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DIY elk hunt CO unit 35
Posted on 7/17/23 at 6:10 pm
Posted on 7/17/23 at 6:10 pm
A buddy of mine is heading up there the last week of September for a week and invited me to go with him (archery). I’ve never been elk hunting but it’s high up on my bucket list. Had anyone hunted this area or near it recently? Any advice in general and on the elk population is appreciated. He has been a handful of times to CO but it’s been a few years since he last went to this area. We will be camping out in a spot he knows. Thanks.
4
Posted on 7/17/23 at 6:48 pm to LPLGTiger
Not in that zone, but the biggest advice I would give is to be in shape, especially if you are above 10,000 feet. I thought I was in shape to chase em, and did well the first few days, but by day 3, I was tripping over sticks I saw in the trail, that I couldn’t lift my legs over, lol. The animals are fairly dumb, compared to stalking other game, so the actual hunting and strategies aren’t hard, but start now, don’t skip leg day…
Posted on 7/17/23 at 8:27 pm to LPLGTiger
Unit 35 is close enough to the Denver metro so it likely gets hit pretty hard.
I haven't hunted that unit but I am in Colorado every fall.
Get a diaphragm cow call and learn to use it. Most bugles you will hear are going to be other hunters so unless you are certain I wouldn't spend a lot of time chasing bugles.
If you are hunting together one hunter set up behind the other by about 50 yards and cow call with the shooter between the caller and the elk. Both need to be hidden and EXTREMELY careful of the wind - both the thermals and prevailing.
In the offset set-up the bull, if he is going to hang up, will do so close to the shooter. That is where the caller needs to use some finesse and try to get the bull to close without circling around.
Be in the best shape you can, then get in better shape. Drink more water than you can hold starting a week or two before you go - the more hydrated you are the higher your blood volume, the more blood volume you have the more red blood cells, the more red blood cells the more oxygen you can carry.
Get as far from any road as you can, most hunters are going to be within 2 miles of a road/trail that allows atvs. If you are 5 miles in the crowd will be thinner. Keep in mind, if you kill something 10 miles in your going to carry it 10 miles out in about 4 loads.
Keep a first aid kit with you that you can treat severe cuts with. Last year I found three broad head intact arrows in the thick brush about thigh high - any one of them could have stabbed me.
I would recommend also having an emergency locator if you're not very familiar and capable with backwoods survival.
I haven't hunted that unit but I am in Colorado every fall.
Get a diaphragm cow call and learn to use it. Most bugles you will hear are going to be other hunters so unless you are certain I wouldn't spend a lot of time chasing bugles.
If you are hunting together one hunter set up behind the other by about 50 yards and cow call with the shooter between the caller and the elk. Both need to be hidden and EXTREMELY careful of the wind - both the thermals and prevailing.
In the offset set-up the bull, if he is going to hang up, will do so close to the shooter. That is where the caller needs to use some finesse and try to get the bull to close without circling around.
Be in the best shape you can, then get in better shape. Drink more water than you can hold starting a week or two before you go - the more hydrated you are the higher your blood volume, the more blood volume you have the more red blood cells, the more red blood cells the more oxygen you can carry.
Get as far from any road as you can, most hunters are going to be within 2 miles of a road/trail that allows atvs. If you are 5 miles in the crowd will be thinner. Keep in mind, if you kill something 10 miles in your going to carry it 10 miles out in about 4 loads.
Keep a first aid kit with you that you can treat severe cuts with. Last year I found three broad head intact arrows in the thick brush about thigh high - any one of them could have stabbed me.
I would recommend also having an emergency locator if you're not very familiar and capable with backwoods survival.
Posted on 7/18/23 at 7:25 am to LPLGTiger
How old are you and what kind of shape are you in? If you’ve never done any Western hunting or backpacking, you’ll be in a mad scramble the next two months to outfit yourself properly.
You’ll be getting there after the elk have been hunted for a month. That includes a week of muzzleloader. Your unit will have been hunted to death by the time you arrive. And the nature lovers from Denver will have hiked all over the unit.
Frame success as seeing beautiful country and actually seeing a few elk. Anything more than that is gravy.
You’ll be getting there after the elk have been hunted for a month. That includes a week of muzzleloader. Your unit will have been hunted to death by the time you arrive. And the nature lovers from Denver will have hiked all over the unit.
Frame success as seeing beautiful country and actually seeing a few elk. Anything more than that is gravy.
Posted on 7/19/23 at 8:11 am to LPLGTiger
Looking at Unit 35, It really doesnt look like a good unit for Elk (especially archery). I would think this unit is better for mule deer because the terrain appears to be mostly open sage brush.
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