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DIY Public Land Colorado Elk Hunt
Posted by Timmayy on 10/5/20 at 10:43 pm310
TLDR: I’m completely unprepared for a hunting trip that was very haphazardly thrown together and planned. Most likely will just walk in circles until my chest blows up and die. But I’m stoked and can’t wait.
So as the name suggests I’m a glutton for things that are going to be miserable but awesome at the same time.
I’ve watched all the shows and seen all the guys do it and always said damn I’d love to do that but was always turned off by all the naysaying that you find on forums about how you’ll never shoot an elk in anything but a unit that takes ten years to draw and has a hunter population of 2 guys per five square miles.
Well my good buddy moved to Colorado last year and we half joking said hey we are going to make a hunt next year. We are the kinda buddies that check up on each other once every other month or so and every time we would talk as if we were really going on this hunt. Well the more and more we half arse piddled about it the more and more we actually put small pieces of the puzzle together. Eventually we figured out the leftover tag drawing system and said screw it we will split the cost of a cow elk tag and flip heads for whose name is going on the tag. Didn’t think we needed to buy two tags since the odds of us filling is 15% and that’s if you know what you are doing.
The limited leftover drawing day comes around and we are both at work feverishly typing in information to be ready as soon as the clock turns over to 9am So that we can secure a tag in the unit and season we wanted. 9 o’clock turns over and my buddy is in but the system booted him back out and gave him a que, This whole process gave me flashbacks to lsu.edu and the shitshow that was trying to get the classes scheduled that you wanted. Well ten stressful minutes later and we have a cow elk tag for first season rifle in unit 16 and 161.
Now all of a sudden this trip is very real. $200 round trip ticket and half a cow elk tag later I’m apparently going to hunt in Colorado’s medicine bow route national forest.
Between work and life I have been able to do what is seemingly the bare minimum for this trip. Got new hiking boots broken in hiking the nearest retention pond levee I could find in Houston with my pack filled up with 40 pounds of dumbells. A few half hearted attempts at running. Needless to say I’m in peak condition for hiking at 9000 feet....
I’ve spent the last two weekends gathering all my old camping gear from when I hiked philmont, and made a decent pack which consists of a conglomeration of crap that is probably going to end up getting left at the truck when I realize how much utter shite I have.
I fly out Wednesday morning and get into Denver early morning which leaves us all day to go through each others packs and make any last minute purchases at REI. Thursday morning we are going to hop in my buddies truck and begin the ascent into the mountains. We plan to hike in about 3-4 miles from the trail head to set up our first base camp. Hopefully leaving us a few hours to do a little scouting. Friday gets to be an entire day devoted to scouting out the area before the season opens on Saturday.
It looks like we can expect a little snow / rainstorm on Saturday which I fully expect to make me miserably cold. But Saturday is game on and we plan to atleast travel a few miles in each direction. If by Sunday we don’t like the area we will pack out and reposition two ridges over which will probably give us a little more seclusion. We plan to hunt every day of the season until it closes on Wednesday and pack up camp and head out Thursday.
This is defintiely going to be the longest I’ve been camped since highschool but I’m stoked about the possibilities that lie ahead of this trip. If we don’t even see an elk this is still going to be an amazing trip and a much better week and half spent than at work.
Wish me luck and hopefully I’ll survive to chronicle my trip here after.
So as the name suggests I’m a glutton for things that are going to be miserable but awesome at the same time.
I’ve watched all the shows and seen all the guys do it and always said damn I’d love to do that but was always turned off by all the naysaying that you find on forums about how you’ll never shoot an elk in anything but a unit that takes ten years to draw and has a hunter population of 2 guys per five square miles.
Well my good buddy moved to Colorado last year and we half joking said hey we are going to make a hunt next year. We are the kinda buddies that check up on each other once every other month or so and every time we would talk as if we were really going on this hunt. Well the more and more we half arse piddled about it the more and more we actually put small pieces of the puzzle together. Eventually we figured out the leftover tag drawing system and said screw it we will split the cost of a cow elk tag and flip heads for whose name is going on the tag. Didn’t think we needed to buy two tags since the odds of us filling is 15% and that’s if you know what you are doing.
The limited leftover drawing day comes around and we are both at work feverishly typing in information to be ready as soon as the clock turns over to 9am So that we can secure a tag in the unit and season we wanted. 9 o’clock turns over and my buddy is in but the system booted him back out and gave him a que, This whole process gave me flashbacks to lsu.edu and the shitshow that was trying to get the classes scheduled that you wanted. Well ten stressful minutes later and we have a cow elk tag for first season rifle in unit 16 and 161.
Now all of a sudden this trip is very real. $200 round trip ticket and half a cow elk tag later I’m apparently going to hunt in Colorado’s medicine bow route national forest.
Between work and life I have been able to do what is seemingly the bare minimum for this trip. Got new hiking boots broken in hiking the nearest retention pond levee I could find in Houston with my pack filled up with 40 pounds of dumbells. A few half hearted attempts at running. Needless to say I’m in peak condition for hiking at 9000 feet....
I’ve spent the last two weekends gathering all my old camping gear from when I hiked philmont, and made a decent pack which consists of a conglomeration of crap that is probably going to end up getting left at the truck when I realize how much utter shite I have.
