2020 was a hard year since there seemed to be a ton of people on the mountain but we still found elk deep in the canyons. I hunted with Brownings new X-Bolt Mountain Pro Long Range rifle, which just might be the best X-Bolt Ive ever shot. Also, on some of the later season hunt dates it might not be a bad idea to start to look at some of the migration layers that can be found on goHUNT Maps to figure out where elk could be, or if it is an area where animals will migrate out of during those late dates that we will see in 2021. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Below is a screenshot of Filtering 2.0showing all 122 units that have an over the counter archery elk hunt. As the fox pulled hunks of decaying meat off the carcass, I slung my pack and descended the mountain through the falling darkness. We offer a very limited number of early season (September) rut hunts. Permit Type A; License Valid for Units: 80, 81; GMU 81 - Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, and Rio Grande Counties, Toggle between terrain, satellite, and topographic views, The ability to filter OTC units by residency and manner/sex, 1st choice license applications and licenses drawn, Draw odds for resident and nonresident applicants, Harvest stats by hunt_code, manner, season, sex, type, Average # of days between precip or snow event, Probability of other weather events (thunder, hail, etc) by by month. Alex Robinson I do not actually see this, because the fence is obscured by sage, but the sound is as obvious as the sight would have been. In 6.8 Western with a 26-inch barrel, the rifle weighs 6 pounds 12 ounces. Even though 12% of guys in both units get an elk, it would be far easier for you to get away from the crowd and be successful in the first unit. While the bars and restaurants in town hang Welcome, Hunters signs, the resident elk hunters arent as enthusiastic about this flood of out-of-staters. See all stats but the last 2 years with a free account! To start the process and create an account go here: Public land and private land percentages can sometime be misleading. There are other important sources of pressure that you should look into: Well get into more specific sources of pressure when we talk about picking spots later in the series, but for now those are good ones to cover. If you plan on hunting in higher elevation, as a rule of thumb, expect the tempture to decrease roughly 5 for every 1000' in elevation gain. The average elevation of the open, sagebrush-grassland park is
8,000 feet. Research the latest Colorado Elk Draw Odds Results and Harvest Data. One strategy for trying to gauge the popularity of OTC hunts is to view an individual unit's Unit Profile and check out how many hunters were surveyed that hunted the unit. Alex Robinson is Outdoor Lifes editor-in-chief. The archery elk draw hunts are agreat way to get away from the OTC crowds and possibly have a better overall hunting experience. Read about advertising on huntscore here. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Elk hunting is good but requires hunters to pursue animals in challenging terrain. You'll see how easily it can be to start to narrow down hunts using Filtering 2.0. 32% Private, 68% Public, 38% USFS, 14% BLM, 4% State, 4% Wilderness, 5% NPS, 8% Other. I still think success rate is a valuable metric (mainly to tell you where NOT to go), but there are better metrics than what Colorado provides. Except it snowed. The downside of the OTC Colorado elk season, of course, is that everyone does hunt it. Located at ~7500ft the property allows hunters of most physical conditions to enjoy the pursuit of game. These hunts with limited tags could mean less crowding. The property is strategically located near ag fields, water and terrain that perennially draws elk. The redesigned reports offer better transparency; providing hunters with the same information that Colorado Parks and Wildlife uses to manage the limited-license drawing. There are a total of 90 different units in Colorado that hold an OTC elk hunt for 3rd season. Overall success rates for elk hunters in unlimited units in the San Luis Valley are generally lower than the statewide average. Are you an outfitter, hunting guide, game processor or local hotel? The raw Colorado data is over 66 pages and its really difficult to compare units since you dont know which are OTC (dont trust me? Paul is a faithful mountain hunter and came to guide elk in Colorado mostly so he could work with horses. Hiking into the snow on the first day of a Colorado elk hunt. We can do this every year if we like. And with all that opportunity, there are some phenomenal hunts that shouldnt be overlooked. For example, there are a total of 21 units that have draw odds of 100% at zero points and 32 units that have draw odds of 100% at 1 point. I have hunted extensively in Unit 521 and noticed a decline in elk sightings and the decline of available cow tags. See how weather varies by elevation within a unit by selecting an elevation range. