Unit 55 CO, archery 2013
- Thread starter steve-wv
- Start date
nclonghunter
New member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 681
Steve, I know nothing about that area to help you out. I have heard the Gunnison area is rough and good elk hunting. From your post I do not think it is your first time elk hunting, just first time in that unit. Here is a good link that Colorado Wildlife allows us to use;
ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu
It's called the "Colorado Hunting Atlas"
ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu
It's called the "Colorado Hunting Atlas"
I am hunting GMU 54 archery this Sep, right next to 55. I have talked to Bryan with the hunting planning office and the biologist in the Gunnison area and they both have great tips. I would give them a call.
If you would be interested in sharing packing lists / hunting /camping gear send me a PM.
If you would be interested in sharing packing lists / hunting /camping gear send me a PM.
I spent 5 days in the crystal creek drainage last year. I took my nephew on his first elk hunt and almost killed him by hiking 56 miles over those 5 days. I wouldn't have believed we hiked that much but the GPS said we needed to buy new boots at the end of the trip. 
Called in a nice 5x6 on opening day the first 15 minutes of our trip but he winded me at 40 yards and that was the last elk we saw over the 5 days we hunted the crystal creek drainage. I went back up the last weekend of archery season and saw two cows at the bottom entrance by Taylor River, but never saw or heard any elk bugling in the area that weekend. I've talked to other hunters in that area and they all had the same story of not hearing any bugles and not having any success. From what I've heard the mild winter pushed a lot of the elk down to lower elevation because their high elevation feeding areas lacked vegetation. I'll be heading up there again this year for another bivy hunting adventure and I'm hoping the outcome will be different this year. The only reason I'm heading back is because I have a better understanding of the area from the time we spent back there last year. Also there's an outfitter back in that area I ran into scouting, but I never ran into any of his clients during my 5 day hunt. If you would like to compare notes or want additional info onthe area please let me know.
Called in a nice 5x6 on opening day the first 15 minutes of our trip but he winded me at 40 yards and that was the last elk we saw over the 5 days we hunted the crystal creek drainage. I went back up the last weekend of archery season and saw two cows at the bottom entrance by Taylor River, but never saw or heard any elk bugling in the area that weekend. I've talked to other hunters in that area and they all had the same story of not hearing any bugles and not having any success. From what I've heard the mild winter pushed a lot of the elk down to lower elevation because their high elevation feeding areas lacked vegetation. I'll be heading up there again this year for another bivy hunting adventure and I'm hoping the outcome will be different this year. The only reason I'm heading back is because I have a better understanding of the area from the time we spent back there last year. Also there's an outfitter back in that area I ran into scouting, but I never ran into any of his clients during my 5 day hunt. If you would like to compare notes or want additional info onthe area please let me know.I hunted 55 a few years back while in college up in Gunnison. We hunted up Mosquito creek and up by the Alpine Tunnel. Saw a ton of elk scouting in both locations before the season started but once it started they were pretty few and far between. We were able to get into them a few times but never got to let an arrow fly. Be prepared for some steep country and a lot of hiking. Good Luck.
eric bailey
New member
- Feb 26, 2013
- 19
steve-wv said:
Hey, Steve. How did your hunt go? I am curious to know your general impressions of the Crystal Creek drainage.