I fly out Wednesday morning and get into Denver early morning which leaves us all day to go through each others packs and make any last minute purchases at REI. Thursday morning we are going to hop in my buddies truck and begin the ascent into the mountains. We plan to hike in about 3-4 miles from the trail head to set up our first base camp. Hopefully leaving us a few hours to do a little scouting. Friday gets to be an entire day devoted to scouting out the area before the season opens on Saturday.
It looks like we can expect a little snow / rainstorm on Saturday which I fully expect to make me miserably cold. But Saturday is game on and we plan to atleast travel a few miles in each direction. If by Sunday we don’t like the area we will pack out and reposition two ridges over which will probably give us a little more seclusion. We plan to hunt every day of the season until it closes on Wednesday and pack up camp and head out Thursday.
This is defintiely going to be the longest I’ve been camped since highschool but I’m stoked about the possibilities that lie ahead of this trip. If we don’t even see an elk this is still going to be an amazing trip and a much better week and half spent than at work.
Wish me luck and hopefully I’ll survive to chronicle my trip here after.
This post was edited on 10/5 at 10:47 pm
quote:Im not saying you aren’t in shape, but it’s hard to replicate altitude....
Needless to say I’m in peak condition for hiking at 9000 feet....
Jealous. Have a good trip and post pics.
This post was edited on 10/5 at 11:12 pm
re: DIY Public Land Colorado Elk HuntPosted by LSU in Frisco TX on 10/6/20 at 12:13 am to Timmayy
As a guy that moved from GA to CO a few years ago, take it from me, it is impossible to drink too much water.
re: DIY Public Land Colorado Elk HuntPosted by Timmayy on 10/6/20 at 5:32 am to LSU in Frisco TX
Yeaaah I’m a big water drinker too when I excersixe. I’m bringing three camel backs and will basically just stock up on water so I have plenty at the camp site. I’m hoping that doing this will keep me from running out of water so often and being too lazy to go make more.
Sounds great OP, I’m jealous. The two keys to killing elk are time and moving until you find elk. Obviously time is limited so that’s fine. Even the best Elk hunters need time sometimes.
The other is to move until you get into elk. It’s your first year but the mistake many people make is finding great elk sign by the truck and walking in two miles because you felt like it was necessary, or staying in a spot that looked great every year but just didn’t have elk around this year. You gotta move until you get into elk, seeds obvious but it’s a common mistake by all hunters myself included.
The other is to move until you get into elk. It’s your first year but the mistake many people make is finding great elk sign by the truck and walking in two miles because you felt like it was necessary, or staying in a spot that looked great every year but just didn’t have elk around this year. You gotta move until you get into elk, seeds obvious but it’s a common mistake by all hunters myself included.
Go for height and seclusion right out of the gate. Get away from the crowds that are within half mile of access roads. Get away from ATV trails. Most people are Pretty lazy.
Those higher and more secluded areas are where the elk will go when they feel pressure. They will start showing up by end of day one and keep coming in on day 2. If you guys hunt an area that is crowded with locals it will be tough. You’ll see safety orange everywhere. Good luck.
Those higher and more secluded areas are where the elk will go when they feel pressure. They will start showing up by end of day one and keep coming in on day 2. If you guys hunt an area that is crowded with locals it will be tough. You’ll see safety orange everywhere. Good luck.
re: DIY Public Land Colorado Elk HuntPosted by 10MTNTiger on 10/6/20 at 5:56 am to Timmayy
If you are really going to be at 9,000+ you better be careful, that altitude is not a joke and can hurt guys in great shape.
I hope you all have a blast and smoke one next to the road.
I hope you all have a blast and smoke one next to the road.
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re: DIY Public Land Colorado Elk HuntPosted by fishfighter on 10/6/20 at 6:10 am to Timmayy
Good luck, watch for bears and take a shite load of pictures.
re: DIY Public Land Colorado Elk HuntPosted by fillmoregandt on 10/6/20 at 6:41 am to Timmayy
Sounds awesome. Keep us updated
Take a camera along and take plenty of pictures that's always my favorite part if we aren't seeing/hearing elk. Lots of good memories captured that will last long after your knees won't let you get up and down the mountains anymore.
re: DIY Public Land Colorado Elk HuntPosted by Dissident Aggressor on 10/6/20 at 8:54 am to Timmayy
quote:
Needless to say I’m in peak condition for hiking at 9000 feet
until you get that headache...
re: DIY Public Land Colorado Elk HuntPosted by jimbeam on 10/6/20 at 9:18 am to Dissident Aggressor
Water water water water. And fatty food
re: DIY Public Land Colorado Elk HuntPosted by smoked hog on 10/6/20 at 9:21 am to Dissident Aggressor
I'm not sure about finding elk this time of year but I can say you can't drink enough water. I've had altitude sickness and it will kick your butt even if you are in shape. Good luck and let us know what all you learned when you get back.
re: DIY Public Land Colorado Elk HuntPosted by stayathomedad on 10/6/20 at 10:17 am to Timmayy
Just got back last from pronghorn hunting in WY near the Medicine Bow National Forest. Wildfire smoke was an issue depending on the wind. At the time lots of areas/roads in the National Forest were closed and we didn’t end up trout fishing as planned. Hopefully Colorado side is better. Just checked and it’s size is over 150k acres as of today. Good luck and be safe.
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