- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Anyone ever do a DIY -Public Land Hunt for Elk in the Colorado or NM
Posted on 9/13/12 at 11:25 am to bhtigerfan
Posted on 9/13/12 at 11:25 am to bhtigerfan
Damn. Your post has me drooling to do this now.
My main worry is that I will drive to CO, set up a camp, and hike the mountains for 10 days and not see one elk because I'm a newb and have no clue how they act. The extent of my elk hunting knowledge is to find a peak glass and stalk.
The vast amount of public land is intimidating.
How do you pick a camp site, and an area to
hunt?
oh and nice bull!
My main worry is that I will drive to CO, set up a camp, and hike the mountains for 10 days and not see one elk because I'm a newb and have no clue how they act. The extent of my elk hunting knowledge is to find a peak glass and stalk.
The vast amount of public land is intimidating.
How do you pick a camp site, and an area to
hunt?
oh and nice bull!
This post was edited on 9/13/12 at 11:27 am
2
Posted on 9/13/12 at 11:34 am to dat yat
quote:
dat yat
Posted on 9/13/12 at 11:52 am to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
quote:That is quite possible. It is some rough terrain and they are smart and wary animals. They can move many miles in a day. The best advice I can give a noob, as I gave to a friend who went his first time and his brother killed a nice 6x6 is this: Get in shape and hike as far away from civilization and other hunters and you will likely find elk.
My main worry is that I will drive to CO, set up a camp, and hike the mountains for 10 days and not see one elk because I'm a newb and have no clue how they act. The extent of my elk hunting knowledge is to find a peak glass and stalk.
quote:It is. Use Google Earth and maps from the USGS to find secluded spots on NF. Also BLM and state land.
The vast amount of public land is intimidating.
quote:Anywhere that's flat! We usually camp along the road going up the mountain because we use the horse trailer to transport the mules if we hunt a different area. Some people camp at the trailhead, or you can pack in a light tent into the backcountry.
How do you pick a camp site
quote:Thanks. Killed him on Nov. 4th of '07, same day we beat Bama away, when C. Jones sacked John Sarah Jessica Parker Wilson!
oh and nice bull
Posted on 9/13/12 at 11:52 am to TexasTiger
I live on the very edge of the White River NF. My neighbor and many other people hunt the public land behind our house. GMU 24 I believe. There is a really large and very nice camping ground called West Elk Creek Campground near us. It is maybe 15 minutes out of town and right in elk hunting grounds. One thing you need to know about Colorado is that private property is not always marked and it is up to you to find out.
This post was edited on 9/13/12 at 11:56 am
Posted on 9/13/12 at 11:55 am to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
Man I can go behind my place and see elk nearly every day. Your biggest issue would be seeing one where you can get a shot and be sure you can get him out. The oak brush up here is some serios shite and the country is rugged. Many places you can only get a kill out by horse.
This post was edited on 9/13/12 at 11:56 am
Posted on 9/13/12 at 11:57 am to redstick13
quote:That is correct sir! I use a Garmin GPS with topo map and USGS topo maps. Have never gotten lost or wandered onto private land. Most of the NF boundaries are marked by fences though. If you cross a barbed wire fence, make damn sure it's still public land.
One thing you need to know about Colorado is that private property is not always marked and it is up to you to find out.
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:00 pm to redstick13
quote:When the shooting starts, they will disappear. Usually go up into higher terrain until the deep snow drives them out, or hide out on private land with little or no pressure.
Man I can go behind my place and see elk nearly every day. Your biggest issue would be seeing one where you can get a shot and be sure you can get him out. The oak brush up here is some serios shite and the country is rugged. Many places you can only get a kill out by horse.
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:03 pm to redstick13
quote:I'm gonna check the regs on your area and GMU. Alot of the ones up there are draw only, no OTC. Sounds like a great place.
redstick13
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:07 pm to bhtigerfan
If any of you guys are up in my area hunting and need tips on the area, drop me a message. I have lived up here going on 7 years and am very familiar with the area. One thing for sure, make sure you have GPS up on the flat tops in the white river NF. That is a vast area and people get lost and have to be rescued up there every hunting season.
