DocMort Posted February 10, 2010 Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 Anyone ever rifle hunted it for elk? We are looking for someplace for 3rd rifle and just trying to put a ton of info together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted February 10, 2010 Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 Usually it's a good place not to be during 3rd rifle season. The snow can be 3 to 5 feet deep there by then and the elk start to move. You have a snowmobile? Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 snowmobiles won't matter, mark. the hunters can only get up to where the elk used to be. when snow hits an elks belly, they move down. try the craig area or gunnison for 3rd season. depending on snow that year, hunt lower where the snow is only 2 feet deep or less. over 3' deep and you'll soon discover that there are no tracks, meaning the obvious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUNTINGMAN Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 Only elk hunt I have ever been on was at gunnison. Seen some spokes and cows with calves but nothing big enough to shoot,this was a public land do it yourself hunt though. I had a blast and seen country I have never seen before,it was during October when I went and I would love to go back some day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 snowmobiles won't matter, mark. the hunters can only get up to where the elk used to be. when snow hits an elks belly, they move down. try the craig area or gunnison for 3rd season. depending on snow that year, hunt lower where the snow is only 2 feet deep or less. over 3' deep and you'll soon discover that there are no tracks, meaning the obvious. The elk move west into the Maybelle area when that happens. The snowmobile is to ride the groomed trails and sightsee. A few years back some hunters got out and had to hire a road grater to clear the road so they could get their camp out. It cost about $3000.00 if memory serves me correctly. Take a weather radio no matter where you go during 3rd season. One year (2006 I think)we hunted in light jackets during 4th season for deer. It was exceptionally warm and no snow up there. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocMort Posted February 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 We are strongly looking at going back towards Rico in the San Juan, dad just wanted me to find out more about the area. Looking at Lizard Head, Uncompaghre and the Taylor mesa areas. Yes we have 4 sleds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 The elk move west into the Maybelle area when that happens. The snowmobile is to ride the groomed trails and sightsee. A few years back some hunters got out and had to hire a road grater to clear the road so they could get their camp out. It cost about $3000.00 if memory serves me correctly. Take a weather radio no matter where you go during 3rd season. One year (2006 I think)we hunted in light jackets during 4th season for deer. It was exceptionally warm and no snow up there. Mark about 1973 we were camped in the west elk wilderness just west of gunnison. we went to bed about 7pm with about 2" of snow. at 4am an outfitter yelled into our camp "if you're getting out, you come now". the snow was over 3' deep and coming down hard. we saddled the horses, put our rifles in the scabbard, cut the ropes on the tent, and walked out. we went in july 4th next year and got all our stuff. that country can flat kill you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorado bob Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 DocMort------Lizard Head, Taylor Mesa & Uncompaghre are good areas. I hunted Taylor & Lizard head years ago. IMO your better off hunting the same area-----the better you learn an area, the more success you'll have. I've been hunting the same area for the 25 years, it seems I know where the elk are going before they do. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 DocMort------Lizard Head, Taylor Mesa & Uncompaghre are good areas. I hunted Taylor & Lizard head years ago. IMO your better off hunting the same area-----the better you learn an area, the more success you'll have. I've been hunting the same area for the 25 years, it seems I know where the elk are going before they do. CB That's a good observation. We always hunt the same mediocre place and do better because of it. You'll find little spots that hold big elk and deer that no one likes to go and they will become "yours". You'll get to know the locals and that's a big plus. It usually takes 2 or 3 seasons to get to know a spot so be patient. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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