Weather this time of year can be unpredictable. Hunters need to be prepared for just about everything from mild, dry weather to blizzard conditions. If the weather is mild, those who focus on north-facing slopes covered in dark timber will have the best chance of seeing elk.
The farther one can get from other hunters the more successful they will be. Hunters should concentrate on the fringes of open parks at dusk and dawn.
Hunters should keep moving until they find sign and focus in on those areas. Hunters should focus on migration routes if temperatures begin to drop and snow starts to pile up. Winter range at lower elevations begins to become productive further into rifle seasons and into the late rifle season.
Elk are more visible, but not necessarily more accessible, as they move lower. There tends to be more private land at lower elevation in many areas of the state.
Hunters should focus on wide expanses of public land in traditional winter range. Paperless Limited License Applications — filling out your hunting application is easy online. Hunt codes are listed in tables in the Colorado Big Game brochure.
They contain four pieces of information, from left to right: The species, sex, the game management unit GMU the hunt is in, the season and the method of take a hunter can use to harvest an elk with this license. The limited licenses listed in the brochure tables are awarded to hunters based on a preference-point system, where hunters who have accumulated more points get a license before hunters who have fewer points.
Hunters may apply for preference points each year in order to save up to hunt a specific unit. For a few select units in Colorado, hunters must accumulate more than 15 points.
During such a wait, over-the-counter and leftover licenses for quality units are still available. There are also ways to apply so that you get a preference point AND a license for the same year.
Colorado offers many different types of licenses and different ways to purchase them. To get a limited license hunters must apply through the draw, a process that awards licenses to hunters for specific units and dates. Those who are unsuccessful in the draw still have many options for buying a license and hunting in quality GMUs throughout the state. See the Big Game Brochure Page 2 for details and dates when each type of license is available.
It is possible to have more than one elk license each year in Colorado. All licenses are classified as List A, B or C type. A hunter is allowed to have one license that is A or B, or two licenses if at least one is a B.
A hunter can also have any amount of List-C licenses in addition to A and B, but these are usually reserved for special hunts, game damage or population control. Unsuccessful in the draw? Starting off with a map is the easiest. Forest Service and U. Geological Survey all provide good quality maps that depict public hunting land in Colorado.
These trips to look at the land can be planned in conjunction with fishing, hiking and camping trips. Scouting trips should focus on areas where the elk will be when your hunting season arrives. When hunting in a late season, finding migration routes in basins and valleys can lead you to success. This will help you get familiar with the distances where you have the best ability to make an ethical kill once you are presented with the opportunity.
There are many archery and shooting ranges around the state that offer bow and rifle sight-in for hunters. All elk hunters using a firearm in Colorado must wear daylight fluorescent orange while hunting. Fluorescent orange that has a camo pattern in it is not legal. Regulations state you must have inches of hunter orange visible above the waist, including a hat. Wearing an orange vest and hat is sufficient. Print this before your trip, fill it out and leave it with someone at home so they can access information quickly in case of an emergency.
When you harvest an elk, the most important thing to remember is to field dress it as soon as possible to prevent meat from spoiling. There are videos and information on the CPW website that deal with care of a harvested animal.
Many tactics can be employed for removing such a large animal from the woods. These are explained in some free short videos on the CPW website, Elk Hunting University articles and feature-length DVDs that are available for purchase through the online store. Be sure to watch the short video about field dressing, a CPW officer shows step-by-step how to field dress an elk. Alternately, you may pick up your license at a sales agent location or Colorado Parks and Wildlife park or office.
Except for big game, turkey licenses, and the Colorado Waterfowl Stamp, a temporary authorization number TAN will be provided for the purchased license s.
The TAN is currently valid for 45 days after the date of purchase. Please print or write down must be legible the TAN and carry it with you while hunting or fishing until you receive your license.
If the license OR all of the licenses you purchase in this transaction expire in less than 7 days, you will NOT receive anything in the mail. If there are any issues, please contact the call center at or a CPW park or office. Telephone sales representatives at are trained to sell licenses and do not know specific wildlife-related information for Colorado. For questions not related to the sale of licenses, call Colorado Parks and Wildlife at Learn more about how CPW calculates mule deer population.
