I've thought bout throwing in with y'all but after reading the stories and all I feel safer hunting by myself!

I can hurt myself and die on a peaceful mountain by myself or get blown to bits in camp by a wood fire charging electrical device or gas on a fire......yeah, I'm good by myself

It's not that bad...

Although sneaky running off after some elk and showing up 8 hours later looking like he was about to die was rather amusing

Oh, I'm sure it ain't bad but I've kinda transitioned over to chasing mulies. Tags are cheaper and I can get one out by myself in one trip. Them elk are a lot of work and weight to get out and well I just don't wanna work that hard on my 'vacation'

Alright, lets clear up a few misconceptions.

Chief Joe was not a pyro wannabe. He was a pyro professional.

It is that bad.

It was more like 6 hours. I was clearly not about to die, didn't look like I was about to die, and was not even winded. Pffft. That was a cake walk. The near vertical ascent and barbed wire was my favorite part. If y'all knew how to shoot, I wouldn't have had to go all the way over there to chase those elk off our ridge, anyway.

Sneaky, thanks for clearing that all up for me
Now that I know your crew don't know how to shoot I'll just stay wondering bout by myself, thanks though!

Well, if you need any elk run off, let me know. I'm pretty good at it.

But not know how to shoot he means not shooting at elk 1050 yards away on another bowl on an incline...

It was a downhill incline. Don't make it sound sound difficult.

So those of us planning on going, is anyone interested in checking out other areas? Mr T. has a really cool house outside of Pagosa Springs that he rents out, if 5 or 6 pitched in we could have some really comfortable accommodations. I know the time we spent at JSimms dads place in 15 was so nice. Just a thought, and not trying to hijack the trip.

you can also look at the stats on www.toprut.com I'm looking at other units for son and I, and if it would help to hunt on an antlerless tag so we can get some experience.

A buddy of mine is looking at the White River National Forrest area. There's 3 or 4 units in that area that I've slightly started looking into.

this brings back memories of long ago hunts
Montana is a beautiful place to hunt

have you looked at huntsourse.com?

Well I am looking at my choices for draw tags. I am really thinking about trying over near pagosa springs and renting out Mr. T's house. I should get a cow tag this year with points. Any one interested in that?

Following this. Backed out last year and that was a stupid, stupid thing to do.

I am out this year

I most likely have other plans, but that would be a great way to go.

I've started looking around Rifle and Meeker areas. Still not 100% on if i'll make it or not, but the percentage is getting higher.

Uh oh. You knock yours up too and mamma said no? That was me last year haha

I guess?


What are the units y'all are gonna hunt/have hunted?

I go every year and get OTC tags Won't say where we go, But I will say your success rate is about the same whereever you go. I usually get an elk nearly every year and I attribute it to these things:

1) being in good shape. I don't still hunt. I walk, hike and spot and stalk. If you can't walk up the mountain, your success rate drops by more than half if not more.
2) Luck.
3) Being able to hit what your shooting at and being quick enough to make a shot before the herd spooks.

Lastly, if you're concerned about the success rate, elk hunting isn't for you. Approach it with the attitude of, If i get one cool, if not that's cool too. I go elk hunting for the exercise, camping and being in the beautiful mountains.

This year I had two tags and tagged out on both. No one else got one, because no one else spots and stalks. Most people sit on their butts and eat beef jerky hoping to get a 400 yard shot on something. Every one of my elk has been under 100 yards.

Oh one last thing. I have hunted first season, second and third. I have not noticed much difference in the elk numbers between seasons, they travel a LOT, so you never know when a herd is going to come busting into your area. We have had guys shoot elk from camp, just because a herd got the idea to come walking through camp. You just never know. Luck certainly has a lot to do with it.

I will say that weather is fairly critical. The colder the better, we usually try to go when we think it will be coldest. My favorite time to hunt is in the snow.

Check the winter conditions this year, some areas of Colorado are getting it bad, still snowing.
You all might look into Wyoming for a future hunt, some areas have significantly less pressure and reduced price cow tags. Get some PP and you can draw a pretty good tag, cow tags do not need points, random draw.
While all the tags are draw, hunting is great in the Cowboy state. In the right areas you can get up to 3 elk tags, 2 cow tags and a bull tag.
That being said Colorado OTC is an easy tag to get, have fun.
SW Colorado is having a rough winter as is some other areas around the state.

Sorry Chital, not ignoring you. I started my own business in December and although I spend quite a bit of time on the computer, I never seem to get on here or Texas Bow Hunter much anymore. Busy, busy, busy! We have hunted unit 71 3 times I believe. I have hunted it once, as a THF group 3 times, 2014, 2015, 2016. This years group hunt seems to failed to launch, everyone either doing something else already, or not able to go. I was looking at unit 77, 78, 751, or 771, but I have to admit I have not had time to do the proper study on any of them. One of the THF members (Mr.T) has really nice house there that I was thinking about renting out for this year. But with my limited experience in this area and no time for research, I think I will stay with unit 71 outside of Dolores. I am thinking I want to rent a house, cabin, or take a travel trailer this time. We had access to a house in 2015 and a good shower and hot meal made all the difference in the world.

just saw this on craigslist..theres also couple of deer leases listed.. https://austin.craigslist.org/spo/6038693556.html

anybody interested in this??