Hey all,
Heading on my 3rd season chasing OTC archery elk in Colorado. This year I am taking my father for his 60th as this is hunt he has always wanted to do and we are both excited to do this type of hunt together. Physically and mentally we are as prepared as we can be coming from the east and my last two years of experience have been rather exciting and grueling at the same time ... 3 good bull encounters on OTC units (probably should have gotten one down... that's another story) but the pressure, never ending beetle kill, and learning curve is real for sure! Biggest take away has been pressure is inevitable (for the most part) and rolling with the punches is the name of the game, adapt and overcome.
This year I feel much more prepared to head into some areas with a game plan to hunt. We plan to hunt September 24 through the 30th. However I am just looking for some insight on some areas that some may have experience with. Currently I am looking very hard at Units 25, 26, and 231. It appears there are some outfitters and horse drop operations in the area and a decent amount of hiking trails through these places. There also appears to be some pretty decent areas that should hold elk and I do have a friend that hunted there six years ago and found some elk. I do not want to blow up anyone's spots on here, but rather looking to see if anyone has some insight to these places in terms of off the trail pressure, outfitter/hunting pressure, and numbers of elk.
I am happy to talk on a PM about the areas I have scouted and see if I am on the right track. I do have other units I am considering as well. This is just where I have landed for now.
Cheers and good luck this year!
ET
Heading on my 3rd season chasing OTC archery elk in Colorado. This year I am taking my father for his 60th as this is hunt he has always wanted to do and we are both excited to do this type of hunt together. Physically and mentally we are as prepared as we can be coming from the east and my last two years of experience have been rather exciting and grueling at the same time ... 3 good bull encounters on OTC units (probably should have gotten one down... that's another story) but the pressure, never ending beetle kill, and learning curve is real for sure! Biggest take away has been pressure is inevitable (for the most part) and rolling with the punches is the name of the game, adapt and overcome.
This year I feel much more prepared to head into some areas with a game plan to hunt. We plan to hunt September 24 through the 30th. However I am just looking for some insight on some areas that some may have experience with. Currently I am looking very hard at Units 25, 26, and 231. It appears there are some outfitters and horse drop operations in the area and a decent amount of hiking trails through these places. There also appears to be some pretty decent areas that should hold elk and I do have a friend that hunted there six years ago and found some elk. I do not want to blow up anyone's spots on here, but rather looking to see if anyone has some insight to these places in terms of off the trail pressure, outfitter/hunting pressure, and numbers of elk.
I am happy to talk on a PM about the areas I have scouted and see if I am on the right track. I do have other units I am considering as well. This is just where I have landed for now.
Cheers and good luck this year!
ET