Colorado Unit 80/81

[TomK]

Hey folks, New to the HT forum. I'm posting in this thread because I also have an archery tag for 80-81. I've hunted elk twice several years ago with my dad in unit 66 muzzle loader cow tags, no luck either time and that's the extent of my elk hunting experience, I hunt whitetails here at home. I'm looking at the area to the southwest of Platoro just because we have vacationed there a couple times, taken a couple of hikes but for the most part I'm unfamiliar with the area. Now I know not to ask where the elk are (they're in the woods), but I have a few questions more related to tactics for the area and time of the season. My hunt dates will be roughly September 11 through 22 and I've left myself some room to add a couple of days if I think I need to. From past trips there I know there are quit a bit of roads and atv access, and I have a side by side that I could bring, but I don't want to hunt out of it and I would rather leave it home unless any of you that know better would advise me bring it. I'm mainly planning to be on foot, bivy camp style where I can just stop wherever I am at the end of the day. I will be solo. So if there is a way to get to spots where most people don't want to go that's what I'll be trying. So I'll list out my questions and whoever would like to respond to any of it I'll appreciate the guidance.
How has the rainfall been in the area this spring and summer?
What elevations should I be concentrating on?
Are they very vocal, does calling work much, passive or aggressive calling, more cow talk?
Are my hunt dates more pre-rut or will they be getting close to breeding time?
Should I even consider another area like more up into unit 80? (The reason I ask that is I know there is an outfitter who has five or six campsites in the Conejos peak area that he packs hunters in to. I've gone on his site and seen the map of the locations and even tried calling him to see if he could offer any intel or about possibly helping me pack out if I have any luck but I haven't been able to reach him yet. But if unit 80 is a little more remote and not what some of these packed in hunters want to deal with that may be a better option.)
I was at a trade show yesterday and an outfitter I visited with who hunts Colorado told me a good strategy is to hunt ambush style over water because these areas are usually fairly dry, that's why I asked about rain, so does that sound right to any of you?
I've been reluctant to pay for a mapping app because I just don't need it here at home, I have Avenza, but I've decided the ONX one state deal isn't too bad (beats getting lost I guess) and will get that in a couple days unless anyone has other suggestions.
And since I'll be alone I'm planning to rent some kind of communication device to keep in touch with the wife to let her know my status, so a sat phone or Garmin in reach or something. Does anyone have suggestions on that?
Well, that's a lot and I apologize for the word vomit , but any advice is appreciated, and good luck to everyone in the woods this fall.

There are 2000 hunters in unit 80,81 for archery season, id say worry about getting a little ways away from the roads and trails more than what elevation to try to hunt at. For sure download onx or GoHunt, they will have the answer to some of your questions with the different layers. This time of year you are better off emailing the outfitters in the area instead of calling them because they are doing summer trips for clients and scouting for the upcoming season. They have little cell signal and usually respond in a few days when they have time. There is also already ALOT of info about these 2 units on the different forums and videos. Do some digging and PM some of the guys that have put their info in these threads. Good Luck!

 

[cdub616]

There are 2000 hunters in unit 80,81 for archery season, id say worry about getting a little ways away from the roads and trails more than what elevation to try to hunt at. For sure download onx or GoHunt, they will have the answer to some of your questions with the different layers. This time of year you are better off emailing the outfitters in the area instead of calling them because they are doing summer trips for clients and scouting for the upcoming season. They have little cell signal and usually respond in a few days when they have time. There is also already ALOT of info about these 2 units on the different forums and videos. Do some digging and PM some of the guys that have put their info in these threads. Good Luck!

Thank you.

 

[Westelker]

