Hungry Horse Posted February 11, 2017 Report Share Posted February 11, 2017 http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/colorado-otc-elk-tags/ Another good article on choosing a elk hunting unit. I believe that article is by Mike Eastman. Read the article as well as the Question & Answer section for good results. HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 Thanks for the info! Haven't looked at all the videos yet, did watch the first one. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertip_co Posted February 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 54 is otc bull this yr for 2nd and 3rd rifle, book came in mail today. of course w otc tags you could camp in 54 or 55 and hunt 54 or 55. steve's guys got that bull in 55 out of cement creek when we were in taylor park that yr. them two units are as central as you can get. and we can get ammos at gene taylors . As info solid fluorescent pink is legal now. my wife wants to go back to fox creek in 81 to get that bull she couldnt get a shot off at in 2015, but im sure she ll go wherever we pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 Jeff: You are welcome. Rt 133 from Carbondale is a nice drive, passes through some good hunting locations. Enjoy the videos www.youtube.com has some good videos. www.vimeo.com also. Just use the search box to find what you want. Charlie: Thanks for the updated info on Unit 54 and the new pink color. Unit 54, 53, 63, 55, 81 ...elk are where you find them. That elk might have been taken in 4th season, but don't tell Dawn. Let her keep her hopes up ! HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/diy-western-elk-hunt-for-1000-budget/ On a budget, you can hunt Colorado. Click the link to see how it is done. Colorado Non Res hunt on a $1, 000 budget ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertip_co Posted February 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Infos: http://cpw.state.co.us/documents/hunting/huntered/huntplanner.pdf http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/BrochureOrderForm.aspx https://www.co.wildlifelicense.com/start.php?e4q=3c441e79-8cf0-40e8-8985-1fec8f7b6aac&e4p=b839e479-989f-4ab7-89ee-c19bca956eeb&e4ts=1486959428&e4c=active&e4e=snhfco3000000&e4rt=Safetynet&e4h=3292d05b813e18f8fa949e67590d062b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertip_co Posted February 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 I really like the looks of u53 on topo and satfoto and all them lakes. Its in the West Elk Mtns west of Irwin. Irwin is in 521 but its OTC too and has a campground. But I'll have to wait til the 9+feet of snow is gone to go up there and explore. The place is 35mi straight west of Crested Butte on the map. u81 I know a lot better and have been most places in it. We wouldnt have to camp low east of Platoro where we did before, we could go up higher over La Manga Pass to Trujillo Meadows Campground and camp. Thats a huge camping place and easy to get to w big rigs or small. Incidentally BLM campgrounds that are OPEN in 2nd and 3rd rifle do not charge a fee but I think the 10 or 14 day limit still applies. If yall wanted to branch out from there you can go to Platoro or Fox Creek or Osier or creep along the edges of the Tierra Amarilla Grant fence. Just so may options. u81 is like having the whole state to camp and hunt in, its so big it boggles the imagination, and spreads the hunters way out. And the food is cheap and is really at the Osier train station. Or you can drop down into Chama NM and eat. Or we could go to 55 and camp up at Spring Creek, or 54 over toward The Castles. We luv our Gunnison. I just down know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 15, 2017 Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Acbsu5SA8g For those interested a VIDEO in the above link for Lake Irwin Campground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 http://www.biggamehunt.net/forum/co-gmu-53 A discussion of Unit 53 and a map showing unit 53, the dark colored line inside the blue line is the West Elk Wilderness area in Unit 53. HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Too late to edit, but it is a old thread from biggamehunt.net forums talking about Unit 53. Ex biologist is a biologist for Colo FWP now. You will find him posting on www.24hourcampfire.com/ forums now. Sounds like deer numbers have fallen since the thread. This winter Jan Feb 2017, is deep snows in Unit 53, Unit 54, so possibly a larger winter kill due to deep snowfall. Elk will survive better than the deer. I did see on Facebook that Colo FWP is feeding the game in the Gunnison Valley In all honesty... I do not see a Realtree gathering happening this fall. There is still time to obtain OTC elk tags for Unit 53 54 521 55 63 but I do not see the interest from the membership. Good Luck to all. You are welcome to any videos or web links I have added to this thread. I am allowing this thread to die here and probally will have no more input. HH Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Got my Colorado Big Game book in the mail yesterday. The application deadline is April 4th for the deer, elk, antelope, moose & bear draw hunts. But even if you miss that date or don't draw, you can still get your OTC tags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 http://www.elkcamp.com/get-smart-on-elk.html 24 good tips from Jay Houston on Elk Hhunting Tips, some excellent tips ! Go to the website and scan his collection of good articles. www.elkcamp.com/ HH Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/EHU.aspx From Colorado FWP, Elk Hunting University, each Chapter has many lessons, Click on each Chapter, and then read the many lessons concerning elk hunting. A excellent learning tool for all elk hunters offered by Colorado FWP. If you are a first timer or an experienced hunter, a very good read. HH Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 http://blog.eastmans.com/western-big-game-deathtrap-winters-cold-cruel-wrath-its-upon-us/ Mike Eastman from Eastman's Hunting Journal thoughts on big game with the bad winter of 2016 2017. HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9IqpfuPxEo A backpacking video of Unit 81 and the South San Juan Wilderness. It is a beautiful area. See