Buglemaster
New member
- Aug 25, 2017
- 334
\"Where the heck is Colorado Russ\" do we need to send out the search party??
Unit 61 adventure
- Thread starter colorado russ
- Start date
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
I hate it when I get a reply all typed up and hit Submit only to be told I\'m not logged in and it deletes it all!!
The hunting \'rig\' made it there and back with no issues and got really good gas mileage.
Good news on the pickup tranny is 4th gear is kaput but can be fixed without a rebuild!
Mother Nature threw us a major curveball with daytime temps in the low 80s and barely a frost in the morning. Saw maybe 20-25 elk TOTAL in five days and heard maybe 5-6 bugles. Good thing I read all of Dan\'s posts about his working out so at least I was mentally in shape! Grueling 16-18 hour days and figure 6-8 miles in the am and another 2-3 in the pm.
I\'ll post pics later but won\'t leave everyone in suspense. Sandy only had one shot opportunity on the next to last night right at dusk and just couldn\'t seal the deal. This was a nice 6x6 in the 340\" range. We could\'ve went after a couple of 280-300\" bulls but she said she wasn\'t there just to kill an elk and wanted a nice one. So, we came home empty handed BUT still had a successful hunt!
More to come hopefully this weekend.
The hunting \'rig\' made it there and back with no issues and got really good gas mileage.
Good news on the pickup tranny is 4th gear is kaput but can be fixed without a rebuild!Mother Nature threw us a major curveball with daytime temps in the low 80s and barely a frost in the morning. Saw maybe 20-25 elk TOTAL in five days and heard maybe 5-6 bugles. Good thing I read all of Dan\'s posts about his working out so at least I was mentally in shape! Grueling 16-18 hour days and figure 6-8 miles in the am and another 2-3 in the pm.
I\'ll post pics later but won\'t leave everyone in suspense. Sandy only had one shot opportunity on the next to last night right at dusk and just couldn\'t seal the deal. This was a nice 6x6 in the 340\" range. We could\'ve went after a couple of 280-300\" bulls but she said she wasn\'t there just to kill an elk and wanted a nice one. So, we came home empty handed BUT still had a successful hunt!
More to come hopefully this weekend.
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
A few pics from the hunt....
First off - the Honda Acorn a.k.a. the Hunting Rig..[attachment=1]<!-- ia1 -->DSCN0469.JPG<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment][attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->DSCN0470.JPG<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]
Off to Montrose we go Thursday after work!!
First off - the Honda Acorn a.k.a. the Hunting Rig..[attachment=1]<!-- ia1 -->DSCN0469.JPG<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment][attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->DSCN0470.JPG<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]
Off to Montrose we go Thursday after work!!
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
Will come back with pictures from Hwy550(million dollar highway) - on Sandy\'s phone.
Made it to the ranch with all of our gear except the 150 qt coolers we somehow couldn\'t find room for![attachment=1]<!-- ia1 -->DSCN0477.JPG<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment]
Ranch(not pictured) was homesteaded back in 1896 by our guide\'s great grandfather. This picture is the hunting camp. Kitchen/dining area is first building on left, there\'s a \"outhouse\" with 2 showers and 2 toilets, big skinning barn with fridge/freezers, and 2 bunk houses on the right. Each bunk house had 4 beds. Just fine with 2 people but bet cramped with 4! Wish the bunk houses had private toilet because getting up in the middle of the night and going outside was kinda cold![attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->DSCN0484.JPG<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]
Made it to the ranch with all of our gear except the 150 qt coolers we somehow couldn\'t find room for![attachment=1]<!-- ia1 -->DSCN0477.JPG<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment]
Ranch(not pictured) was homesteaded back in 1896 by our guide\'s great grandfather. This picture is the hunting camp. Kitchen/dining area is first building on left, there\'s a \"outhouse\" with 2 showers and 2 toilets, big skinning barn with fridge/freezers, and 2 bunk houses on the right. Each bunk house had 4 beds. Just fine with 2 people but bet cramped with 4! Wish the bunk houses had private toilet because getting up in the middle of the night and going outside was kinda cold![attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->DSCN0484.JPG<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
San Miguel River[attachment=1]<!-- ia1 -->DSCN0488.JPG<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment]
Critters just no horns! Opening morning long ways away.[attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->DSCN0493.JPG<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]
Critters just no horns! Opening morning long ways away.[attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->DSCN0493.JPG<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]
Buglemaster
New member
- Aug 25, 2017
- 334
I feel for Sandy & you Russ! But, I\'d have some pretty bitter feelings towards your outfitter. 20-25 head in 5 days in 61??? :dk: In my book that\'s completely unacceptable . Guess I\'ve never been there during the early rifle season, but we saw a lot of elk in late September. Just guessing, but we\'re you on the western edge of the unit?
