How to Hunt Elk in Northwest Colorado
- 1). Research the game management unit map to find a possible hunting location. According to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, this region has a mixture of tough-to-draw limited-entry units along with over-the-counter units. The limited-entry units are typically the best opportunity for a trophy bull, but it might take 15 to 20 years before you draw the tag. Over-the-counter tags can be bought every year but experience a lower percentage of trophy bulls with an increased amount of hunting pressure.
- 2). Prepare your mind, body and equipment for the demands of the terrain. Elevations throughout the region can reach 12,000 at the peaks and drop to 5,000 in the river bottoms. Pack hunting equipment according to the time of year and anticipated weather. The Colorado Division of Wildlife says certain areas are subject to heavy snowstorms during the late rifle seasons in October and November. Be prepared for these storms, as they often strand hunters for several days.
- 3). Scout your hunting area. Northwest Colorado has two national forests--White River National Forest and Routt National Forest--with several wilderness areas within the forests. White River National Forest covers more than 2.3 million acres and has about 50,000 elk, as of a 2002 post-hunt population report. Routt National Forest--consisting of 1.1 million acres--is the second-best public-land elk hunting opportunity, according to John Ellenberger, big game manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Other public hunting opportunities in the region exist with lands managed by BLM and state lands.
- 4). Patten the elk movement off the hunting pressure. The Colorado Division of Wildlife says the basic elk movement in northwest Colorado is from higher to lower elevation from the hunting pressure. Hunt the timber during the early seasons, and switch to the dark timber and deep canyons away from roads as the season continues. Mark Seacat, professional elk hunter, tracks the elk as they avoid the hunting pressure and patterns them after they settle down. Seacat plans a stalk to get within shooting distance within a few days after the elk move into the dark timber and deep canyons.
- 5). Change your hunting strategy throughout the day. Concentrate on the large stands of dark timber in the wilderness areas where the bulls will spend the majority of the day. The Colorado Division of Wildlife recommends glassing--a process of using your binoculars or spotting scope from an elevated vantage point--in the early morning and evening to locate elk as they move from bedding areas to feeding areas.
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