DIY elk hunt CO unit 35

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…

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.

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The animals are fairly dumb, compared to stalking other game, so the actual hunting and strategies aren’t hard,

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Elk are far from dumb. If they were, success rates would be a hell of a lot higher than they are.

I would agree that the strategy to find them isn't too hard. Knowing what to look for and understanding the wind is easy. locating the elk can be easy with calls if they are being vocal. but getting a 5x5 to get within shooting distance of you is anything but easy. They aren't idiots and they know exactly where you are supposed to be when you are calling to them, and when they get close and realize there isn't another giant antlered elk in that pinpoint location, they are going to pause and know something is up. Then they are going to try to get above you and sniff you out, or just plain leave.

I would say the only time i would consider them dumb is if they are extremely horny and you are an excellent caller that is able to piss them off to the point that they are going to charge at you to come kick your arse. More often than not, they don't give a shite about your calls b/c they know where their cows are and they know they are bigger than you so you aren't a challenge to them, but that rare time you've pissed them off with your calls and they maybe think you've got one of his cows, that's when you'll get that opportunity to shoot them.
Or you get that younger satellite bull who hasn't gotten his arse whipped yet to come check out and challenge a bull(you) b/c he thinks he can take him and his cows.

OP, get your arse in shape. Start walking on the treadmill at the highest angle for at least 30 minutes a day every day, or the stairmaster.

You may be in shape but try to arrive a few days early to get acclimated to the altitude. Elk hunting really is a two man sport so work together as a team. One guy calls the other shoots.

One thing I did and I credit it with my successful first hunt was take Elk 101 online elk hunting course by Corey Jacobson. It was very informative - especially with strategies and calling.

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also, a hand held gps

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you mean your phone.

Pay for onX or Gaia maps. download the area you're going to hunt and then you can use your gps and the map when you have our phone on airplane mode, which you should leave it on while hunting to preserve your battery.


and i second downloading Elk101 and listening to all of it. As i said before, get on a treadmill or stairmaster everyday and listen to Corey Jacobsen on Elk101 while you walk.

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I’m in my early 30’s and in good shape. Not great

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If live in Louisiana and you think you're in great shape you're in bad mountain shape; if you think you're in good shape, you better get after it HARD

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I haven’t fully committed to the trip yet because I want to collect more info on the area, elk hunting, etc. I love bow hunting for white tails and what I’ve read online is elk and deer hunting have less in common than I thought. I appreciate all of the info given.

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If you have the time off easily and can afford the $1000 or so to get there and back plus another $1000 or so for the gear then I'd recommend going and just not hunt. As said its better to hunt them like turkeys and have one guy call in the rear and another guy be the shooter. So just call and be there for the experience, save the $600 or so for the tag. The chances of two guys with little knowledge of an area both needing a tag is almost 0.

Did anyone mention cardio yet? Start running and get on the stairclimber

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Hearing that it’s a high traffic area and we will be there later in the season isn’t persuading me much

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Absolutely do not let this stop you. Last year, we were watching cars drive by a couple hundred yards away with 4 bulls bugling their faces off. In 2021, we were sitting at our car drinking a beer when we called a bull to within 100 yards. These were both late Sept (my preferred time to go).

I grew up hunting whitetails but elk hunting the rut with bulls bugling blows it away, if you have a chance I would say give it a shot.

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.