Colorado Unit 444

[OZapo1986]

Hello all! New to the forum and first post. Last year my hunting partner and I got talked into hunting unit 444 2nd rifle season, we had been hunting unit 54, we put some miles on and saw a fair amount of sign but the elk eluded us or other hunters got the shots. We did manage to take 3 doe last year. This year we are planning on going back. We will have cow and OTC bull tags, one with a buck tag, and 2 bear tags in our group. Last year we spent our last 3 days hunting in the Holly Cross Wilderness area in the vicinity of Tellurium Lake. The plan this year is to base camp next to the trail head on Last Chance Creek and spike camp close to Tellurium Lake for the first 3 days of the season. My buddy is planning on taking a scouting trip to the area the 3rd week of August. I have been over the maps and after what we saw last year we think our best chance is to get back in the wilderness and let the elk get pushed back to us off of Burnt Mountain or find some less pressured elk in the wilderness hopefully.I am hoping to find someone that has been to this area before and might have some pointers for us. Having only been there one season I know there are elk there and it will take somework to find them but if anyone has information that would help narrow our search I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Arrows4Elk]

Hey OZ, I live in unit 444.  Are you going to hunt archery or rifle?  When?  Shoot me a PM if you get a chance.

 

[OZapo1986]

PM Sent.

 

[COLOelkman]

I've hunted the specific areas you are referring to.  Although I haven't hunted 2nd season in a very long time.  I think you may find a lot of hunters at the Last Chance trailhead but I'd doubt if many will be backpacking in as I've found that perhaps only 5% may pack in as most basecamp from the road.  I think the area around Tellurium Lake typically would not get much pressure as it's a bit too far for most day hunters and a relatively long way to pack out an elk without horses.  There's not a lot of elk in the area but there are some and definately not a trophy area so I'd advise shooting any legal elk that you have a chance at!  Good Luck.  I may actually be up there this year either 2nd or 3rd for a bull hunt and will be there for sure 1st season for a cow hunt.  We camp over by Crooked Creek Lake.