Well I have tried searching and it doesn't seem to have come up for this years Colorado OTC elk hunt. I, and a few others, were not able to go on this last years hunt but want to make it in 2017! What say you regulars? Cleric, Sneaky, PMK, ZK315, Chief Joe, JSims, and anyone who was able to go in 2016! I know of one other member who didn't know about these trips but is interested in going, Splash556. Last year I put in for a cow tag and did not draw, so I am hoping with points this year I will get a cow tag. Same plan as last year for me, take my 14 y/o son and let him get a bull if we get the opportunity, I will hopefully get a tag and a chance at a cow. Who else is game?

What are the dates for the hunt, what is the success rate, and what is a rough budget for food/travel/lodging/tag?

I'm slowly warming the boss-unit up to the idea of me going this year. I was actually talking to her about it a couple of nights ago and was the first time she hasn't said "no". Sooo, I've slowly been doing some more research on it. I didn't get to go last year due to the infant at home, but this year is looking much better.

A buddy of mine has been looking to do essentially the same as what we have done, but in a different area, so I've been looking into that area as well.

Success rate is low. Generally less than 25% state wide

Tag is 600ish
Lodging is camping. You can get a motel in town for 100ish a night I think
Mostly everyone brings their own truck because different people come and leave at different times. Use Dolores co as a point of reference

All in I was less than 1500 last year. 600 for tag. 600 for gas and the rest in food/expenses

That I know of there have been 3 trips to the Dolores Colorado area, hunting the San Juan National forest. Success rate is really low, but all elk hunts are unless you pay big bucks. Nothing the first two years and one bull this past hunt, but the weather was really screwy from what I understand. When I went in '15 I spent just over $1k ($650 of that was my bull tag), I had quite a bit of the gear needed, and bought the rest as I planned out my trip. Food was quite a bit of pot-luck, we all brought a few meals for the whole group, snacks during the day, and breakfast if you felt like getting up that much earlier. It was hard hunting, it was exhausting, and it was frustrating not getting anything. I think it is safe to say I had a great time! I wish that work (lack of) had allowed me to go in '16, but now out of the oil patch and self employed.

If I remember correctly, the tag was right around $680 ?? Probably the most expensive portions of the trip were fuel getting there/back and the tag. The lodging we did in 2015 was on the side of the mountain in the back of campershells, cab of the truck, cab-over-camper. So our lodging was just what we brought with us. Not sure if anything was different last year or not.

The food in 2015, we divvied up dinner meals. Everyone would bring a dinner or two for the whole group, and just picked what we wanted each evening. Drinks, breakfast and lunch was pretty much on our own...protein bars, shakes, sammiches, etc.

Zach, I have considered looking into other areas myself. I know that the reason we keep using this same one is this is the area that is known. But all areas are unknown at one point. I would be open to hunting another unit if the numbers look good.

Unfortunately the success rate is about the same in the unit he was looking in. From what I was looking at, it looked to be more of a pack in, set up camp, then hike out from camp area though. I've looked all over Google Earth and it looks decent, but lots of work. I'm not really sure if the success rate (or lack there of) there is due to lack of work that people put in or what. The road systems in that area was quite a bit more spread out and almost non-existent in a lot of the area I was looking in.

The problem is you never know what the elk are going to do.

Two years ago they were high. I only remember seeming them on the tops of the mountain

Last year they were hanging low from game warden reports. They came down the mountain earlier and were staying put

This is the best information on hunter success that I could find. 2016 data not yet available.
Year Bull ElkCow Elk Total ElkTotal Hunters Success
2012 22,208 19,192 43,490 215,326 20.0%
2013 22,766 20,840 43,606 219,166 19.9%
2014 22,435 19,465 41,900 217,769 19.2%
2015 22,558 22,294 44,852 221,274 20.3%

My belief is that a sizeable chunk of the people that are successful are residents that do a fair amount of scouting or pay someone to scout

I intend to go up there, but I may end up doing my own thing. I have a couple buddies that are set on me taking them on a hunt up there, and if they follow through with it, we'll do our own hunt. We'll be in the same general area, though, so we can still hang out and help. Of course, if they end up not being able to go, I intend to be a part of this group like usual.

Is there any season for around Thanksgiving time?

I doubt if I will have a week and a half off again. If I go it may be a Sunday -Thur hunt.

Chital I doubt it. But look on the Colorado website

I think any elk hunts around that time are draw hunts.

I will have to pass this year. I am taking a group of guys up to my extended families ranch just on the other side of Lizard Head to elk hunt.

Only way you are going to increase your odds are:

1) Hunting with a primitive smoke pole
2) Hunting with a bow and string
3) Find an area with little to no roads and hike in a good ways and drop camp.
4) Pay big bucks for a private land hunt or guided hunt.

Otherwise 2nd rifle OTC elk hunting is always gonna be a challenge. And yes, unpredictable weather isn't at times very helpful. However I would argue, it's just as much about being away from it all camping in the mountains and doing what I love as it is actually killing something.

Spot on! Although we didn't put a bull on the ground in 2015, that was probably one of my best hunting trips anywhere.

look at huntscore.com

look at huntscore.com unit by unit

I'm out. Doing Montana guided elk with Shawheel.

OTC tag is $636 (just happened to have it next to me when I was reading this)

Oh, that's going to be fun.

He's supposedly already "getting ripped". I'm just trying figure out how to power my dam CPAP machine. (And fit a few cigars and a large flask, for after the kill only, of course , into the duffel bag.)

Gonna be a long year until October

That guy stays in pretty good shape. I'd hate to have to keep up with him in any better shape. I'm going to guess that there may be horses involved for those that, you know, just aren't that crazy about hoofing it themselves?