can use an unfilled archery tag for rifle?

 

[Jwill]

In CO you choose your weapon, so no. I think MT Gen and some tags in WY you can hunt archery and rifle on the same tag.

 

[Colberjs]

In CO you choose your weapon, so no. I think MT Gen and some tags in WY you can hunt archery and rifle on the same tag.

Thanks. I couldn't remember where it was.

Just need to find a decent unit to hunt. I don't need a 300" bull just something legal.

 

[dihardhunter]

What is a good unit to archery hunt elk OTC in CO? Preferably the southern half of the state to save on driving.

Honestly, some of the statistically worst units in southern CO have some phenomenal hunting. We are fortunate to have found some killer spots where we can go 8-10-12 days without another hunter sighting and get into bulls daily.

Remember that Colorado has the most elk of any state, but probably the most hunters too. Hunt smarter and harder, not necessarily just harder. Remember this: anyone can log trail miles and often lots of them, very few can (will) hump legitimate elevation.

 

[Colberjs]

Honestly, some of the statistically worst units in southern CO have some phenomenal hunting. We are fortunate to have found some killer spots where we can go 8-10-12 days without another hunter sighting and get into bulls daily.

That's what I need. You have some GPS coordinates for me. LOL

I've been elk hunting once back in 2010 and it was a drop camp. Not sure what to look for to hunt smarter. And honestly don't really know what to look for as far as terrain etc.

 

[dihardhunter]

Put it to you this way, there are enough guys willing to walk 10 miles that just busting deep into a wilderness or NF isn't a guarantee of having a good hunt. I like my chances to avoid other hunters (and find elk that have concentrated by those other hunters) better by hiking 2 miles but scaling up 2,000' elevation rather than busting in 10 miles on a pack trail. Beetle kill and substantial deadfall is also a great deterrent for other hunters. To me the key components are at least some dark timber, at least some openings (could simply be above timberline) for the elk to feed in, and isolated flat pockets of terrain within nasty stuff. There doesn't need to be visible water on the map to be good, but that helps too particularly if you're inclined to hunt wallows. I've rarely been disappointed moving through an area and focusing on these key areas within the overall landscape. We like to employ a run-and-gun strategy, so if you can line up 4-6 of these areas in the course of a 3-4 day loop hunt, chances are good that you'll hit elk in at least half those spots. Feel free to send some maps if you want help pinpointing these areas on a topo. Lots of guys willing to help you out on here if you do some initial research.

 

[JohnCushman]

PM sent

 

[Colberjs]

Put it to you this way, there are enough guys willing to walk 10 miles that just busting deep into a wilderness or NF isn't a guarantee of having a good hunt. I like my chances to avoid other hunters (and find elk that have concentrated by those other hunters) better by hiking 2 miles but scaling up 2,000' elevation rather than busting in 10 miles on a pack trail. Beetle kill and substantial deadfall is also a great deterrent for other hunters. To me the key components are at least some dark timber, at least some openings (could simply be above timberline) for the elk to feed in, and isolated flat pockets of terrain within nasty stuff. There doesn't need to be visible water on the map to be good, but that helps too particularly if you're inclined to hunt wallows. I've rarely been disappointed moving through an area and focusing on these key areas within the overall landscape. We like to employ a run-and-gun strategy, so if you can line up 4-6 of these areas in the course of a 3-4 day loop hunt, chances are good that you'll hit elk in at least half those spots. Feel free to send some maps if you want help pinpointing these areas on a topo. Lots of guys willing to help you out on here if you do some initial research.

Thank you. I'll keep this in mind as I cyber-scout.