Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

Some buddy's have asked me to go elk hunting with them, south of Pagosa Springs in Colorado, they also told me they havent seen a elk in two years>>> is it not a good place to hunt ..

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

Thats a hard one to say, if your friends haven't seen a elk in 2 years it could be the area is in fact not good for elk. Or on the other handyour friends are not good(suck) at finding elk. Either way I sure I would not want to put up the money to go out of state and hunt with them. To be successful with elk hunting,you have to first know where the elkare, meaninga general area down to a couple of hundred yards that you can pin point on a map, then you can hunt them from there.Do your friendschase them with bows or rifles?

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

I wouldn't go! No way, its a horrible thing to do. Hunting elk is highly addictive. As Nancy Regan said: "Just say no!" If you try it once you'll be a junky. Nothing can cure your "jones'" but a fix of bugling in the aspens...Some Montana gold. Take it from a hardcore junky.Those elk seep into your soul.[8D]

I would strongly consider a different area or better guides.

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

Elk are at different places at different times of the year. In winter they are down low; in warmer weather they are up high. Sometime in between they migrate from up high to down low. This sounds obvious and stupid to cite, but maybe this is your buddies's problem. I believe the Elk archery season happens early and thus the elk would be expected to be up high, around timberline, between 10,000' and 12,000'. Are your buddies hunting up high or down low? This issue plays into selection of units versus seasons. A unit may suck for archery but be great for late season, for example a low altitude unit. Similarly, another unit may be great for early hunts but not only suck but be inaccessible for late season hunts, for example a high altitude unit.

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

Alsatian, very good advice!

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

I agree with Shato,just say no.:D

No realy,you have to ask your buddies how hard do they hunt,how much effort do they put in.Do they get up at 10 am and hunt till noon,and go back to camp and drink beer all day.I know some guys that call this elk hunting and every once in a blue Moon they see a elk or even kill one.

I would say go,at least once I know there is going to be money,time,and vacation involed but you buddies might have a honey hole that they never tapped.
If it don't work for you this tip put some preperation in and do a DIY hunt down the road.
BBJ

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

Consider contacting the game and fish/DNR and check on their harvest reports. It'll give you an idea of how many hunters in that area get their animal. Also a phone conversation with the warden or conservation officer in that area will likely be well worth the time and cost of the call. Sometimes the forrest service employees (the ones working in the hills) can be a good source as well. If the area is not panning out to be a good one, find another one. If you want to hunt with your buddies, they might enjoy a change in scenery as well. Sometimes people get lucky, but generally elk hunting is hard work, but you have to hunt smart, as well as hard. Good luck.

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

I know that area pretty well. I think the problem is that they are hunting too low. Also, most land south of Pagosa is either private or Indian Reservation.

I would suggest hunting on the north end of Pagosa Springs. Alot higher country with alot of forest service land.

Are you going for a bull or a cow? If your not picky, you might try to get a left-over cow tag. This way you don't spend so much money on an elk hunt that might not turn out very well.

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

I agree. If you do it once, you will most likely love it and want to do it every year. I have been for about 6 years without a kill. I look forward to the next yearfrom the trip home. Unfortunately my hunting buddies (dad and brother) weren't in shape and won't return to Colorado because they are wimps. I keep trying to talk someone into hunting with me. In about 10 years my boys will be old enough to be my new hunting buddies. I need new friends!!! Ones with goals in life (elk hunting). Sorry rambling on.

Tuffbroadhead, I sent you a personal message.

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

I really dont know how hard these feller's hunt, I do know when it comes to deer hunting they are really serious... Just to save money on this trip I might just go and run video for them, ,for those that have asked it will be a archery hunt....

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

No PM showed up???

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

Hey Tuff,

I just got back today from a hiking trip in the San Juan National Forest, just north of Pagosa Springs by Williams Lake. I saw 30-40 elk, most in clusters of 3-6 and tons ofmulies. I also saw some good bulls. I've never hunted elk either and don't have any friends that have any serious interest in making a trip there. I picked up some brochures form the State of Colorado while I was there, and will be reading through them in the next couple of days. PM me if you have any questions or you guys need another hunter to spread gas costs or just help locate the elk. I'm dying to go!

PS -- fancy seeing you on this forum, haven't visited TBH in a while.

Will

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

Tuffbroadhead,
My computer keeps blocking PM from going out or coming in. I tried to send you an email, but it said it is still waiting. I just sent you another email.

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

Stinkbelly, heres a email address for you, [email protected]

Texashunter, things are always busy at TBH, I will be talking to Steve in the next couple of days, we will try to firm up the plan a bit

Can you get mule deer tags over the counter for archery season??

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

I've hunted the Pagosa area for about 10 yrs, always on public land and have harvested4 bull's and a few deer. north of Pagosa up towards Williams lake seems much more productive than south of Pagosa in my opinion.Theres a resident herd that stays in the area all year but my hunting has always tried to be timed with the migration. If your buddies haven't seen an elk then theres something drasticlly wrong with their hunting plan or lack of a hunting plan.If you decide to go I'll share my info with [email protected]

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

Tuffbroadhead,

If you have the opportunity for an archery elk hunt around Pagosa, you should go and catch the fever that keeps the rest of us on the verge of divorce and bankruptcy. Now, for my opinion on things said andthings thus far left unsaid (that along with about $3.50 will get you a bad cup of coffee at Starbucks):

1. If this is to be your first elk hunt, don't waste time on half-measures. Don't just run the video camera or buy a cow tag. An either sex archery tag is only an extra $235.00. Considering the amount of money you will spend on the trip, this amount is relatively small, and has the potential to yield big rewards.

2. I don't know where your friends have been hunting, but Blue Moose is correct. Most of the land south of Pagosa is either private or reservation. There is some national forest southeast of Pagosa, but (again, my opinion) the better hunting is north of Pagosa. No disrespect to your friends, but if they haven't seen an elk in two years they probablyneed to reevaluate how they are hunting, not where, and drag out of camp earlier, hunt higher and hunt away from the roads. This means a lot of walking, so make sure you are in relatively good shape. Another note, since you won't know the area, if you don't have a GPS, get one and learn how to use it. The less time you spend being lost, the more time you spend hunting.

3. There are no over-the-counter deer tags in Colorado, and I doubt that there will be any leftover deer tags.

4. I agree with USA, the area around Williams Lakes is generally quite productive. One reason for this is that Williams Lakes are just south of the border with GMU 76, a limited draw, quality management unit.

I've been too long winded, but hope the info helps. Feel free to drop me an email.

RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
 

No elk in two years!! Can't you read between the lines???? They're just being nice, they don't really want you to go!!! :) -------ElkNut1