Please help narrow down good OTC archery elk GMUs in CO
#11
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,079
RE: Please help narrow down good OTC archery elk GMUs in CO
Hey EricH, Best of luck to you. My advice would be where ever you end up hunting arrive a few days early to do some scouting. I hunted the Meeker area 3 years ago on a do-it yourselfer. After hunting 4 hours I have a nice 5X6 on my wall. (YEAH A LOT HAS TO DO WITH LUCK!!!) But we arrived a few days early spent alot of daylight scouting. It was in the 70s during the day so we found a water source and set on it.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
#12
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 68
RE: Please help narrow down good OTC archery elk GMUs in CO
I haven't checked the latest game regs, but a few years back I hunted Sanders Basin just southeast of taylor park. Lots of Elk in the basin. Really high (10'500) as it is just south of Cottonwood pass. Access is easy from above, but be prepared for a long drag out as climbing 2000ft up is probably not an option to get back up to the jeep trail by Ptarmigan lake. Not a lot of hunters and good numbers of elk in a very huntable location. There is a bottle neck at the bottom of the Basin that makes for an awesome tree stand setup as the elk move up and down the basin.
#13
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 41
RE: Please help narrow down good OTC archery elk GMUs in CO
I live in CO and used to hunt OTC. We used to hunt in unit 6 near Gould. There is a KOA campground there if you need hook ups or you can drive into the natl forest a ways and set up your own camp. It is big country there, so you will have plenty of room from other hunters. I have seen elk up at timber line and around 8K ft. Another spot you might try is unit 7. This is a draw unit but usually there are enough openings that you will get in without any preference points. good luck
#14
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location:
Posts: 58
RE: Please help narrow down good OTC archery elk GMUs in CO
Serioushunter/stratofisher/elkfreak -
All - thank you for the information, I know many folks don't want to give up exactly where to go and that is very understandable. I certianally appreciate the specifics you have written about.
Stratofisher - in the area you mention you say to "...be prepared for a long drag out as climbing 2000ft up is probably not an option..." Do you mean if we were to get an animal down in that area we would carry it down hill versus up to pack it out?
Again, thanks to everyone, I am still researching so I am greatful for any info.
Eric
All - thank you for the information, I know many folks don't want to give up exactly where to go and that is very understandable. I certianally appreciate the specifics you have written about.
Stratofisher - in the area you mention you say to "...be prepared for a long drag out as climbing 2000ft up is probably not an option..." Do you mean if we were to get an animal down in that area we would carry it down hill versus up to pack it out?
Again, thanks to everyone, I am still researching so I am greatful for any info.
Eric
#15
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 68
RE: Please help narrow down good OTC archery elk GMUs in CO
The jeep trail from the Ptarmigan lake area takes you to 13,200 on the top of the ridge line. From there you drop down to hunt the basin at 10,500. You could pack back up to the top of the ridge if you feel like it. I chose to go about 4 miles down some trails to get to a jeep trail coming up from the taylor park area. You can get to the basin from that direction, but it is a good walk in. I prefer to come over the ridge. Just watch the weather as I learned how to ski a ford ranger off the ridge line when 8" of snow fell while I was hunting. I hunted with good success in this area while I was going to school at the AF Academy. Now I am in Washington State with the Air Force. Definately a good location. Just higher than most want to hunt. Don't know if it is still an OTC area or not.
#16
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location:
Posts: 58
RE: Please help narrow down good OTC archery elk GMUs in CO
Stratofisher and Elkfreak -
Couple more questions...Sratofisher the area that you mention, what GMU is that? Do you remember? I am looking at the map and am guessing it is 45,47,48,55,471....somewhere around that area. I am just curious so I can see if it is OTC still or not.
Elkfreak - In unit 7 is there much in the way of public land and access?
Also, and hopefully anyone can answer this one, the area Stratofisher mentions being around 10,500', would that be better earlier in the season or if the snows come late? You mention skiing your truck off the ridge, will snow push the elk down from that elevation in a hurry? Does it take several storms to make the elk move lower? How does snow in the high country affect elk in general?
Thanks,
Eric
Couple more questions...Sratofisher the area that you mention, what GMU is that? Do you remember? I am looking at the map and am guessing it is 45,47,48,55,471....somewhere around that area. I am just curious so I can see if it is OTC still or not.
Elkfreak - In unit 7 is there much in the way of public land and access?
Also, and hopefully anyone can answer this one, the area Stratofisher mentions being around 10,500', would that be better earlier in the season or if the snows come late? You mention skiing your truck off the ridge, will snow push the elk down from that elevation in a hurry? Does it take several storms to make the elk move lower? How does snow in the high country affect elk in general?
Thanks,
Eric
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03-24-2006 06:24 PM