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Heres a step by step guide using the spreadsheet I built to help you narrow it down. All of these tools are what you need to find the perfect hunt for you. Advertise on HuntScore and reach hunters interested in this hunting unit! We found the second slug, a coup de grce shot fired from 20 yards, while quartering out the bull. While this article is about Colorado, I also am doing an analysis on the picking the best elk unit in Idaho, so head over there if youre in the wrong spot. Through a gap in the timber about the size of a living room, we can see two tawny hides. Weather is a dominant factor for hunters. But those trips will cost you $10,000 or more. A quick look on INSIDER showcased that for a nonresident, 56 units that were drawn in 2020 with zero points for 1st rifle, 11 units were 100% draw for 2nd rifle, 12 unts were 100% draw for 3rd rifle and finally 85 units were 100% draw for 4th rifle. With well over 280,000 running around there are more than enough in each unit to have a good hunt. Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) has developed a new and improved Draw Recap Report, which provides a wealth of information for hunters. I have archery hunted this unit 3 times, 2017, 2019 and 2020 and we've had opportunities all three trips. That is to say, there are other hunters in the woods and at trailheads. The lease of the property includes . rifles #1 piece of advice we were given is be aggressive. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, I'm Baxter Bowman. These OTC tags go on sale on Aug. 6 this year (2021). Domestic sheep will graze in the months of August and September throughout parts of the Routt National Forest. Public land and private land percentages can sometime be misleading. A nonresident Colorado elk tag costs $670. The next day, we tried the same plan: glassing from the bottom at first light, hiking to the top and waiting until dark. Enter your email address and receive notifications of new posts by email. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. We start with guided bow hunts, leading into youth only, followed by Muzzleloader and then rifle. Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! Why? The elk were after are local critters. Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, and land ownership is just one piece of the puzzle. Youll get an email within minutes with the links to files for Idaho and Colorado. Not a giant, but a nice one.And with that, the little elk herd disappears into the timber above. If you plan on hunting in higher elevation, as a rule of thumb, expect the tempture to decrease roughly 5 for every 1000' in elevation gain. Not all weather elements are available within the unit. Elevation ranges are based on weather stations in or near the unit. Field Notes of a Colorado Sportsperson: Amazing Birds List, The Peoples Peak The Road to Fishers Peak State Park, Whats New for Colorado Big-Game Hunters in 2021, 2021 Colorado Outdoors Preference Point Issue (Online Edition), Colorado Big Game Hunting Series: Part 1 Making a Plan, Whats New" for Colorado Big-Game Hunters in 2021 - Colorado Outdoors Online, Colorado Big Game Hunting Series: Part 2 - What You Need to Know - Colorado Outdoors Online, Keeping You and Your Pets Safe from Rattlesnakes, Colorados 2023 Big Game Hunting License Secondary Draw, Bluebird Seasons: Witnessing Climate Change in My Piece of the Wild. Remember, as an INSIDER you have access to everything from Filtering 2.0, Draw Odds, goHUNT 3D Web Maps and Application Strategy articles. Theyre moving up the draw, and I can pick up only flashes of tan hide through the brush. I'm just as obsessed about bowhunting elk as you are. A unit may have 80% public land, but a particluar species may only occupy 20% on the entire area. 11 Hello, Drew my first muzzleloader elk tag for unit 4,5,441. Do you have landowner tags, lease land, or have an lodge? 161, 171; Permit Type A; License Valid for Units: 6, 16, 161, 171; SILVER SPUR RANCH. He oversees an ace team of writers, photographers, and editors who are scattered across the continent and cover everything from backcountry sheep hunting to trail running. 1. The hunt codes you wish to apply for. Then more elk appear in the opening. Overall, success rates for elk hunters in unlimited units in the San Luis Valley are generally lower than the statewide average. Then they go on to brag about how amazing the hunt was. Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, and land ownership is just one piece of the puzzle. These hunts are for Antlered Elk Only (Bull Elk) and are available in 93 hunt units (GMUs - Game Management Units) in Western Colorado. 1. The trio link up with more elk on the far side of the draw. Elk Hunting in Colorado GMU 171 - Jackson County . Read about advertising on huntscore here. Colorado. Every year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife's biologists compile data on the states deer, elk and pronghorn herds by data analysis units (DAU). To compliment the security habitat, on U.S. National Forest lands,ElkTracker maps also show areas containing high quality elk forage habitat and the elk hunting Hot Spots. Weather can vary by elevation. You now need an email to apply, and you will need to create an account. The San Luis Valley is a vast 8,000-square-mile area that provides a wide variety of terrain at elevations that range from 7,500 feet to 14,000 feet. One 6x6 and one 5x6. Public land and private land percentages can sometime be misleading. Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, and land ownership is just one piece of the puzzle. 31 6,440 13 7, 8, 9, 19, 191 40,581 Poudre River 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 04 White River 05 06 Cold Springs North Park West Elk Mountains 2, 201 6, 16, 161, 17, 171 53, 54, 63 1,500 4,715 8,476 37 21 20 07 08 Troublesome Creek 18, 181 4,145 42 And while elk stay away from these areas, they will likely be in the general vicinity. Make sure to hit the 3D option and remember everything looks way, way easier than it is, Make sure to check the Motor vehicle use map option since roads are what you should care about most, Trust this above all other sources on what backroads are actually open to traffic. First Ill walk you some common mistakes, how I built the file, and what the data tells you (and more importantly, what it doesnt). Does that sound confusing? Weather can vary by elevation. And there are even options to pick up some of these units as a second choice at zero points, so you would build a preference point and put a tag in your pocket. I downloaded all the archery data into a spreadsheet, identified if units are OTC, and then took out units that are east of I-80 (theyre flat and almost all private agricultural land). Just like picking a state, one of the biggest criteria for picking a unit is how close it is to you. We figured we had the bull and his cows surrounded, unless of course hed slipped off the back side of the mountain to graze that evening. Advertise on HuntScore and reach hunters interested in this hunting unit! Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! Get a free account to view the details! opportunity Although approximately 220,000 hunters went after elk during the 2019 hunting seasons, only 37,000 elk were harvested in total. The best unit is one that fits your hunting style, has plenty of elk, and doesnt get a ton of pressure (or at least pressure where youll be hunting). Weather can vary by elevation. Elk hunting is good but requires hunters to pursue animals in challenging terrain. Check for current or recent wildfires in this area. wilderness!) Success rates on public are as low as 1% for some hunts yet people keep buying the tags. Looking for the best elk unit in Colorado for OTC archery? Your Hunter's Safety card 3. Are you an outfitter, hunting guide, game processor or local hotel? Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! I have also read on here about Bears Ear and it's a good spot. Stay tuned for an article coming out soonon Colorado mule deer where I take a deep dive into the 2021 season dates. Large swings indicate a good layering system should be used. Days per harvest (20.4) decreased in 2019 and harvest success rates were considered acceptable. Heres an overview of each stat: Then I used a heat map to show which units have the best stats and which have the worst (thats just fancy term for adding stoplight colors to the data so you can visualize it green is best, yellow is ok, red is worst). Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Unit 65 doesn't have the numbers you'll find in unit 4 though the population is steadily increasing and success rates are roughly the same. Permit Type B; License Valid for Units: 17, 171; Permit Type A; License Valid for Units: 6, 16, 17, 161, 171; Toggle between terrain, satellite, and topographic views, The ability to filter OTC units by residency and manner/sex, 1st choice license applications and licenses drawn, Draw odds for resident and nonresident applicants, Harvest stats by hunt_code, manner, season, sex, type, Average # of days between precip or snow event, Probability of other weather events (thunder, hail, etc) by by month. The wind is in my face, and I fight the urge to just stalk directly toward the elk, which are now about 600 yards out. Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! But will they reappear when you finally get there? The area is dominated by public lands and hunting access is excellent in most areas. Colorado always has the largest total elk harvest every year (Table 1) and also has the most bull elk harvested (Table 2) and has averaged just under 42,000 total elk and just under 22,000 total bull elk over the last six seasons reported. I crawl to the nearest bush and start furiously glassing for a bull. Learn more here: Your email address will not be published. 2022 GOHUNT, LLC. Most people just look at the file, pick the highest success rate, and go. Theyre trotting away but dont seem fully spooked. Wyoming hunters saw varied success in 2019. Other considerations may include the density of hunters, the road density, the amount of wilderness, or the amount of public land within each GMU. Elevation ranges are based on weather stations in or near the unit. The promise of bull elk and high adventure keeps nonresidents heading West year after year despite brutal success rates. The fence creaks a third time, and there, at long last, is a bull. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! Elk are distributed evenly throughout this unit. The cost for small game license is $50.37 and the cost is $30.11 for Bull Elk (Antlered), Either Sex Elk tags or for cow/calf (Antlerless). Sure, there are plenty of draw hunts and guided hunts on private land around the continent that offer much higher success rates on much bigger bulls. Not all weather elements are available within the unit. Joined Oct 28, 2017 Messages 2,903 . Notify me of follow-up comments by email. nubbin; Sep 19, 2022; Elk; Replies 15 Views 1K. More detailed ElkTracker maps are available to purchase for your GMU. I was just below the top of the ridge, at almost 11,000 feet. 2021 Colorado elk application strategy article here, See your archery elk draw tag options here. Also, beyond the ever-popular OTC2nd and 3rd season elk hunts in Colorado, there draw hunts for 1st rifle, 2nd rifle, 3rd rifle and 4th rifle. For over 10 years Elk Haus Cabin has been hosting DIY private land hunts with a very high success rate. Read about advertising on huntscore here. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! Thats normal all the big sites like GoHunt, Hunting Fool, etc use the exact same info, so dont worry about it. Get a free account to view the details! See all stats but the last 2 years with a free account! Almost every nonresident that comes to CO that backpacks wants to go to one of these (no vehicles! Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! Elk hunting is good but requires hunters to pursue animals in challenging terrain. One of the top considerations that most people take into account when deciding on which area to hunt is the likelihood for a successful hunt. Every year, Colorado Parks and Wildlifes (CPW) big-game biologists compile data on the states deer, elk and pronghorn herds by data analysis units (DAU). Does anyone know if that road is accessible by the public to get to the trails, or is it totally private? A quick look on INSIDER showcased that for a nonresident, 56 units that were drawn in 2020 with zero points for 1st rifle, 11 units were 100% draw for 2nd rifle, 12 unts were 100% draw for 3rd rifle and finally 85 units were 100% draw for 4th rifle. As the sun sank behind the mountains, I caught movement below me, a flash of light-colored fur slipping through the wild grass. Replies 28 Views 2K. In 2019, 4,297 elk were classified during the postseason aerial classification survey (Appendix A). Large swings indicate a good layering system should be used. Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, and land ownership is just one piece of the puzzle. Use temperature ranges to plan and prepare for your hunt. An estimated 283,000 elk roam the landscape in Colorado, the most of any state. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Hunting Statistics, RAV-Cheatgrass-Tool-Improve-Bobwhite-Habitat, number of licenses available by hunt code, number of hunters that applied for each hunt code, number of hunters that successfully drew a license, Sagebrush & Sage Species Conservation Strategy, Estimated Harvest Frequently Asked Questions. For the first time, pre-draw and post-draw information, and license quotas have been combined into a single, easy to read layout. Have hunted 65 several years and you can find Elk there but you will also find lots of hunters. Send us an email at [emailprotected] to learn more.
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