First time DIY Elk Hunting - First Rifle CO - help greatly appreciated

[Clintos1980]

Make sure you check out the Colorado Hunting Atlas on the CPW website. Play around with those elk layers. If the weather during your hunt is warm, you’re gonna have to gain some elevation and hunt the summer concentration areas. I think too many first-timers underestimate how high elk can be in October.

For sure, thank you. I've been looking at that atlas a bit already.

What would you consider warm vs cold for that area? I see the summer vs winter layers on that atlas, and when we go, the averages in that area are low 30's (night) to high 60's (day). Being from TN, I would not consider that particularly "cold", but being that it's in those CO mountains, I'm not sure if that's considered warm, cold, or somewhere in between in regards to where the elk want to be.

 

[rmyoung1]

For sure, thank you. I've been looking at that atlas a bit already.

What would you consider warm vs cold for that area? I see the summer vs winter layers on that atlas, and when we go, the averages in that area are low 30's (night) to high 60's (day). Being from TN, I would not consider that particularly "cold", but being that it's in those CO mountains, I'm not sure if that's considered warm, cold, or somewhere in between in regards to where the elk want to be.

October temps in the Colorado high country can vary wildly year to year. Elk locations will have more to do with snowpack than actual temperatures. If the temps follow your stated averages, elk will be high. If, however, the mountains get hit with snowfall and then some cold temperatures creating a crusty top layer, making feed tough to access, then those elk will be motivated to move lower toward their winter range. If you don’t get any snowy weather and feed is still available up high, those elk will stay at surprisingly lofty elevations. I shot a Colorado bull on a beautiful Oct afternoon one year at 11,900 ft. Most of the hunting pressure was down near the roads 2,500 vertical feet lower.

 

[wannabee]

Wooooeee...quite the range of responses ! I appreciate the positive responses. I definitely plan to put in more work scouting and training, not just ask basic questions on forums and hope that gets me there. I will check out the Elk class for sure. And good tips on the altitude change. I will let everyone know how it turns out once we go.

As for anyone I may have offended...if I break my leg out there, I will make sure to post it here so you can laugh at my misery...

Be in great shape, match your boots to the terrain..

 

[Clintos1980]

Hey everyone.

After re-reading this thread and some PMs, I've realized I may have mis-stepped by asking for unit info right out of the gate. It was never my intention to come to this forum and take knowledge without giving back....I think I just got too excited.

I appreciate all the feedback; it was all helpful. I ensure you that I want to be a contributing member of this community, so I'm going to start some new posts showing our hunting adventures in TN. If I can help anyone, I want to do so.

With that being said, be on the lookout for a few posts, and give me a shout if you ever come to TN!...and I'll still post that broken leg if it happens

 

[Clintos1980]

Hey folks. Just FYI: https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/my-sons-first-deer-s-2024.327683/

Hope y'all have a great week!

 

[kansasdad]

^^^^

A thumbs up for the above link. Worth reading the story.

 

[sanders]

Make sure you check out the Colorado Hunting Atlas on the CPW website. Play around with those elk layers. If the weather during your hunt is warm, you’re gonna have to gain some elevation and hunt the summer concentration areas. I think too many first-timers underestimate how high elk can be in October.

I think you're right about that I've hunted Colorado twice in October and it was warm wish I had went higher. I hope to get back out there for a third season Hope the third time's a charm

 

[sanders]

If you want to punch tags learn how to scout. E-scout hard. Find areas that check all the boxes for the type of hunt you want to have. Then get out there to your unit early and find the elk. I've had a plenty of hunts where I've "hunted" for 3-6 days covering my areas before I could carry a gun then kill him on the first or second day of the season. You just have to get after it. In all seriousness a lot of hunters are lazy or aren't physically capable of getting where the elk are and getting them out. Go where the other people don't go if you are physically able. Sore muscles, cramps and blisters can heal when you get home.

Have good boots, a good pack and be able to shoot so you don't screw up your opportunity.

Good luck.

 

[BrokenChicken]

Make sure to bring your fly Rod. Arkansas River makes for great fishery in the fall.

 

[Sheltowee]

Make sure to bring your fly Rod. Arkansas River makes for great fishery in the fall.

+1 to this. Be sure to hit up The Next Eddy in Salida if you are inclined to fling little bits of feather and fur at big trout.

 

[Silver15tacoma]

I've hunted it once before. A lot of the elk I was seeing were hanging out in the fields by Salida. I'd watch the elk to come out of the fields and onto BLM/FS land. That's how I tagged out. Hope this helps!