I sure do, but for the first time elk hunter, I think the best chance of finding elk is on a National Forest. Public Land Elk hunting is walk, spot and stalk more likely spot and spook , but you have to find them first. Walk all day and look and listen for elk and look for fresh sign; scat, rubs and wallows.
If you get tired or when you take breaks, sit in areas you can watch for elk. If you hear them first, you have a good chance to make a plan to get close. The bulls will bugle and fight during the rut. The cows are wary, but the bulls lose their minds. It is a fun thing to listen to and to watch.
They may not respond to your calls, but they definitely talk to each other. If you find elk and identify a short term pattern of them going to bed at one place or feeding at another or going to water, you can try to set up an ambush. But never forget the wind. Good luck and let me know how your first hunt went.
Me and two of my nephews are planning our first elk hunting trip in Colorado and was wondering what units would be good. We will be hunting the 3rd season with rifle and we will be backpacking it all in. We are going to drive to Alamosa and hunt around there. The harvest report. You must be planning on the Over-the-counter 3rd rifle season, so units 66,67 and 76 are not included in that hunt. You may want to go farther west to the San Juan National Forest or hunt one of these Units 80, 81, 82 or 83, near Alamosa.
There is lots of other information in the book I think will help you guys have a safe and enjoyable hunt. Good luck with your hunt. What is the weather like in Colorado during 3rd rifle season? So I kind of know what I have to get ready for. The 3rd rifle season for Elk in Colorado is Nov. You will like the temperature in high dry air.
But the elevation will get to you if you are not in shape. Some of the ridges in unit 83 are over 11, feet. Hi, First off I want to thank you for an excellent DIY Elk Hunting Guide I purchased and downloaded your e-book and have completed reading all your information and this has sure helped me out as a new elk hunter. I have a question regarding a certain area within GMU My wife and I are non-residents from Ontario Canada and have been planning over the last year to hunt Colorado this October for the 2nd Rifle Season for Elk.
I have relied heavily on my knowledge of hunting and searching google earth for GMU I know GMU 65 is a rugged unit but we are all for the challenge it brings. We chose this area based on past harvest statistics and the rugged terrain in hopes to have a smaller crowd of people for our first experience.
With your knowledge from years of elk hunting, do you feel I am on the right track with this decision of area? I am curious on a second opinion to help ease my thoughts on making the right choice.
We will utilize our vehicle to get as far down the trails as possible before we need to setup. But we are going for the sole purpose of experience and knowledge.
We archery hunt each year in the northern Ontario back country for moose and have been very successful over the years.
We will have a smaller tent if we stay the night in farther from our main camp to get to more remote areas and if successful, to packing out our elk. I thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back with any further information you may have stored away. Happy Hunting! I leave for our moose hunt Sept 21 for 8 days Northern Ontario and we are super excited once again!
Thanks Andy. Seems to me you are on the right track. But your approach to enjoy the experience and learn for the future is the way to go. Read some of the other comments here and my responses to them. The 2nd rifle season had total elk harvest from hunters. With square miles in that unit, that gives each hunter just over 1 square mile if everyone spreads out.
Since most people hunt close to the road, there is lots of room for those that do spread out. If you can handle the elevation, you will leave many other hunters behind. But it may not be necessary to go that high. You will learn more after you get there and start hunting and scouting.
But other people also find them eventually, so I am constantly scouting new areas. Good luck on your hunt, I know you will have fun and I hope you will be successful.
I envy your Moose hunt. I am still waiting to draw a moose tag. Thanks a lot for your reply, I appreciate the extra information you provided me as well as the link to the Colorado southwest hunting guide. I guess the rest is up to us to put our best boots on and scout once we arrive and get ready for a great experience, again thanks for all your time and help with your DIY Elk Hunting Guide.
I will let you know the hunt turns out. I read your book and loved it. Thanks for your insight. My brother and I are looking to do our first DIY elk hunt next year. We have a few preference points for Colorado and are looking seriously at an archery hunt in GMU We are in good shape and intend to go as deep as we can into the wilderness area. This unit only has around 65 archery and 65 muzzleloader tags each year but it look like the herd is not large here. I was wondering your opinion on the unit and also what time of the year you would look at.
