Well i'm back from my elk trip to navajo Peak near chromo colorado it was a blast if anyone wants to bear hunt that is the place i bet i seen twelve or so bears i got alot of them on my camera just 20 yards from me. We did run into a sow with a cub and that was a rush. She ran up a pine tree and was wolfing at us and slobbering everywhere and was when i new it was time to leave the area. I also seen some trophy mule deer there was mule deer everywhere I would suggest anyone that wants to find some good mule deer hunting hunt Navajo peak it would be worth your time believe me. I did get within 52 yards of a nice 5 by 5 and he gave me the fake he was bedded and i was pulling back my bow when he stood up and streched i thought for sure he was just going to step out and give me a shot when all of a sudden he just bolted he faked the crap out of me. I did shoot at two cows but there is just to much brush and they always no what to stand behind to block a shot i seen atleast 23 cow elk in that week hunt. We did manage to get a big cow so it was a success but the bad thing is i have to wait a whole year till i can go back the locals just don't realise how good they have it if i could there tomorrow i would i will try to put some pictures of the bears on here if i can figure it out

Thanks for the report. Be careful because elk hunting is highly addictive. It will make stand hunting seem like watching grass grow. Baker

Nail on the head elkhunter49. EVERY YEAR YOU DONT GO ELK HUNTING IS ONE LESS YOU WILL MAKE IN YOUR LIFE TIME. I leave on the 15`th.

after my elk hunt last year, i swore never to call sitting over a feeder in a stand hunting.

We LOCALS ~ DO realize it. We just live it modestly
and try not to brag, and just enjoy the Fruits that Gods
Country has to offer. Real glad you were able to share
in this experience. Now that you know what you can
expect, spend the year preparing for next years Hunt.
We do still have a few Boone and Crockets waiting to
test your skills.

By the way, thanks for sharing.

Western slope? we hunt out of montrose

Yes in deed, Whitewater area, GMU 61 lots of Monsters up there.
But not for the Novice, you really need to be in shape up
there, not to mention the Points needed just to have a chance
at getting a Tag.
But the whole area is Great, both sides of 50, from Dominguez
Canyon up to the Grand Mesa.

We have been hunting across the road in 62 for 18 years. We bring Horses an pack 10 miles. I am ready.

We've made gunny our second home... Few more years of recovery and the monsters will reappear.

Yeh, 61 is good also, the only bad about it, is it seems that
EVERY HUNTER, local, as well as out of Staters jamb the
area. Seems there's a camp behind every Rock or Tree.
Was there 3 - 4 weeks ago Scouting, and it was a Zoo.
Didn't go in the 10 miles or so that you'll be doing, but I
think you should be OK going in that distance. We scouted
62, but parked in 61 only because the terrain is easier
for parking. This may be my last year for 62 though, being
64yo, the steep Canyons seem to have gotten much
Steeper the past couple of years. Being nearly Vertical,
it really puts the HURT on for sure. But the Bulls down
there are simply amassing. Good luck to you & be Safe.

i used to hunt 61 & 62, killed a bull in '89 behind "beef pasture point" off the divide road. lot of BIG bulls and bucks in 61, that was when you could deer hunt 61 with OTC tags. i go down by Durango these days not near as many people and gets even less when you get past 12-15 miles in. good luck, wish everyone dry tents and good weather....

Say, did the info I gave you help any? Glad to hear that your group had some success. One of the folks on the forum mentioned how addictive elk hunting was. He is so right. I have missed 2 years, this will be my 3rd, and I am wanting to get back to the mountains.
take care.

gb