the panaromanic shot at 12:58 through 14:40, beautiful country ! They saw 4 elk at 10:45. They had hiked to Conjeos Peak and the Continental Divide. If you have a Colorado Atlas & Gazetteer you can find the lakes they have passed. Blue lake. Glacier Lake, Tobacco Lake, Bear lake and finally Roaring Gulch. They are above Platora Reservior, a hunt location of the Realtree camp in 2013 I believe. Just a video for a visual of the country in Unit 81 above Platora reservoir. I found this on www.youtube.com/ HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1WFTUOcENI The Cumbres Toltec RR from Antonito Colo to Chama NM. This is in Unit 81 in the southern area. It is a long video 1 Hr 33 min. This will show you the sagebrush prairie to the high mountain passes. I am not certain if the train has stops where you can leave the train and hunt & hike and be picked back up days later, as on the Durango Silverton Train ride from Durango to Silverton. Sure does pass through some pretty areas. HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Ok, watched the video. My findings... Engine 484 leaves Antonito Colo, 000-14:00 all sagebrush prairie, 14:45 Aspens begin, 22:00 to 27:00 1st stop Sublette for water stop, 30:20 valley view, 33:30 High point of train ride it seems, nice views, 39:44 to 42:26 nice views, 43:59 to 44:35 Tunnel, 45:12 nice views, 46:40 valley view, 47:22 valley view, 49:58 views open country, 51:10 Osier station 2nd stop, 55:40 snowing at Osier, and seems as the 484 Chama bound train pulls out and video maker get on the rear of the approaching Antonito bound train, 1: 01:40 we have a train pull out from Osier and I think it is headed towards Antonito Colo. But at the end of the train ride, Engine 484 pulls into the engine house, but where? Little confused ! But the video allows you to see the terrain along the Cumbres Toltec RR and of Unit 81 southern portion close to New Mexico. If the train would stop and allow you acess off the train and a later pick up, days later, that would be nice for a elk hunt in Unit 81. Of course... you would have to be prepared to bivy camp while hunting. Just my thoughts. HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 22, 2017 Report Share Posted February 22, 2017 (edited) https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoParksandWildlife/videos/ Hopefully a video of the deer and elk being feed to get them through the winter in the Gunnison River Valley. Scroll down to the Bobcat being loaded beginning of the 2nd line. It did not load the specific video, but rather the whole video page . Enjoy any of the other videos. HH Edited February 22, 2017 by Hungry Horse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 22, 2017 Report Share Posted February 22, 2017 (edited) https://www.facebook.com/Elk101/videos/ A very short video of the effectiveness of the frontal shot on elk, if close. This could be YOU ! Again all the videos loaded again, click more videos, and see the frontal elk shot video below. HH video credit elk101.com/ Enjoy all the videos. A broadside shot is best, but sometimes just not available to you. HH Edited February 22, 2017 by Hungry Horse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 22, 2017 Report Share Posted February 22, 2017 So.... between the offerings of silvertip_ co, texastrophies, and Hungry Horse, what information do you folks want to make a Realtree gathering work in 2017 ? I agree there is a lot more that could be offered, but what specifically do you Realtree members want to see ? HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11842339/1 Alamosa from 24 Hour campfire forums, elk section, posted up some elk & deer photo today from the Sangre De Cristos, the west side of them I am assuming, still some elk and deer left in the San Luis Valley. HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted February 24, 2017 Report Share Posted February 24, 2017 I rode the train from Antonito to Chama a few years ago. Enjoyed the trip. Got a ton of pictures from the train of scenery. Then only stop I remember was the one for lunch. I don't believe that train stops for hunters, but it would be cool if it did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 24, 2017 Report Share Posted February 24, 2017 Jeff I agree, would be a great opportunity to hunt elk or deer off the train, if it passes through some good hunting lands. On 24 hour campfire myself and a few others had discussed the chance to hunt the Weminuche Wilderness Unit 75, off the Durango Silverton train ride. They are geared for stopping at Needleton and Elk Park for hikers and hunters I understand. Your hunt gear goes in the cargo car, and I understand the elk, if taken needs to be in coolers ( elk meat ) and placed in the cargo car also. No blood from the carcass is allowed on the car floors. Ex Biologist I refer to in the earlier posts, and I, had a discussion on this and the % of harvest success on elk a few years ago. I did read a article from a Philadelphia fireman who had success bowhunting elk this way off the train and I have a friend from Bayfield Colo back many years who shot ( bowhunt ) his mtn goat that way. Said it was a tough hunt on the 14,000 ft Mtns. I think killing it was not all that hard... getting it out was ! I PM'd the Philadelphia fireman about his hunt but he never replied. He did kill though. Thank you for the reply, it seems quite lonely on here ! : ( HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungry Horse Posted February 27, 2017 Report Share Posted February 27, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Q3yVVyJDY Another train ride, must be fro Chama NM to Cumbres Pass on the Cumbres Toltec train. This would be the southern section of Unit 81 in Colo. HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted February 27, 2017 Report Share Posted February 27, 2017 On 2/12/2017 at 8:45 PM, Hungry Horse said: http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/diy-western-elk-hunt-for-1000-budget/ On a budget, you can hunt Colorado. Click the link to see how it is done. Colorado Non Res hunt on a $1, 000 budget ? That's what it costs me to hunt. Private land lease included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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