I\'m planning on hunting elk DIY OTC and was looking at unit 421 because I would have access to hunt some private but also get access to the Nf through private land would be able to use a horse if I got one and a cabin also but probably going to backpack into the forest if they are not on the private land. Of course there would be an access fee for this 2k. What are your thoughts on spending the money? I really want to get away from the atv\'s and people traffic and try to have better success doing it that way. I have read a lot about he OTC units get hammered so hard by people and atv\'s all over. Can I guy still have a good hunt on OTC tag but probably needs to put on some miles getting in deep? Also applying for unit 421 would u think the 1st season would be better than 2nd and 3rd because the archery hunters probably haven\'t pushed the elk as bad as the gun hunters would. I was thinking of 2nd or 3rd but maybe first would maybe be better. Not a lot of knowledge yet in the elk hunting units, so what are your thoughts on this. Thanks for your time
Colorado elk diy
- Thread starter Retterath
- Start date
GMU 241 is combined with 41,42,52,411,521.
The hunt code is EM04101R [Bull - 1st Rifle]
I would think if you are a rifle hunter, the 1st season could be the best. [See stats on the link in other post]
For the 1st Rifle season, there are 1000 bull tags available. So you wont need any Pref Points to draw.
There is a PLO Either Sex tag available too [Private Land Only] for a November hunt.
Im not one to \'pay to hunt\' so I cant answer that $2000 question
As far as hunting OTC in Colorado.
Yes, it can be difficult. But I hunt OTC each year and do OK.....
It just takes dedication and perseverance
The hunt code is EM04101R [Bull - 1st Rifle]
I would think if you are a rifle hunter, the 1st season could be the best. [See stats on the link in other post]
For the 1st Rifle season, there are 1000 bull tags available. So you wont need any Pref Points to draw.
There is a PLO Either Sex tag available too [Private Land Only] for a November hunt.
Im not one to \'pay to hunt\' so I cant answer that $2000 question
As far as hunting OTC in Colorado.
Yes, it can be difficult. But I hunt OTC each year and do OK.....
It just takes dedication and perseverance
Statistically, the greatest elk harvest is on the very first day of the very first season. I\'m not a rifle hunter so I don\'t keep up on those seasons all that much. But I always thought the first season was limited draw. But I may be wrong. Wouldn\'t be the first time.
There is no way in heck I would ever pay $2000 for a hunt or a trespass fee.
There is no way in heck I would ever pay $2000 for a hunt or a trespass fee.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,327
Brady, I think by spending some time on here, we might be able to change your mind regarding the $2,000. Can it help? Sure. Is it necessary? No way, especially if you aren\'t even planning on hunting the private land. There are plenty of ways to avoid the crowds, mainly by getting off of a main road or trail by a 1/2 mile or more. You on on the right track with your thoughts on getting away from other hunters, but now it is just figuring out how to do that.
Check out the cyberscouting section on here, there are a lot of good tips in there. Along with that, check out the mapping system on the Colorado DOW website here: http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/huntingatlas/. You can use the legend on the left to show elk migration patterns along with winter and summer concentration areas. You can also toggle between a topo view, aerial view, and you can also use the FS-MVUM view, which will show you which forest service roads are open to traffic, a key to figuring out how to avoid other hunters.
Hopefully these tips will get you on your way, but feel free to fire away with any additional questions!
Check out the cyberscouting section on here, there are a lot of good tips in there. Along with that, check out the mapping system on the Colorado DOW website here: http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/huntingatlas/. You can use the legend on the left to show elk migration patterns along with winter and summer concentration areas. You can also toggle between a topo view, aerial view, and you can also use the FS-MVUM view, which will show you which forest service roads are open to traffic, a key to figuring out how to avoid other hunters.
Hopefully these tips will get you on your way, but feel free to fire away with any additional questions!
If you\'re talking about this year? 1st rifle is a draw tag, and too late to get this year. Unless there\'s leftovers.
As for the $2000? No way.
Getting away from hunters on an OTC unit is always going to be tough. Even going deep is not always the answer. Everybody knows about that, and not all hunters are lazy. Just use yourself as an example. Others will think just like you.
Planning for an elk hunt is more than planning for the actual hunt itself. It starts with getting the right tag, and OTC is never a good choice.
As for the $2000? No way.
Getting away from hunters on an OTC unit is always going to be tough. Even going deep is not always the answer. Everybody knows about that, and not all hunters are lazy. Just use yourself as an example. Others will think just like you.
