RE: Hunting elk and grouse in Colorado?
 

I always carry my shotty for blues.....usually, I wind up shooting with a 357 that is on my warbelt......never have fired the 12ga at one...LOL
Dan

Oh yeah, you will also need a small game lisc for the Grouse...will also need a HIP# to validate it.....lil item that can get costly without it!

RE: Hunting elk and grouse in Colorado?
 

It was my understanding that if youhad an unfulfilled elk tag, still in season, that you could shoot grouse without a small game license.

I'm a NR so I may not have my facts straight.

RE: Hunting elk and grouse in Colorado?
 

Never fails, whenever i'v been out concentrating on grouse with a shotgun it would happen just about every time i would run into deer,bring slugs.

RE: Hunting elk and grouse in Colorado?
 

Not quite. If you have an unfilled big game tag you may shoot Coyotes (and coyotes only) without a small game license. That does not include any other small game only coyotes. Once you fill your big game tag you must purchase a small game license to shoot coyotes then.

RE: Hunting elk and grouse in Colorado?
 

That's good to know about being able to hunt songdogs with an unfilled elk tag. I would probably continue to pursue elk until I filled my tag, so I would have to get a small game license.

It is my understanding from hunters who have hunted in the area I will be in in Unit 12 that there are usually plenty of blue grouse, so bringing a shotgun makes good sense.

--twofer

RE: Hunting elk and grouse in Colorado?
 

I didn't take my shotgun to the elk camp becasue the outfitter had a weight restoriction on gear, and my shotgun would have put me over the limit. Just as well, because the noise from ashotgun while hunting grouse probablu would have interferred with the other elk hunters.

I did see plenty of grouse, too.

--twofer

RE: Hunting elk and grouse in Colorado?
 

I hunt elk and deer in NW Colorado every year. If the grouse season is open in the area I'm hunting, I always carry a 22 pistol on my hip while I'm out and about. There are grouse out there, but I wouldn't take the trouble to bring a shotgun on an elk hunt. Chances are, you're going to be hunting for a bull most if not all of the season. Bring a 22 pistol and a good flyrod just in case you fill out early. Either one of them will keep you busy and happy. After all, if you fill out early, you've still got the business of field dressing your elk, packing it back to camp, capeing it out, and fleshing the hide. That will keep you busy for a couple of days. A 22 and a good fishing pole should be able to occupy your time for the remainder.

Regards, & Good Huntin',
LlindeX

RE: Hunting elk and grouse in Colorado?
 

I might be spoiled, but I say leave the shotgun at home & focus 100% of your effort on elk.
I hunt blue grouse a few days a year & let them walk the rest of the year. There is alot more meat on a elk.