where to take my first colorado cow elk hunting adventure

[cpowell]

Looking to go on the cheapest elk hunting adventure two college kids from West Virginia can go on. Have been focusing on colorado leftover tags for fourth season rifle. Need to know about conditions to expect and any advice or GMU unit referrals would be great as its hard to pick.
I read elk leave the flat tops area to go lower into private land when things get nasty--so I dont know if I should throw out unit 24 and look for something else. Also, we are planning to backpack in and camp and move a few miles a day. I have read many articles saying to get away from other hunters and go to the nastiest of the nasty places to find elk--also heard that elk wil get pushed from other hunters and to just pick a good place a mile or so in and basically still hunt.

Any basic information about elk hunting would be appreciated. I've never done it.
Any areas I should look into that would have the greatest chances of seeing elk in the fourth season would help.
Any Camping insights on backpackng with small cheap backpacking tents and 0 degree bags and freezing would also be very valuable.
I just want to have fun backpacking in the rockies and I would like to at least see or hear elk. And of course I dont want to die in the cold.

 

[warbird]

cpowell, I would seriously consider 2nd or 3rd season over 4th if you really want to back pack in. The weather during 4th season can be very unpredictable, 2-3 feet of snow is possible, you just never know in the Rockies.
  If you truly want to enjoy your first elk adventure I would look for an outfitter that hunts private land, they usually do 3 day cow hunts. You can find some a very reasonable rates.
Your chances would sky rocket and the knowledge gained would be invaluable when you return on your own, and you will, because 99% of people who try elk hunting find themselves returning as often as their wallet will allow.
Just my .02
Warbird

 

[Wyo67]

cpowell...  Can't help you much with Colorado units, but I've found that here in Wyoming late season cow hunts can be very different from archery and early season rifle.  When the weather pushes the elk out of the mountains, they can be found and hunted very effectively with spot and stalk methods in open areas and not the deep/dark nasty stuff.  The attached photo was a herd that moved on after we took a cow during an early December hunt...  As warbid said, weather in the rockies can vary greatly.  We were snowed on during September archery and had 60 degree days here in late October.  So be prepared for anything.

 

[Mile_High_Elk]

Area 3/301 has a ton of BLM land and if you catch the migrations right you can cut them off when they head out of the elk head mountains out towards craig during the later seasons....third season can be too early and fourth can be too late depending on where you are in colorado...sometimes both are too late like in 18/28....

 

[coloelko]

For a first time I agree. I'd go 2nd or 3 rd season. You'll have a better chance of locating and getting to theelk.  I go on a late season cow hunt in December every year, and have had some major problems with getting to where the elk were.