Thinking about elk

787 Views 28 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Bullbuster, 12 d ago

Davem

Discussion Starter · 6 mo ago

Never hunted elk but seen a lot. I'm thinking maybe I'd like to try elk hunting on my own, so National Forest, public land. A Rocky Mountain State. An area I could drive into. Not too hot about a cow elk but a bull might just be a spike, etc. so I wouldn't rule out cow tag. On my own, will camp out during hunt. Modern Gun best, then Muzzle loader- a very close second, third bow but farther down on preference.

So...anyone do that kind of thing and any recommendations?

I don't need "hire a guide" beyond my $$. Thanks for any suggestions.

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dennishoddy

· #2 · 6 mo ago

I hunted a private ranch in New Mexico for 12 years taking 10 elk until a big corporation leased it out from under us.
It’s a whole different ball game vs hunting whitetail. You don’t sit and wait on elk like deer to come to you. You have to go after them. The area we hunted was a migration route. When the snows build up in the higher altitudes, it forces the elk to come to lower levels, constantly moving. They feed in the morning, bed down during the day feed in the evening and move at night so it’s a cat and mouse game. When you get one down and see how big it is, you know the work has just begun.

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Wishbone

· #3 · 6 mo ago

Colorado has the best OTC opportunities. Don't rule out muzzleloader - in CO it's around the rut. Best of luck on your quest.

Reactions: 5

Bullbuster

· #4 · 6 mo ago

Getting harder and harder to draw limited quota tags here in WY for a non resident. The area we elk hunt is general tag. Depending on time of season the tags good for any elk, bull only or cow/ calf. Starts Sep. 1st for bow and gun Oct .1st until mid Nov.
it’s 95% public land (NF, state and BLM).

Reactions: 2

Davem

Discussion Starter · #5 · 6 mo ago

Well, I was figuring Colorado was probably the best bet.

Reactions: 3

dennishoddy

· #6 · 6 mo ago

Wishbone said:
Colorado has the best OTC opportunities. Don't rule out muzzleloader - in CO it's around the rut. Best of luck on your quest.

Do they still have the fudd restrictions on the Muzzleloader firearms? If I remember right you can't use inline. They had a huge fight in Colorado about that back in the day. The traditionalist wanted to basically stay with flint lock, then acquiesced to a side lock.

Reactions: 1

Wishbone

· #7 · 6 mo ago

That's the way it was Dennis when I left CO in 2017. No inline and no scopes. Trying to keep it primitive. I think it's more around distance. Up to 50-60 yards, archery. 60-150 muzzleloader, over 150 yds it's rifle.

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dennishoddy

· #8 · 6 mo ago

Wishbone said:
That's the way it was Dennis when I left CO in 2017. No inline and no scopes. Trying to keep it primitive. I think it's more around distance. Up to 50-60 yards, archery. 60-150 muzzleloader, over 150 yds it's rifle.

Glad Oklahoma is more progressive in their definition of a Muzzle Loader.

Reactions: 3

Wishbone

· #9 · 6 mo ago

dennishoddy said:
Glad Oklahoma is more progressive in their definition of a Muzzle Loader.

I'm on the fence with that Dennis. I give CO kudos in trying to keep the method of take 'controlled'. Archery - no crossbow unless dr note/approved. That restricts most ethical shooters to a closer range plus an increase in skill is required. Same with ML. No inline and no scopes. Iron sights makes you get close and hopefully identify your target and make a better shot. In the end, it's about getting/keeping hunters in the field so we agree with that

Reactions: 3

Davem

Discussion Starter · #10 · 6 mo ago

I am sort of a traditional muzzle loader shooter but being successful makes me use an in-line during actual muzzle loader season. In any event, back in the days of the mountain men they would "crawl up" on elk. They had these blanket caps, made square, but when you pulled them on your head the corners stuck out- looked like wolf ears, and in crawling up- the elk didn't become that alarmed. In any event I was thinking if Colorado and a cow tag during muzzle loader- I might just try that . QUESTION: are elk color blind? I don't want some other hunter mistaking me for a wolf or coyote so I'd need Orange.

dennishoddy

· #11 · 6 mo ago

When I hunted in New Mexico, orange wasn't required. I think it is in Colorado though.
I did keep an orange vest in my back pack though for signaling if necessary.

Reactions: 3

Wishbone

· #12 · 6 mo ago

Davem said:
I am sort of a traditional muzzle loader shooter but being successful makes me use an in-line during actual muzzle loader season. In any event, back in the days of the mountain men they would "crawl up" on elk. They had these blanket caps, made square, but when you pulled them on your head the corners stuck out- looked like wolf ears, and in crawling up- the elk didn't become that alarmed. In any event I was thinking if Colorado and a cow tag during muzzle loader- I might just try that . QUESTION: are elk color blind? I don't want some other hunter mistaking me for a wolf or coyote so I'd need Orange.

Here's a link to a bowsite.com conversation about deer/elk hats. https://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=453238&forum=5

Reactions: 1

Bear Sits In The Woods

· #13 · 6 mo ago

Wishbone said:
Here's a link to a bowsite.com conversation about deer/elk hats. https://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=453238&forum=5

Haven’t been on bowsite in a couple years. Pretty shocked it’s still around. Has anything picked up over there?

