Elk hunting in Colorado. New to me, need some help

[john 800]

While visiting with my uncle in CO we discussed hunting elk this fall and that most likely him and my aunt will be relocating sometime soon after, it seems a little late to pull a trip together but, I would like to try to make it happen before the opportunity is gone. Him and I have both hunted deer in MN , but not elk. He is in loveland on the front range north of Denver, and there seems to be a healthy population, we dont have any specific hunting spots picked out, so I really don’t know what altitude or type of terrain to prepare for. Personally I would probably just get a cow and maybe deer doe tag, but still need to look at regs and zones, tag availability ect.
All that said what do I need to know? Suggestions on gear?
I will be traveling from mn, do you guys that travel to hunt bone it out and bring it back in coolers? Transport it quartered and butcher at home? Never dealt with that size animal and that much travel.

 

[CJ6]

We bone ours out at camp. We have a big freezer on a trailer which also serves to haul feed (hay) for the mules..

 

[rayporter]

first obtain a tag

next obtain an elk

learn the gutless method of cutting up a large animal

dry ice is your friend. i butcher at home.

since i use a trailer i just move gear around and lay a tarp down with old sleeping pads on the floor. dry ice and meat are packed in with gear on top- saddlle blankets clothes , whatever.

know the laws of each state you will go through. cwd means no bones allowed in most states.

 

[ebb]

Don't shoot one without looking to see how hard it will be to retrieve. When i went the outfitter told some guys we were hunting with "if you shoot that one, take you knife. fork and a saltshaker with you when you go down there. Cause we aren't going to spend all day trying to get it out."

 

[mmcu]

My two cents.

Gear:

• Good boots that are broken in and moleskin if they're not....
• Good breathable base layers / camo clothing.
• Pack frame with pillow cases / game bags for meat.
• Paracord for butchering assistance and lashing down meat to your pack frame.
• Several bandanas / rags for "clean-up".
• Hydration pack with plenty of water.
• Aspirin and Tums in case you get altitude sickness.
• Good bino's.
• A rifle of suitable caliber that you can shoot accurately off-hand.
• Havalon (or similar) knife with lots of spare blades and a packable bone saw (Outdoor Edge makes a good one).

Preparation:

• GET IN SHAPE for lots of vertical and sidehill hiking / climbing.
• Take your pack frame, load it with rocks / cinder blocks and start putting the miles on climbing every hill you can find where you live in MN.
• If you have a bike, start putting on the miles for cardio.

Bone out your animal where it falls as there is no benefit to packing out weight that you don't eat. If you've never killed an elk, you're going to be amazed at how large they are when you see them on the ground (think small sized cow).

Most of all, have fun and enjoy your hunt in some of the prettiest country you'll ever see!

 

[CharlieNC]

I think it's too late to put in for a draw to get a tag, but Co has leftover and OTC tags which are on a first come basis. Get a tag now! Get in good shape and practice field shooting positions.

 

[okie]

Don't shoot one without looking to see how hard it will be to retrieve. When i went the outfitter told some guys we were hunting with "if you shoot that one, take you knife. fork and a saltshaker with you when you go down there. Cause we aren't going to spend all day trying to get it out."

TRUTH!!!!

 

[jepp2]

there seems to be a healthy population, we dont have any specific hunting spots picked out,

I also live in Loveland. Eastern plain tags are easy to get, areas to hunt are impossible to find. So you can count on being in the mountains. Figure 9,000 elevation, you don't say which rifle season you intend to hunt. Any tags that still available now mean the odds of success are very low and expect an army of orange in the woods. To get an elk you are either going to need to be lucky (buy a lottery ticket) or be smarter than the army.

 

[rayporter]

rain gear that you can trust. personally, i have left the breathables behind but whatever you choose you should always be with in arms reach of it,

 

[john 800]

I also live in Loveland. Eastern plain tags are easy to get, areas to hunt are impossible to find. So you can count on being in the mountains. Figure 9,000 elevation, you don't say which rifle season you intend to hunt. Any tags that still available now mean the odds of success are very low and expect an army of orange in the woods. To get an elk you are either going to need to be lucky (buy a lottery ticket) or be smarter than the army.

By areas to hunt being hard to find, do you mean it is mostly private? Or hard to find an area that has any elk?

 

[jepp2]

By areas to hunt being hard to find,

On the eastern plains there aren't many elk, so rather than apply by GMU (game management unit) the eastern plains tag covers many GMU's. The season runs from Sept 1 through Jan 31 2023. But obtaining permission is the issue.