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:12 pm to redstick13
quote:Why don't you elk hunt? That's like living in Cabo and not fishing.
redstick13
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:16 pm to bhtigerfan
I have too many other expensive hobbies I'm currently supporting. There is a good chance I will get into it next year. My neighbor is on my arse pretty hard to get going. I've been getting up to speed on it this year.
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:23 pm to redstick13
Good luck bro. You're gonna love it. Nothing like being in the mountains elk hunting. Nothing.
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:27 pm to bhtigerfan
Nice bull
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:34 pm to Slickback
quote:
Posted by Slickback on 9/13 at 8:34 am to TexasTiger I have two cousins that go every year to Colorado (unless they draw tags in Utah) and do a public land hunt. They rent horses and stay in a tent for two weeks. It is inexpensive if you do it that way. I think the horses are like $50/week and the license is about $500 Other than that, they have to pay for gas, gear, food, and I think they go into town twice and sleep in a motel so they can shower and eat a hot meal.
50$ a week? That seems so dirt cheap I feel like I need a link.
There are places that charge double that just for a day. I have friends here in Oregon that backpack in and rough it for a week or so. They only live a few miles away too.
I'm in the middle of some great elk country currently. Told my buddy he's gonna help get me one next year. Guy knows these woods like the back of his hand. Not sure why I haven't done so sooner.
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:40 pm to bhtigerfan
quote:
I'm not impressed with those guys that pay $5000 to hunt private land adjacent to national forest over an alfalfa field. Guide to client, "We'll just sit right here for about an hour or so until right before sunset, and they'll come walking down the mountain to feed in this field. Pick out a nice bull and shoot him.". That's not hunting.
Forget that, elk hunting isn't easy and I sure as hell want to earn mine when I do go.
Posted on 9/13/12 at 12:55 pm to bhtigerfan
Here's a pic of the bull my neighbor got last year.
Posted on 9/13/12 at 1:08 pm to redstick13
I'll have to get some pics from buddies. One had a nice 6x6 last year. They're getting primed for the upcoming season. The woman I'm messing around with is related to them which means we shall receive some steaks and sausage 
Posted on 9/14/12 at 8:46 am to redstick13
Wow! Damn fine bull! That rack looks 5 feet tall. Need a high ceiling to mount that bad boy. We need to become buds Redstick!
This post was edited on 9/14/12 at 8:49 am
Posted on 9/14/12 at 11:48 am to bhtigerfan
I lived in NM for a few years. The West is the Sportsman's paradise.
No need for a lease/camp, there is so much land and so few people it is a free for all.
I fell in love with quail hunting out there.
Find some water, shoot doves in the morning, kill some quail during the day then hit the doves back up at dusk.
You would be surprised but the duck hunting can be good. The birds are congested down the Rio Grande and there is so little pressure it can be a Pintail paradise. The season when I was there was from the end of October through the end of January with no breaks.
Elk, Deer, Pronghorn, Coyote, Javelina, Quail, Dove, Duck, Goose, Crane, Pheasants (Sheep and Ora x and cougars if you're lucky enough to draw) all in one State and all quality public hunting.
Plus beautiful country.
No need for a lease/camp, there is so much land and so few people it is a free for all.
I fell in love with quail hunting out there.
Find some water, shoot doves in the morning, kill some quail during the day then hit the doves back up at dusk.
You would be surprised but the duck hunting can be good. The birds are congested down the Rio Grande and there is so little pressure it can be a Pintail paradise. The season when I was there was from the end of October through the end of January with no breaks.
Elk, Deer, Pronghorn, Coyote, Javelina, Quail, Dove, Duck, Goose, Crane, Pheasants (Sheep and Ora x and cougars if you're lucky enough to draw) all in one State and all quality public hunting.
Plus beautiful country.
This post was edited on 9/14/12 at 12:04 pm
Posted on 9/14/12 at 1:00 pm to LSUHeights
New Mexico is nice. I am there right now. I snapped these pictures around Carlsbad a couple of days ago...
There is a cave in the rock face of the top one. I did not explore.
There is a cave in the rock face of the top one. I did not explore.
This post was edited on 9/14/12 at 1:11 pm
Page 2 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News