Reactions: 1

Wishbone

· #14 · 5 mo ago

Bear Sits In The Woods said:
Haven’t been on bowsite in a couple years. Pretty shocked it’s still around. Has anything picked up over there?

They went WAY TOO FAR into politics this past year but Pat has removed a lot of that crap and seems to be back aligned to archery topics. For the archer, I haven't found any better sites and some folks on there have a TON of hunting info. Granted, you gotta kind of be in the clique for them to say much but most are good guys. I know quite a few of them personally from my 20 years in CO.

Reactions: 4

Kennywayne

· #15 · 5 mo ago

Wishbone said:
They went WAY TOO FAR into politics this past year but Pat has removed a lot of that crap and seems to be back aligned to archery topics. For the archer, I haven't found any better sites and some folks on there have a TON of hunting info. Granted, you gotta kind of be in the clique for them to say much but most are good guys. I know quite a few of them personally from my 20 years in CO.

That’s what’s great about OKH we’re all in the clique here

Reactions: 5

Bullbuster

· #16 · 5 mo ago

WA & OR don’t allow scopes or fiber optic sights on MLs if I’m not mistaken.

Reactions: 4

Archer22

· #17 · 5 mo ago

I know a little bit about CO elk since I was hunting mule deer there last year. I was looking at OTC elk tags, but since I'd had already drawn a tag, didn't want to pay another $800 in case I saw an elk while deer hunting. Inlines are okay in CO, but conical or ball projectiles only. No pelleted powder or sabots. Orange or fluorescent pink is required for any firearm season, not required for archery.

I'll tell you, at least in the unit we were hunting, there were a TON of archery elk hunters. Most were spike camped 4-5 miles in and hunted out from there. Only one group we ran into was actually from CO. There were people from Georgia, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and West Virginia.

A guide, down the road, took a group of hunters in by mules and dropped them off. Picked them up at the end of the week. I heard one ground from GA shot a bull but couldn't find him. They had about as much luck as we did with the deer. But it was unseasonably warm the first week of Sept. last year and most of the animals were 10k ft plus or way back in dark timber and difficult to get on. I was a wonderful experience though.

Good luck with your planning. I'm planning an elk archery hunt in 2024. Gotta get in shape, research, and hopefully be able to draw a tag or still get OTC tags that year.

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dennishoddy

· #18 · 5 mo ago

Archer22 said:
I know a little bit about CO elk since I was hunting mule deer there last year. I was looking at OTC elk tags, but since I'd had already drawn a tag, didn't want to pay another $800 in case I saw an elk while deer hunting. Inlines are okay in CO, but conical or ball projectiles only. No pelleted powder or sabots. Orange or fluorescent pink is required for any firearm season, not required for archery.

I'll tell you, at least in the unit we were hunting, there were a TON of archery elk hunters. Most were spike camped 4-5 miles in and hunted out from there. Only one group we ran into was actually from CO. There were people from Georgia, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and West Virginia.

A guide, down the road, took a group of hunters in by mules and dropped them off. Picked them up at the end of the week. I heard one ground from GA shot a bull but couldn't find him. They had about as much luck as we did with the deer. But it was unseasonably warm the first week of Sept. last year and most of the animals were 10k ft plus or way back in dark timber and difficult to get on. I was a wonderful experience though.

Good luck with your planning. I'm planning an elk archery hunt in 2024. Gotta get in shape, research, and hopefully be able to draw a tag or still get OTC tags that year.

Good luck to you!

Reactions: 2

Wishbone

· #19 · 5 mo ago

Archer22 said:
I know a little bit about CO elk since I was hunting mule deer there last year. I was looking at OTC elk tags, but since I'd had already drawn a tag, didn't want to pay another $800 in case I saw an elk while deer hunting. Inlines are okay in CO, but conical or ball projectiles only. No pelleted powder or sabots. Orange or fluorescent pink is required for any firearm season, not required for archery.

I'll tell you, at least in the unit we were hunting, there were a TON of archery elk hunters. Most were spike camped 4-5 miles in and hunted out from there. Only one group we ran into was actually from CO. There were people from Georgia, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and West Virginia.

A guide, down the road, took a group of hunters in by mules and dropped them off. Picked them up at the end of the week. I heard one ground from GA shot a bull but couldn't find him. They had about as much luck as we did with the deer. But it was unseasonably warm the first week of Sept. last year and most of the animals were 10k ft plus or way back in dark timber and difficult to get on. I was a wonderful experience though.

Good luck with your planning. I'm planning an elk archery hunt in 2024. Gotta get in shape, research, and hopefully be able to draw a tag or still get OTC tags that year.

If you end up hunting anywhere in the South units, let me know and I may have some intel to share. Hunted alot in the Sangre De Cristro range and some in the San Juans.

Reactions: 2

Archer22

· #20 · 5 mo ago

Wishbone said:
If you end up hunting anywhere in the South units, let me know and I may have some intel to share. Hunted alot in the Sangre De Cristro range and some in the San Juans.

I'll have to hit you up then. We hunted up around Saguache, CO, that's where we drew mule deer tags. Some intel at the time told us we probably should have hunted around Sargents or further west but accessibility was an issue. I wouldn't mind hunting that area again, maybe not for mule deer though.

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