Colorado Elk Hunt

[SOLDIERHUNTER]

anybody ever Elk hunted the Aprapaho NF(Grand Lake Area)? I am in the planning stages of a 09 hunt and like the looks of this area. This will be my first CO hunt so any help would be appreciated.

[pooge]

C.L. is your man...

[C.L.Button]

Are you planning a self guided hunt ? Do your homework on maps, etc, with considering weather a big factor. First season Rifle or ML is a draw only and needs to be in by Apr 1. That is the best time at a bigger Bull.

There are alot of factors involved in the planning. Might want to do some weather research too. Find out how dry it has been and how close you are hunting to a water/wallow sources. In dry years that is a HUGH consideration.

What are you using for a weapon ?

Don't forget that KY has Elk in the eastern part of the state. Not Colorado, but there are some big racks walking around there.

IF you have specific questions just PM me and I will be happy to answer what I can.

[SOLDIERHUNTER]

It will be a do it yourself hunt. I have done a ton of map research as well as draw percentages, harvest records ect...
Will be going out during ML season, but I plan on bow hunting.
I have a ton of questions that I will PM.
Oh yea.. I will be sending in my application for the KY elk as well.
Thanks for the help
Tony

[C.L.Button]

Sounds great Tony. Good luck with the draw deal. Colorado has a preference point system. KY doesn't yet but I think they are considering it.

Get on the Colorado state game site. It has the break down of harvest stats and where they happened by game mgmt unit. Probably not posted for 08 yet but there are other yrs on there.

Bow hunt huh ? Best get to practicing consistant 60yd shots. Not everybody can get lucky like Bill Jordon and call them in at 15yds.

[SOLDIERHUNTER]

I am looking at GMU 18 and 28, draw odds are good even with no pref points. Bill Jordan...HA... I plan to call them in to 5 yardsI understand it will be a challenge, but isn't that why we do it! BTW I do plan to bring the old smokepole on the trip. If I don't have one on the ground I will pull it out for the last day or so.

I have looked at the harvest rates for 04-07 (08 not posted yet) both units are very comparable to other public land units.

Any advise on equipment?

Thanks, Tony

[SOLDIERHUNTER]

CL...sent you a PM

[C.L.Button]

Tony I got your PM and will answer shortly HOWEVER I need to advise you on your previous post. You can only hunt one season at a time. You can't Bow hunt & Muzzleloader hunt at the same time. The Colorado regs site will explain it better than I can. The tags have to be purchased before the season opens. Check that out. UNLESS they have changed it in the last 2 yrs ?? Check it out and be 100% sure. You would hate that fine.

The exception to that would be if you did a Cow hunt one season and a Bull hunt the other season.

[SOLDIERHUNTER]

Thanks for the heads up, I will double check that. I know that I have to draw for the ML and that the archery is OTC. I have poured over the regs but some parts of it read like stereo instructions. I have some other stuff that I need to confirm as well and plan to put a call into the local LEO sometime in Jan.

[C.L.Button]

Calling out there to the headquarters is a good thing. They are VERY user friendly and have always been very eager to help me.

I looked at those areas very hard but ended up hunting farther north near the Wyoming border. I have also hunted at Flat Tops, outside of Alamosa, and near the 4 Corners area. I have done the best out of Alamosa & 4 Corners. I feel that is primarly due to weather. Most all yrs I hunt second season and the snow was a factor.

I worked out there many yrs running a lodge. The majority harvest was done first or second rifle season. All the seasons were full of hunters. Most all of the public ground is closed until the OTC tags & second season. Some ares are open to draw hunters only depending on previous harvest numbers. The deeper you go, the better you will be.

Colorado's game system is very complicated but if you make a list of questions and ask when you call they will give you the answers. All except where to walk up and shoot one. HA !

Be sure to cross check the small game and birds seasons while you will be there. One yr I hunted Sage Grouse & Blue Grouse wearing t-shirts and walking in the snow.