I have read that opening week it the best. I have also read that the last week is the best because it is more likely to be the peak of the rut but the elk will have been hunter over more after muzzle loader and may have move to private land sanctuaries.
Thank you for you help! Chad: Glad you liked the book. I have never hunted unit I think muzzleloader success is low in Colorado, especially since they get to hunt just before the peak of the rut Sept.
The peak of the rut is usually around Sept 21, but that changes some year to year. Good success rates usually means there are lots of elk, but there are elk in every unit.
Hunting the last week of archery season to try to hit the rut is not a bad idea, but give yourself more time if you can. Everyday gives you a better chance. If elk are bugling, they are easy to find. If not, they are more challenging to find, but not impossible. You may hunt high elevation one day and decide to hunt low or mid elevation the next. Give yourself time to learn at least parts of the area. Anyway, good luck and let me know how your hunt goes.
I am from the east coast and have never hunted elk. But my dad and I really want to give this life long dream a chance. Been reading your valuable information and I find myself more excited to try a DIY hunt rather than spend thousands on an outfitter. Can one purchase an OTC license without traveling to Colorado first?
Of Course! You are a little late for this year, so there are not many tags left, but you can buy Elk tags Over-the-Counter online at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website here. Look to see available tags here. Be careful, most leftover tags are for private land only. A clarification on limited tags, the license that must be applied for by midnight April XX. These are NOT first come first serve but it is a drawing of correctly filled out applications.
A certain percentage go to residents and others to non-residents. If you fail to draw a tag then you will have a preference point which increases your odds of drawing next year. Elk in Colorado are where you find them. Locals will fill your head with BS and elk can travel 20 miles overnight. They prefer timber but can be anywhere. If you are having no luck in a National Forest do not hesitate to go to a ranch house and introduce yourself then ask if they allow hunting if they have many acres.
Offer to pay a trespass fee and if that works make sure you do not damage property and leave all gates the way you found them. I know great areas but will not reveal them and outfitters take them over and can really be disruptive sometimes. On the other hand a lot of hunters can kick up a lot of game too.
Always be prepared when you hunt. Warm days can be ice cold nights so plan on getting lost and know what to do. If you kill a bull elk 2 miles from a road you will be working for two days getting it out. What unit do you recommend for us. My buddy and I have 9 points, we are sick of wasting the money applying and never gaining anything point creep. We want to cash in and go in We want to do archery elk. We are not trophy hunters, any legal bull will do and just want to get into some elk and not tons of people.
We would be coming from Wisconsin so pre scouting is not an option or is high dollar outfitters, probably DIY or small trespass fee.
What unit do you recommend for us with 9 NR points. This post was basically to inform folks especially non-residents that they could hunt elk in Colorado also Idaho and Utah without winning the bonus points lottery. You guys have obviously been applying for elk tags for nine years.
Have you hunted at all with OTC tags in that time? Most of the units that require lots of points to draw are usually managed for trophy bulls. These archery tags are unlimited. You can also hunt cow elk only in 60 units. In Utah, the General Archery season is Aug. I think the hardest part of DIY public land hunting is deciding what type of habitat you want to hunt, then choosing a state to hunt, then learning the rules for that state and where to find all the necessary information.
Since you have 9 preference points, you might as well try to draw a Limited Entry Tag. Here is the Drawing Odds Report. You can look and see how many people had more points than you for each unit. You can also see what chance you have to draw this year. A quick look shows that 48 out of non-residents with 9 points drew tags state-wide, but a quick look at the report shows there were units where you could have drawn tags last year. For example, hunt number EEO1A either sex, units 7, 8, 9, 19, , where of non-residents with zero points drew tags, everyone with at least one point drew out.
Anyway, you will have to do some more research to find a unit where you can use your points. But remember, you can always hunt with OTC tags, especially if you are going to hunt the archery season anyway. Both those hunts were a joke. We are in good shape and our plan was to go in off a trail head as far as you could without getting closer to another trail head.
Well everyone in the world must have that idea, the number of people we saw was incredible. Needless to say not many elk sightings. Yes, there are more hunters during the general seasons.
