2015 Colorado DIY Archery Elk Hunt Help?? First Timer...

[mathews4life84]

Hey guys. I am planning out a trip to Colorado this September. I am 30 years old and figured its time to get out there and get after them before I am too crippled to do it. That being said, I have been doing quite a bit of research on which units will provide me with the best opportunity at a bull. Notice I said bull, not trophy bull. I have been focusing my efforts mainly at the Flat Tops, unit 25 in particular. I am just looking for a starting point. From there I can really sharpen the pencil and put my hunt together. I realize that the Flat Tops is packed with hunters. I am that hunter that is willing to get off the beaten path 4-6 miles and stay back in with the bulls for a week and hopefully be fortunate to get an opportunity. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If you would prefer to email me to keep your comments private, please feel free to do so. Jaredddavid84@yahoo.com

 

[Tbunao]

I to was looking at 25 and thought I found a good area way back but if you use the colorado hunting atlas and really zoom in and look you will see that in the north area there are 2 outfitters as well as on the west.  I will also be heading out in September and after 2 years of scouting, forum talking, etc. I've come to terms that I will probably run into other hunters.  I thought about wilderness areas but they seem to be all the rage.  I've talked to a few ppl that have said a lot of the trail heads are packed with cars.  But with that being said "are you a bigger ape than the rest?"  meaning how hard are they working and going back. Keeping in mind that if successful you have to get that meat back.  I've have actually found a few units that are not the extremely popular areas.  I think I will need glasses after it's all said in done from staring at the computer

 

[Arrows4Elk]

If you are new to the area, I would come out and scout the FT's once for a few days before you commit to that spot if you can make it work. A LOT of people hunt the flat tops. Access can be really tough if we get rain or snow in September as most roads up there are steep and greasy. One benefit is that almost all of the FT's are designated non-motorized. IMO for your first time in CO, I'd look into Southern Colorado as an alternative. Good luck.

 

[cliff6]

The Flat Tops are beautiful. That said they are heavily hunted. I would do a drop camp anywhere else in the state. If you aren't butting heads with other guys and get back in  there will be an outfitters drop camp set up to work around. Its a long ways to go to compete with a bunch of guys doing the same thing. Also DOW has some good hunt planners to help, but listen to them 100% and they will give you good advise.