Dang Sandy! I was rooting for ya all the way, just so you could have bragging rights over Russ and we would have something to razz him about. :tease:
But X-2 what Dave said about your outfitter. I wouldn\'t exactly give him a failing grade. But for sure no more than a D Minus Minus Minus!!! :mg:
But X-2 what Dave said about your outfitter. I wouldn\'t exactly give him a failing grade. But for sure no more than a D Minus Minus Minus!!! :mg:
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
Guys, it was crazy hot and the elk just weren\'t coming up out of the scrub oaks in the bottom of the canyons and weren\'t bugling to let you know where they were at. Opening morning was when I took the picture of the cows. We had 2 guys spotting on the opposite side of Red Canyon, another guy glassing another canyon and one on foot. Total was around 10-12. Very little movement during daylight hours so most of our time was spent glassing for bulls then making a plan for hunting it. Should he have had a \"plan\" for getting us into the bottoms or bedding areas? Likely so.
He took us through some nasty scrubs and trails opening weekend so knew we were up to the challenge.
Yeah, Dave, we were on the West side. Hunted from Nucla.
The bull we had the opportunity on was spotted in the early morning across a canyon with no way to get in front of it. We watched him feed over the hill then made a plan. This entailed hiking through scrubs and up a rock canyon to set up for an evening hunt. Half mile hike up we gained over 800\' in elevation. If she had made the shot, we\'d all be singing a different tune and yes I fully expected more than one shot opportunity in 5 days of hunting in Unit 61.
I\'ll be curious to see how the overall success rates are for first rifle. One person said that with Unit 62 first season now being a draw instead of OTC, the pressure isn\'t as much so the elk aren\'t moving over into 61 as early.
He took us through some nasty scrubs and trails opening weekend so knew we were up to the challenge.
Yeah, Dave, we were on the West side. Hunted from Nucla.
The bull we had the opportunity on was spotted in the early morning across a canyon with no way to get in front of it. We watched him feed over the hill then made a plan. This entailed hiking through scrubs and up a rock canyon to set up for an evening hunt. Half mile hike up we gained over 800\' in elevation. If she had made the shot, we\'d all be singing a different tune and yes I fully expected more than one shot opportunity in 5 days of hunting in Unit 61.
I\'ll be curious to see how the overall success rates are for first rifle. One person said that with Unit 62 first season now being a draw instead of OTC, the pressure isn\'t as much so the elk aren\'t moving over into 61 as early.
Liv2HntBigBullz
New member
- May 4, 2015
- 23
What would you do differently? I have 12 points and should draw this hunt next year (was thinking I\'d draw this season but didn\'t).
I keep debating about hunting 2 week during archery in 61 or spending 2 weeks (a week prior scouting and then the hunt) on the rifle hunt.
Thoughts? Maybe I should consider 76 more.
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I keep debating about hunting 2 week during archery in 61 or spending 2 weeks (a week prior scouting and then the hunt) on the rifle hunt.
Thoughts? Maybe I should consider 76 more.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
Ryan, I\'d choose archery in Unit 61 over first rifle season based solely on our hunt. If I went rifle, I\'d go 2nd or 3rd season to make sure plenty of snow and they\'re staying out longer. I\'d also plan on the possibility of a 400 yard rifle shot as it seemed opportunities were across a valley or draw.
Russ
Russ
Liv2HntBigBullz
New member
- May 4, 2015
- 23
Good info! When dad hunted 61, 8 years ago it seemed like 5 days was too short to get it done. Though I would plan to scout for at least a week in advance.
All things to think about but I think the archery hunt could be a blast. The only concern I have is the pressure from all other hunting in the area.
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All things to think about but I think the archery hunt could be a blast. The only concern I have is the pressure from all other hunting in the area.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