That is the reality of DIY public land hunting. This is an example where having knowledge about an area helps to find places with less traffic. I can usually find more isolated areas just by getting off the roads. Perhaps the Wilderness Areas attract more hunters that are looking to get off the roads.
Also, many Wilderness Areas have limited access points, so most hunters have to start at the same few trail heads. I imagine that you could find less crowded areas now that you have some experience in those areas.
In , those combined units had 1, elk harvested by 4, hunters all hunts, all weapons — For Archery, hunters harvested elk Hunters averaged 7. With , acres in the Wilderness Area alone, that would give each hunter acres per hunter if everyone hunted every day very crowded; I get about 15, acres per day on my local unit during the muzzleloader deer hunt.
Obviously, everyone does not hunt everyday and not everyone hunted in the Wilderness area, so there should be a little more space per person. But not all of the highest elevation areas are good elk habitat, so if we removed those acres, the amount of space per hunter decreases.
Combined Archery harvest in was elk by 2, hunters in 17, hunter days Total harvest from those units was 3, elk by 16, hunters Well, you have 9 points, perhaps you can draw a tag this year and have a less crowded experience. Again, Good luck. This is what the Colorado Regs says about using crossbows: a. Draw weight must be a minimum of pounds.
Draw length must be a minimum of 14 inches from front of bow to nocking point of drawstring. Positive mechanical safety device required. Each cutting edge must be in the same plane for entire length of cutting surface. Illegal during archery seasons.
Hello, are the O. C tags restricted to the units you buy them in or are they valid through out the state? I was just curious as to how these units are and any info would help. Are these solid units for bull? From what I have read, these units see a lot of traffic, but I like to get away from the roads and hiking in a few miles at least, so getting away from people is my preference.
Hi Max: Have you ever hunted Colorado before? Or any other western state on public land? If not, I am curious how you decided to hunt in Colorado? Most elk are harvested in units that also have the most traffic. The two always go together. Local hunters can go into a low elk unit and harvest elk because they know the territory and they know what the elk are doing.
Hunter success may be highest in areas with low elk numbers, but what are your chances of being one of the few to harvest an elk in a unit with only a dozen or so elk harvested? What do the harvest reports tell you?
They tell you how many elk were harvested and how many hunters were in the unit. Sometimes some states give more detailed info about the different aged bull elk that were harvested. Some states also report the total number of recreation days. Most states also report hunter success, but you can get that yourself by dividing the total number of hunters by the total elk harvested. So, this is what I recommend. First, choose units that have lots of elk. Yes, there will be lots of hunters, but there are usually lots of space to get away from other hunters.
Then compare units for total hunters, recreation days and hunter success. If you are willing and able to hike in off the roads, you will get away from most people.
But in areas with very few access points trail heads and roads into the National Forests, almost everyone has to access those areas at the same places and there is always someone that will walk as far as you will.
It has taken me many years to find all my honey holes and I still need to find more because other people keep finding them too. I am fairly new when it comes to elk hunting and had a great opportunity last year in Arizona.
After my trip I was so excited to get others on board that myself and 3 others applied for a late season Arizona rifle hunt but were not drawn. If we were to consider a non-resident Colorado hunt without a guide service what would be best area to consider for OTC tag?
Limited Entry tags are expensive and cause some people to hesitate before spending the money with little chance of drawing a tag. We are not necessarily all about getting an animal but only want a chance.
At least an OTC provides the opportunity. Yes EVC. Welcome to the reality of Limited Entry LE tags. Of course everyone should apply for the LE tags in their state and in nearby states, but you have to hunt the General seasons called OTC in Colorado and also apply for cow elk permits. It should be obvious why Limited Entry tags are hard to get. Because so many people want them. The LE tags offer the best easiest opportunities to harvest a trophy animal because very few hunters are in the field at the absolute best easiest time of year to hunt them.
They showed me the video her husband took on his cell phone. It was that easy, but she waited 20 years to draw that tag. But what does that even mean? If you are willing to hunt out of state, why are you asking just about Colorado? For your specific question, I direct you to this post , where I ranked the Colorado Units by total elk harvest and by total hunter Success.
