Buddy and I are running to CO next year for the 2nd/3rd Elk Rifle Season. He wants an elk, and i originally did too, but I've been really wanting a chance at a black bear too & with the family cant see myself pulling this trip off again anytime soon. I see that the over the counter black bear tags run concurrent with Elk seasons, so was thinking that we may be able to more or less hunt together with him with the elk tag, and me black bear. We'd split the meat evenly (if we're lucky enough to tag) but he'd obviously get the horns, and I'd get the fur. My question is, is it reasonable to assume we'd be able to hunt the same locations (spot and stalk) for both game? Or would we want to hunt both animals differently? I think it'd be more fun for us to hunt together vs splitting up during each day, but if the game are going to be in different areas, that's not a deal breaker for either of us.

I've hunted neither, so starting somewhat from scratch here - but just curious it's reasonable to think we can sit and glass the same location looking for whichever game comes out first & making a run at it...

I haven't hunted fall bear but have spotted them when hunting for elk and mule deer. It really depends on the area you will be hunting, if he is spotting and stalking it should work, if he is calling maybe not so much..

Vast majority of bears are sleeping by 3rd rifle elk season.

If you want a bear I would look at the Sept rifle tag. Note that CO is redoing regs right now. Bear license costs are coming down a lot!!!

Lot of units your buddy could draw a sept ML elk tag and you a rifle bear

I concur with Bobo. Game warden said this past season that there are minimal number of bears killed in 2nd and 3rd rifle. Too much pressure by then. Unless you are hunting with hounds, you need to get in on the 1st rifle season or even try archery or muzzleloader if possible.

I just checked, bear tag is now only $100,

Get a gohunt membership and find a unit you and your buddy could draw a ML elk tag and sept rifle bear tag. And go hunt. I can think of three units right off my head.

Hey guys, thanks. Awesome advice! That changes things a bit. We were pretty set on November and over the counter, but if odds are good for some draws then that sounds outstanding.

There are a lot of elk tags in CO you can draw with no points both ML and first rifle season, with that said I feel best time for bear is September second option would be first rifle

Good tips. And the best part about going in September v November is that it's that much less time I've got to wait too, ha. Do you have any particular units you recommend researching a bit more than others?

Pm sent

I almost shot a stupid bear with my pistol for sniffing around outside my tent last summer back packing in the Sangres. Most annoying and persistent creatures, it would not leave us alone at night!(food hung properly etc..) Good luck to you both!

I was hunting 2nd rifle in Unit 70 this year and had a bear come within 50 yds of me in the same area I had a MD doe walk up within 10 feet of me as well as a rump of a elk ( couldn't tell what it was ) in 30 yds. All of these came at different times, but I saw all of these in the same area I hunted that day.

Haven't hunted Co but in Montana I have seen black bear and elk within a couple hundred yards of each other and run into bear while stalking elk. hunting together is do able and for$100 over the counter bear tag I would have one in my pocket if hunting elk. I would have had a bear tag in my pocket and killed a few bears on those elk hunts the years they were not already sleeping had the landowner allowed us to shoot bears. Saw quite a few and even some color phase bears. Had my elk already and was hunting deer but spent a little time watching some elk and had elk and bear in the view through the Binos at the same time. The bear was about 1/4 mile off and the elk were about a half mile. Good luck with the trip

Shoot your elk early and watch the gut pile for bears for the next few days. It is illegal to bait bears in Colorado anymore but you can watch that carcass and it will produce bears quite often.