 

[Cazador14]

Hey everyone. I tried to make the thread title pretty descriptive. I'm planning my first DIY elk hunt ever this year. I've got 4 points in CO that should let me draw unit 561 in CO pretty easily based on GoHunt's data. It seems like a logical choice - decent success rates for that season and good draw odds for the points I have. It does look like some steep country, but I'm OK with that. Already started my ruck training.

I harvested a cow elk in WY on a guided trip a few years ago, so I'm not completely foreign to the elk game, but I'm wanting to do it "for real" this time on public land and get a bull. I am going with a friend who guided for Mule Deer out West and has been on several elk trips, so I won't be alone. I am 44 years old, and just now getting into the Western game (I'm a TN boy, hunting whitetail and turkey out here), and want to make the most of the next 20 years and try to do more Western hunts before I get too old.

Does anyone have any experience in that unit for first rifle? Any tips? Are these appropriate questions to ask? Happy to talk with anyone.

Regards,
Clint

Good Luck and welcome to The Big game hunting world!l
So, in short: by the second week of October, elk are usually transitioning out of the rut and into a winter survival mode, with bulls recovering and herds focusing on food.

After weeks of fighting and chasing, mature bulls focus more on feeding to regain strength before winter. They may still bugle occasionally, but far less than during peak rut.

I suggest lots good Glassing specially in the Morning and the evenings the Elk hit meadows, burns, and open areas with good grass, especially in the early morning and late evening.

At the first Rifle season they are most likely between 10,000-11,000 feet of elevation.

 

[Clintos1980]

Hey everyone. Thought I'd give an update for anyone who is interested.

We ended up hunting unit 86, which is the eastern slope of the Sangre De Cristo mountains, from 9/13 to 9/19. We picked that unit because my partner had been there twice before and was able to draw a bow tag - I drew a muzzleloader tag. It was certainly tough terrain, but the experience was awesome. Views alone were worth it. We heard one gunshot the whole time and heard some very distant bugles, but everything we heard that was closer ended up being a hunter. Saw about 4 other hunters across the 2 different areas we camped in and hunted.

On day 2 we spotted two cows about a mile away on the opposite ridge. Next morning, we hiked up to 11.6k above treeline on that ridge where we hoped they'd be bedded, but no luck. Saw some elk and mule deer on adjoining private land. It was still fairly warm, and they weren't talking.

I'm already thinking about next year. Not certain about that same unit, but somewhere.

Hope you are all well.

 

[nrpate05]

Sounds like a good time! The terrain in 86 is pretty ruthless. I'd consider what you liked and didn't like about your recent hunt and do some reflecting. In CO, there are plenty of units you can draw with 0 points, or you can hunt OTC rifle/archery and build points. My general thought is that you'll be better off hunting the same unit year after year than jumping around, but it might take a couple seasons to figure out the terrain you like to hunt. That also makes a good excuse for a summer trip to check out some areas.

 

[Nick@elk]

Hunt all day, go places others won't, hunt till the last minute of the last day, Have good light gear. Have a plan A, B and C. Good luck

This is great advise and I totally agree.

 

[Wmccormick65]

If you want to punch tags learn how to scout. E-scout hard. Find areas that check all the boxes for the type of hunt you want to have. Then get out there to your unit early and find the elk. I've had a plenty of hunts where I've "hunted" for 3-6 days covering my areas before I could carry a gun then kill him on the first or second day of the season. You just have to get after it. In all seriousness a lot of hunters are lazy or aren't physically capable of getting where the elk are and getting them out. Go where the other people don't go if you are physically able. Sore muscles, cramps and blisters can heal when you get home.

Have good boots, a good pack and be able to shoot so you don't screw up your opportunity.

Good luck.

New elk hunter here headed out in a few days myself. I’ve been escouting pretty hard for a while, prepping physically, etc.
The one question I have is everyone says stay mobile, don’t commit to one area. So areas I have picked out for morning and evening glassing spots, how long do you stay there? Just one morning and on to the next, two? still hunt during the day? The actual way to hunt these things is what I’m not understanding. Coming from a public land whitetail hunter in flat thick brush country.

 

[cohunter14]

Yes, in general you have a morning and evening glassing spot. If those don't work out, move to new spots the next day. Keep moving until you find them. Sure, they can move into an area you were already at, but it's better IMO to keep moving and trying to find them instead of staying in the same spot hoping they show up.