A word of advice about keeping the excitement going with your friends. Years ago, I had an old friend that was a falconer. He absolutely loved everything about it and constantly tried to recruit apprentices so he would have someone to hunt with and to share experiences.
But he helped them do everything. But he always seemed surprised that he had the worst apprentices. I would simply tell people falconry was probably not for them, but I would suggest they read several falconry books. You would be surprised how many people would continue to ask for my help, but never read a single falconry book I recommended. Thank you for all the advice you offer on this page. Really helps all us hunters from beginners to pros. I have hunted my whole life and run a hunting lodge in western South Dakota.
Never after elk, but me and two of my college baseball teammates are planning a DIY hunt to Colorado. We just want to go and see elk and put in the work to come out with some good sized bulls. We are young 30 and do not mind roughing it and putting in some serious work if it means having a chance at a giant bull. What are your suggestions for us to hunt the 2nd Rifle Season? Thanks in advance. Jake: I like your honesty. And it could happen, but the reality of a first time DIY public land hunt makes that very unlikely.
What I expect for young motivated guys during the 2nd rifle season Oct 21 — 29 in is that if you put in the effort, during your first hunt, you will get to know a very small piece of the unit you hunt. You will probably find elk and may even get a shot at a nice bull. If not for public land, the average guy in our country would never get to hunt elk. But since the average guy can hunt elk, he might want to park, camp and hunt right beisde you.
Most other hunters never get far off the roads, but in some places, the only place to hunt from a specific trail head is far off the road, so everyone there is young and tough and they will all be going to the same place. I also know of back up areas when I find other hunter in my honey holes. But the key is that I have spent many year finding these areas. Think logistics when you hunt elk. Think about the effort it will take in rough country to get an animal almost as big a horse back to camp.
Then search on Google Earth for areas with cover dark timber on north facing slopes , water and access. Pay attention to the steepness of the terrain. Steep hillsides are hard to walk, but easy to glass. Rolling hills are easier to walk but hard to glass.
Dry southern exposures will probably not have elk during the day. When you start hunting, cover lots of ground and hunt all day every day as long as you have the energy There are no elk at camp.
Most of the highest elevation terrain is better suited for mountain goats and not for elk. There are reasons that Aspen grow in one area, spruce-fir in another and Ponderosa pine, oak-brush or PJ pinyon-juniper grow in yet another. If you judge your hunt based upon success or failure to harvest a nice bull, you may be disappointed. I was a bit bewildered. There is a lot of elk hunting talk and silly advice given by novices.
I realized out of state hunters are even more confused. If you need to know where and when to hunt the Big Game Brochure put out Parks and Wildlife is the only way to go. Do not rely on a comment on a forum! Most have been antlerless and not more than an hour from my house in Colorado Springs. Some on private land but most in National Forest.
Only one time I was not able to 4 wheel itno the kill. A winch or come-along is the best thing to bring along to load it.
Elk are where you find them. If you want to call elk do a cow call, bulls and cows respond to it. Most licenses are for west of I There are 55, hunters spread out over different seasons and those who talk about getting away from other hunters are gaining no advantage. Other hunters around help to move animals that may stay put in timber otherwise. Most hunters share info but a few are jackasses and you will know them as soon as they open their yaps, the experts… Road hunters and 4WD trail drivers.
I do it but I do get out and walk a bit. These others drive right by game all the time. Elk move at first light and at dusk unless disturbed and feed in the dark and bed down around 4 AM. They also move at night and can travel 15 miles easily so what was there today may not be tomorrow. Bulls tend to hang together after September and October and can be seen on high slopes in the morning but they see you too and slopes will tire you out before you get 50 feet.
Packing a bull out is crazy but if you think you want to hike miles go ahead. I can drag a buck but an elk? You will make 6 trips with de-boned meat and the antlers weigh as well. If you want the cape for mounting the head and neck must stay attached to antlers and the hide from shoulders on up weight pounds, easy. The meat alone from a big bull is about pounds.
The biggest bulls I ever saw was 3 years ago at mile marker 25 on Colo At midnight they were coming out of Ft. Carson and were going to cross over to Beaver Creek Wildlife Area. I turned around just to see again what I thought I saw. In Colorado, you get one license per animal per year and the OTC are the worst but they can produce.