I will attach a file that may be useful to you. It lists the leftover licenses.
A phone call to the CPW office can help guide your selection.

 

[john 800]

Thanks for that. I have started reading the regs and such and trying to understand the system, its alot different than what I am used to and thus so far confusing as $&@!

 

[Mulligan]

My two cents.


Preparation:

• GET IN SHAPE for lots of vertical and sidehill hiking / climbing.
• Most of all, have fun and enjoy your hunt in some of the prettiest country you'll ever see!

Pretty darn good advice!
CW

 

[rockhound78]

I am on the other side of the continental divide. When I used to go Elk hunting, I planned on 10,000 ft. First bull I got, I didn't realize how much work it was. Man, did I hurt the next day.
Good idea to be aware of your surroundings. If there was an elk in a deep canyon, I would pass it up unless you enjoy the extra amount of work you are going to do.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Have a big enough rifle to anchor it on the spot. min .300 Win Mag.
NO .270's or 280's.
They can run a long ways before dropping.
They can run along ways with only one broken shoulder.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

We use the gutless method, carry out quarters and backstraps(a couple steep country kills we boned out kill because of only 3 guys). Most states have regulations about brain and spinal tissue crossing state lines. You will need 3 good sized coolers per elk. Hunting with 4-5 guys is nice, can hunt 3 miles from vehicle. I have heard bulls answer bugles in mid to 3rd week of Oct. Carry minimum 40 oz of water, if you get dehydrated it can take a day of low activity to recover. Mt weather in Oct can be 20-70 degrees, dry to snowshoes(which I always take to Wyoming). I carry 40# around 2-3 times a week most of the summer(usually 3 miles). Big deal some people can't sleep well when above 8500' elevation, usually age related, but will tire you out fast if you are one of these. If you are on medication(s) ask your doctor about altitude effects(blood thinners etc). Most fun and work I have ever had hunting was Mt elk.

 

[liljoe]

I worked as a hunting guide right after high school, dang, 30 years ago now.
I was way over to the west in a little town named Collbran.
I agree with the statement about how big an elk is. They look as big as a horse laying on the ground.
We had lots of guys from the east that could not believe how much work it was to process an animal and get it to town.
Joe

 

[oldroper]

While visiting with my uncle in CO we discussed hunting elk this fall and that most likely him and my aunt will be relocating sometime soon after, it seems a little late to pull a trip together but, I would like to try to make it happen before the opportunity is gone. Him and I have both hunted deer in MN , but not elk. He is in loveland on the front range north of Denver, and there seems to be a healthy population, we dont have any specific hunting spots picked out, so I really don’t know what altitude or type of terrain to prepare for. Personally I would probably just get a cow and maybe deer doe tag, but still need to look at regs and zones, tag availability ect.
All that said what do I need to know? Suggestions on gear?
I will be traveling from mn, do you guys that travel to hunt bone it out and bring it back in coolers? Transport it quartered and butcher at home? Never dealt with that size animal and that much travel.

If your uncle lives in Loveland he should do little scouting as there is public land unit 20. I used to live north of Loveland, in Ft Collins. You might want to get map.

I now live in Plains units and there is few outfitters that lease hunting rights but most are booked full.

 

[Ray123]

Without horses and pack animals no outfitter or guide, no camp fires, no tent, no alcohol no water (ya got snow and rivers) Food, cold Canned bread, beans, and jerkey, and a bag of trail mix. Travel light, cause you're heading into a cold mountainous hell. One knife, Buck Special 6.5" fixed blade will carve up, skin, and behead your elk. One capable backpack, light and mostly empty 16 rds of ammo in separate pockets and a compass. Your light weight magnum rifle & light weight low power scope, walnut stock feels warmer and light. No binoculars or other heavy equipment. You're gonna kill em up close, most will be fast moving targets, learn to shoot fast, off hand, and tracking skills a must & physical condition of a top athlete at high altitude...you will be successful every year if you don't give up.

I quit hunting elk many years ago...I was young strong and athletic...but soon realized I'm working this hard on my vacation. For what It? It ain't worth it, and I have no desire to pack out elk meat all day long til dark, and maybe the next day. Snow, cold, icy rivers, pole thickets, steep mountains and deep canyons. The elk were most always about 3 mountains and 3 canyons deep from the nearest road... where horses and hunters don't like to go.
If doing it today, Pay the price...private property, a blind, elk always come to a feeding area
, shoot elk, guide takes care if it, farm tractor hauls it out. Go have a cold drink in a warm cabin...just buy some good beef, taste better and cheaper.