Hey folks, New to the HT forum. I'm posting in this thread because I also have an archery tag for 80-81. I've hunted elk twice several years ago with my dad in unit 66 muzzle loader cow tags, no luck either time and that's the extent of my elk hunting experience, I hunt whitetails here at home. I'm looking at the area to the southwest of Platoro just because we have vacationed there a couple times, taken a couple of hikes but for the most part I'm unfamiliar with the area. Now I know not to ask where the elk are (they're in the woods), but I have a few questions more related to tactics for the area and time of the season. My hunt dates will be roughly September 11 through 22 and I've left myself some room to add a couple of days if I think I need to. From past trips there I know there are quit a bit of roads and atv access, and I have a side by side that I could bring, but I don't want to hunt out of it and I would rather leave it home unless any of you that know better would advise me bring it. I'm mainly planning to be on foot, bivy camp style where I can just stop wherever I am at the end of the day. I will be solo. So if there is a way to get to spots where most people don't want to go that's what I'll be trying. So I'll list out my questions and whoever would like to respond to any of it I'll appreciate the guidance.
How has the rainfall been in the area this spring and summer?
What elevations should I be concentrating on?
Are they very vocal, does calling work much, passive or aggressive calling, more cow talk?
Are my hunt dates more pre-rut or will they be getting close to breeding time?
Should I even consider another area like more up into unit 80? (The reason I ask that is I know there is an outfitter who has five or six campsites in the Conejos peak area that he packs hunters in to. I've gone on his site and seen the map of the locations and even tried calling him to see if he could offer any intel or about possibly helping me pack out if I have any luck but I haven't been able to reach him yet. But if unit 80 is a little more remote and not what some of these packed in hunters want to deal with that may be a better option.)
I was at a trade show yesterday and an outfitter I visited with who hunts Colorado told me a good strategy is to hunt ambush style over water because these areas are usually fairly dry, that's why I asked about rain, so does that sound right to any of you?
I've been reluctant to pay for a mapping app because I just don't need it here at home, I have Avenza, but I've decided the ONX one state deal isn't too bad (beats getting lost I guess) and will get that in a couple days unless anyone has other suggestions.
And since I'll be alone I'm planning to rent some kind of communication device to keep in touch with the wife to let her know my status, so a sat phone or Garmin in reach or something. Does anyone have suggestions on that?
Well, that's a lot and I apologize for the word vomit , but any advice is appreciated, and good luck to everyone in the woods this fall.

PM me re 80!

 

[cdub616]

PM me re 80!

Westelker, was hoping you might jump in.

 

[cdub616]

Westelker, was hoping you might jump in.

So the way I understand this I need to make 10 posts before I can PM someone.

 

[cdub616]

So the way I understand this I need to make 10 posts before I can PM someone.

I have about 5 or 6 more I need to do so I will try to contribute to some more threads or post more responses here if anyone else has a comment for me.

 

[cdub616]

I have about 5 or 6 more I need to do so I will try to contribute to some more threads or post more responses here if anyone else has a comment for me.

And posting this reply to you in a few pieces may be a sneaky way to have more posts so I hope I'm not being unethical in that manner.

 

[Westelker]

And posting this reply to you in a few pieces may be a sneaky way to have more posts so I hope I'm not being unethical in that manner.

As I posted a couple days ago, PM when you can. Include your experience, your physical condition etc..., and knowledge about elk hunting...not deer hunting and how you plan on dealing with a bull after you harvest it. Your bivy camp experience, equipment, experience in archery etc... Unit 80 will be cool, warm and hot, dusty, dirty, dry, windy and crowded. Are you mentally ready, physically prepared, able and fully committed to put your big boy pants on?

 

[cdub616]

As I posted a couple days ago, PM when you can. Include your experience, your physical condition etc..., and knowledge about elk hunting...not deer hunting and how you plan on dealing with a bull after you harvest it. Your bivy camp experience, equipment, experience in archery etc... Unit 80 will be cool, warm and hot, dusty, dirty, dry, windy and crowded. Are you mentally ready, physically prepared, able and fully committed to put your big boy pants on?

Ok thanks, will do.

 

[caddiscrazy]

As I posted a couple days ago, PM when you can. Include your experience, your physical condition etc..., and knowledge about elk hunting...not deer hunting and how you plan on dealing with a bull after you harvest it. Your bivy camp experience, equipment, experience in archery etc... Unit 80 will be cool, warm and hot, dusty, dirty, dry, windy and crowded. Are you mentally ready, physically prepared, able and fully committed to put your big boy pants on?

I really like this response! Sometimes people just pictures themselves In the grip and grin, and don’t think about the physical and mental beating it can sometimes take to make it happen.

 

[SDarchery]

I was born and raised in the middle of unit 80 and spent a large portion of my adult life guiding in that unit from Backcountry horse camps. It's very tough to get away from people there. The best way to be successful is to find drainages that don't have roads or ATV trails in them. It might not seem like there are any but they are there and they hold elk. It's surprisingly rough country and will take some effort to get into and hunt. There's actually a few drainages that are 4-5 miles from any motorized trail. I managed to keep about an 80% success rate in that unit with my clients and killed a bull every year for 11 straight with a bow. It can be done for sure do your e-scouring, put boots on the ground and just because you see another hunter across the drainage doesn't mean the elk aren't there. It does have a good elk population and some extra large mule deer.

Do you mind sharing some info on 80 for 3rd rifle mule deer? I will be heading out this fall to do some scouting and this unit is on my list. hoping to have a unit narrowed down for next years application.

 

[tkhuntsman]

Do you mind sharing some info on 80 for 3rd rifle mule deer? I will be heading out this fall to do some scouting and this unit is on my list. hoping to have a unit narrowed down for next years application.

I don't mind what would you like to know