Most tags are for one Unit and some cover a few Units. Look in the brochure. Drawing is the way to go. The weather is rarely bad. It may snow and it may get cold as ice at night but most years the days are warm.
Into December things change but hunts are rare then. Avoid high elevations, elk are everywhere and timberline is barren and windy. National Forests are open for everyone. Private land is usually posted. A trespass fee offered is good. All he can do is say no or yes. Be prepared and do not do more than you know. You are not an Indian or hot shot marksman. Find a spot and sit down and wait. Oh and make sure you are sighted in…and feeding game is illegal!
I wrote about the three bulls on , well believe it or not at that same mile marker yesterday I saw 3 elk so I went up to a turnaround and came back and there were two elk. I glassed them and they both were antlerless bulls. I will check my camera as I took a few photos and video of the elk. They were awfully spooky…. We found a group of bulls less than yards from the kill. Older bulls were growing nubs, younger bulls and spikes still had antlers on May 10… I have seen 4 point bulls still holding onto antlers as late as the end of May.
The photos of elk I saw did not turn out to well, too many yards away and no tripod. I do have a few deer and elk hunt photos you all can view at [ here is one ].
I have some more but cannot find that container. I did not photo graph every kill. My buddy and I are starting to plan a elk hunt in We are hunting archery, public land and are going to camp.
What would be the best unit with somewhere we can camp? We would prefer a place in the mountains not in the flats. They have campgrounds with bathrooms for a fee; reservations probably required and you can primitive camp most places. Check with the National Forest where you want to hunt and find out if they have camping or travel restrictions in the areas you want to camp and hunt.
Sounds like you have lots of research to do. I knew about the camping anywhere in the forest and BLM I just meant specificly what would be a good region that has a campground. We are planning to stay two weeks to get it done and that is a long time without a shower and hiking a mountain. I always look for and usually find a quiet place to camp close to where I want to hunt. Just wanted to say thanks for all the great info. My friend and I are avid Arkansas hunters and have heard of the thrill of a lifetime hunting big game.
We will be shooting for next season but will probably be in touch after we study the material on this website! Thanks again and God Bless! Missed my elk 1st week of archery and too far away to go back for a weekend. Going to buy an OTC tag and try one more day before the end of archery. Are you aware of any hot spots within an hour or so of Colorado Springs CO? No, not my backyard, so I can not point you to any hot spot that close to Colorado Springs. There is over 1. Unfortunately, none of these units are valid for OTC archery tags.
You say you missed an elk and are now going to buy an OTC tag? That would be two licenses for elk this year? If so that is not allowed unless something has been changed. You need to spend a year scouting areas and studying maps. Archery coincides with the rut so a mouth diaphragm turkey call is ideal to imitate cows which bulls respond to quickly.
Bulls are wary so good cover is essential and patience with willingness to sit all day in one spot. Make sure it is a good spot. Scouting is the key so at least you know where elk are and where you should be. I thought I had posted a link for photos but did not see but one photo. Thanks Bob… Some nice pics… I like the last pic that compares the size of a mature mule deer buck with a spike elk. I have family in Estes Park. I live in Michigan. We have started planning our elk Hunting trip for next year already.
I have a few questions. Yes we want to hike the ridge, glass ect ect. We plan on camping on the mountain. We are trying to go when the bulls are seeking and chasing, before they lock down a cow Elk. When is peak rut for the bulls? We want to come out the week before. With an OTC tag, I can hunt multiple units correct? Say we hunt a specific unit have no luck want to try another?
What is the difference between the OTC tags and Limited tags? There is much confusion about the difference between the OTC tags aka some states as general season tags and Limited Entry tags. There are differences between states, but since you are asking about Colorado, I will stick with that state. Of course we all want to chase bull elk during the rut. The rut makes them easy to find because they are telling you where they are and they are also preoccupied with breeding so they are less wary.
The Peak of the rut changes from year to year, but is usually around the first day of Fall Sept Limited tags are just that. They are Limited and are awarded through a draw system. Only a few hunters will be competing for elk in those units.
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