Gnerol, You live in a great place. I kinda cut my teeth bowhunting in high school in the Poudre Canyon. I hunted a lot in the Rustic area and did some up near Red Feather and in the Larimie River Valley/ Rawah Wilderness. If you decide to hunt a rifle season, I would suggest that you look at the limited seasons and find a season and area that has a low quota. That way there won't be asmany hunters out there. For example, it sounds like you may live in unit 191 or 19. For elk, the quota (# of tags issued) for the first season in unit 191 is only 65 and unit 19 only has 200. There will also be a few deer hunters out during that time, but the chances of running into other hunters is diminished in that particular season as opposed to others where they allow more tags. Also, just another note, you must wear orange when hunting during rifle seasons even if hunting with a "lesser" weapon so those rifle hunters should see you. The only time I've been scared that I might get shot was when I was hunting during archery season and a ML hunter leveled his gun at me. Of course, I was not wearing orange during the archery season but the ML season is right in the middle of the archery season here. It might be safer to hunt with a crossbow (and orange vest and hat) than it is to hunt the archery season and be sneaking around in camo. There are other regular rifle seasons during the archery season too. In unit 20 where I live, the private land rifle season starts Sept. 1st as does a rifle bear season and shotgunners after grouse start hitting the woods at that time too. Any bowhunter has to be careful, no matter what season they hunt.
I'd like to meet you if you're ever up here in Estes. I also get down to FC quite a bit too. My parents live not far from the Poudrenear Bellvue.