Area 75-Durango,Colorado
 

This is my first trip to Colorado.I' ve hunted Elk in New Mexico once so my experience with Elk hunting is limited.We will be hunting from Sept.11-19.What can I expect as far as terrain,rut,hunting pressure,etc.Thanks for any info.

RE: Area 75-Durango,Colorado
 

PA/KS,

I haven' t ever hunted that area you are describing, but I know about the area. I would say the terrain would be fairly steep, but not too rugged. Definately need to be in shape. As for the elk. This is one of the better areas for bigger animals, I would say you are going to be hitting the early stages of the pre-rut. With the drought over the last years the normal rut patterns are off. I have a friend that saw bulls rutting and hearding cows in the first week of november last year. So they are deffinately off the game a little. I would make sure to bring an estrus cow call and use that sucker. Be fairly aggressive with that call, and don' t use your bugle much except to locate other bulls. I wouldn' t bet that you will be able to challenge any bulls. But get their blood flowing with that estrus call and you could have a shot. Good luck. ;)

RE: Area 75-Durango,Colorado
 

Schemy,Thanks for the info.I was pretty much thinking the same,locate bugle with estrus cow calling.We' ll see what happens.Thanks again for the help!!