Planning for an elk hunt is more than planning for the actual hunt itself. It starts with getting the right tag, and OTC is never a good choice.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,327
\"Still Hunter\" said:
With all due respect Pete, there are a lot of guys who go out and fill their tags every year using OTC tags. Not all hunters are lazy, but there are very few that are willing to travel very far off of the roads. At least that is my experience. I have hunted primarily OTC units most of my life and have never found it very difficult to get away from other hunters. And I am not some super fit person who travels 5+ miles in every day.
thanks a lot guys for the info that should help a lot. i will check into those links and do some studying on them. i guess i would like to save the $2000 i will just have to find an area where the trails are limited for atv and try to check out some more maps. Another area i was checking out was around craig and read they have a good elk population up there but there are tons of hunters and said it looks like a pumpkin patch out there, but I\'m guessing most of those guys aren\'t too far off the road either. i maybe shouldn\'t ask this, this early since I\'m new to this site but is there decent limited draw units that a guy can draw with one or two points and have good access. i have on point for colorado elk and deer right now. i have been checking out mytopo.com and they have each unit and how much private and public that will give a guy and idea if it even worth trying out. The reason i thought about orc tag is maybe learn a few more things about elk hunting before i burn any points but maybe need to find a decent limited draw unit that only need 1 or 2 points and start learning the area. What are your thoughts on that? Anyways thanks a lot guys for giving me advice on this i appreciate it and hope to talk to u guys more.
americanbwana
New member
- Sep 3, 2017
- 396
Another option is pick an undersubscribed 1st cow tag as your second choice. This will give you another point, save some money, and still get you out first season.
Both plan A and B areas are undersubscribed. This allows me to apply what I see during archery season toward a 1st season rifle hunt.
Both plan A and B areas are undersubscribed. This allows me to apply what I see during archery season toward a 1st season rifle hunt.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,327
Brady, in my experience, a unit that requires one or two preference points really isn\'t that much different than an OTC unit. Personally, I just don\'t see them being worth it to only hunt there every other year or every third year. Just my two cents on that...
I will be going with OTC or maybe 1st season, but just need to pick a unit. When a guy is looking for a unit such as OTC counter do u mainly look at stats and sucess rates and trails for deciding a unit. I was looking at unit 4 now maybe going to check that out a little more who know probably change my mind again. Still leaning towards 421 but like u guys said now I\'m really thinking it over if I really want to spend the 2k. :crazy:
John little
New member
- May 11, 2014
- 30
Everything I read about the otc unit we hunt says there are a ton of hunters and not many elk. It\'s the only unit I\'ve ever hunted and been on elk both years. If I went by what I read I wouldn\'t even want to hunt our unit but it\'s all I know and we see several elk. Hoping to kill my 1st elk this yr. my buddies I go with have killed elk 2 out of last 3 years. Would be 3 for 3 if I wouldn\'t have missed my bull.
\"John little\" said:
Take what I say in the right context. I don\'t like to see even one other hunter, and will move to a new area if I do see one. The thought of an OTC unit freaks me out. I\'ve helped a buddy hunt OTC units, and I couldn\'t believe all the hunters. It didn\'t stop us from getting an elk, but it took a different hunting method than what I use personally.
after doing more research on otc units I\'m pretty sure I\'m going to hunt wilderness area where trails can only be used by horses and by foot. Now i think 24 is what I\'m shooting for, I\'m going to order some topo maps on unit 24 and try to understand how to read those maps and go from there. Does anyone know does that area have a lot of grizzlies or wolves thats not stopping me I\'m just wondering. Also i think going to hunt 2nd or 3rd season and i know the weather can get cold and miserable for backpacking but i really want to stay away from people, So has anyone ever used the kifaru tipi\'s with those titanium stoves? they are pretty light and also the tipi is too was maybe thinking that would keep me warm enough if the weather turned cold. Any one want to go with and teach me a few things about elk hunting. i will pay for there out of state tag. :upthumb: :wave: lol
elkmtngear
New member
- Aug 9, 2017
- 1,152
\"Retterath\" said:
For 2K...I\'ll bet you can find a guide that could potentially teach you a lot! It\'s great to learn on your own, but just be prepared to invest a few years before you find success.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,327
\"Retterath\" said:
Brady, just something to think about, but backpacking in anywhere is somewhat dangerous 2nd or 3rd season. The snow can get brutal at that time of year. You can go to bed with it being 50+ degrees at 7:00 when it gets dark and wake up to over a foot of snow. I would just be careful if you decide to go that route.
As a side note, what you are talking about with hunting a wilderness area seems to be the new fad for rookie out of state hunters. I guess I just don\'t quite understand it sometimes. If you are going in from a trailhead, you are going to have a bunch of other people going in from the same point, similar to the traffic you would get with a road. The only problem is that everyone will be jumping off of that trail within the first few miles and hunting within a few miles of that. To me, I would think that would lead to more crowds. One thing I will throw out there is that there are quite a few successful hunters on here who hunt Colorado every year, and I am not aware of any of them who hunt wilderness areas from trailheads. Just some food for thought...
