Colorado Elk hunting advice
02-25-2013, 12:41 PM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,780
I would rather try unit 77 than 75, but they are in roughly the same area and include portions of the Weminuche Wilderness. This is high country and good summer/early fall habitat for elk - but when it snows the elk head down fast. I have been up there when the snow started to pile up fast. If that happens - get out ASAP. One year we had a five foot snowfall. We were thankful that we headed down when it started.
Most of the outfitters and mule trains seem to stay in the North part of the unit and camp fairly close to the Unit 76 boundary in areas like LaVaca creek.
The following is from the Colorado site:
GMUs 75, 751 and 77
If you're willing to walk or ride horseback into remote and heavily-forested areas, you have a good chance of finding an elk in these units located between Durango, Pagosa Springs, and Silverton. Road access into the areas is good, but do not expect to see elk from the roads. Elk prefer higher elevations until the weather turns severe. In the early seasons, stick to spruce/fir and aspen forests. As snow accumulates, elk will move south and into lower elevations. In late seasons, ponderosa pine forest and oak brush are usually more productive. Hunters with horses do well during the first season on the portions of the units within the Weminuche Wilderness area. For good access into Unit 77, travel north of Pagosa Springs to these Forest Service roads: 634, 631, 637, 636 and 622.
For Unit 75, major access points are from the Missionary Ridge Road, which is Forest Service road 682, and La Plata County Road 243 above Lemon Reservoir. For Unit 751, use Forest Service Road 602 and 724 to gain access to the high country and wilderness above Vallecito Reservoir.
These areas are in the rugged and steep San Juan Mountains. Hunters should be in good physical condition and prepared for backcountry travel
Most of the outfitters and mule trains seem to stay in the North part of the unit and camp fairly close to the Unit 76 boundary in areas like LaVaca creek.
The following is from the Colorado site:
GMUs 75, 751 and 77
If you're willing to walk or ride horseback into remote and heavily-forested areas, you have a good chance of finding an elk in these units located between Durango, Pagosa Springs, and Silverton. Road access into the areas is good, but do not expect to see elk from the roads. Elk prefer higher elevations until the weather turns severe. In the early seasons, stick to spruce/fir and aspen forests. As snow accumulates, elk will move south and into lower elevations. In late seasons, ponderosa pine forest and oak brush are usually more productive. Hunters with horses do well during the first season on the portions of the units within the Weminuche Wilderness area. For good access into Unit 77, travel north of Pagosa Springs to these Forest Service roads: 634, 631, 637, 636 and 622.
For Unit 75, major access points are from the Missionary Ridge Road, which is Forest Service road 682, and La Plata County Road 243 above Lemon Reservoir. For Unit 751, use Forest Service Road 602 and 724 to gain access to the high country and wilderness above Vallecito Reservoir.
These areas are in the rugged and steep San Juan Mountains. Hunters should be in good physical condition and prepared for backcountry travel
Last edited by Big Uncle; 02-25-2013 at 12:45 PM.
02-25-2013, 09:05 PM
#12
Spike
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 97
Colorado Elk Hunting advice
I would rather try unit 77 than 75, but they are in roughly the same area and include portions of the Weminuche Wilderness. This is high country and good summer/early fall habitat for elk - but when it snows the elk head down fast. I have been up there when the snow started to pile up fast. If that happens - get out ASAP. One year we had a five foot snowfall. We were thankful that we headed down when it started.
Most of the outfitters and mule trains seem to stay in the North part of the unit and camp fairly close to the Unit 76 boundary in areas like LaVaca creek.
The following is from the Colorado site:
GMUs 75, 751 and 77
If you're willing to walk or ride horseback into remote and heavily-forested areas, you have a good chance of finding an elk in these units located between Durango, Pagosa Springs, and Silverton. Road access into the areas is good, but do not expect to see elk from the roads. Elk prefer higher elevations until the weather turns severe. In the early seasons, stick to spruce/fir and aspen forests. As snow accumulates, elk will move south and into lower elevations. In late seasons, ponderosa pine forest and oak brush are usually more productive. Hunters with horses do well during the first season on the portions of the units within the Weminuche Wilderness area. For good access into Unit 77, travel north of Pagosa Springs to these Forest Service roads: 634, 631, 637, 636 and 622.
For Unit 75, major access points are from the Missionary Ridge Road, which is Forest Service road 682, and La Plata County Road 243 above Lemon Reservoir. For Unit 751, use Forest Service Road 602 and 724 to gain access to the high country and wilderness above Vallecito Reservoir.
These areas are in the rugged and steep San Juan Mountains. Hunters should be in good physical condition and prepared for backcountry travel
Most of the outfitters and mule trains seem to stay in the North part of the unit and camp fairly close to the Unit 76 boundary in areas like LaVaca creek.
The following is from the Colorado site:
GMUs 75, 751 and 77
If you're willing to walk or ride horseback into remote and heavily-forested areas, you have a good chance of finding an elk in these units located between Durango, Pagosa Springs, and Silverton. Road access into the areas is good, but do not expect to see elk from the roads. Elk prefer higher elevations until the weather turns severe. In the early seasons, stick to spruce/fir and aspen forests. As snow accumulates, elk will move south and into lower elevations. In late seasons, ponderosa pine forest and oak brush are usually more productive. Hunters with horses do well during the first season on the portions of the units within the Weminuche Wilderness area. For good access into Unit 77, travel north of Pagosa Springs to these Forest Service roads: 634, 631, 637, 636 and 622.
For Unit 75, major access points are from the Missionary Ridge Road, which is Forest Service road 682, and La Plata County Road 243 above Lemon Reservoir. For Unit 751, use Forest Service Road 602 and 724 to gain access to the high country and wilderness above Vallecito Reservoir.
These areas are in the rugged and steep San Juan Mountains. Hunters should be in good physical condition and prepared for backcountry travel
03-10-2013, 05:20 PM
#14
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PUEBLO, CO, USA
Posts: 636
Vallecito has elk and public land. North of rt 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa has plenty elk and public land. Dont stray onto the Southern Ute Resevation when hunting. Good luck.
Last edited by SILVERTIP-CO; 03-10-2013 at 05:22 PM.
