Mike,

I don’t live in Colorado, so I don’t know a whole lot about their hunting and what-not, but I do know that elk typically tend to inhabit some very steep and unforgiving country. Get yourself in GOOD physical condition if you aren’t already. Here in Montana, there’s lots of hiking up and FARTHER UP in elk country to get into the high country basins they like to hide in. Of course, if you happen to be on top of the mountain (which happens in some cases), they’ll be WAY DOWN IN THAT HOLE, and it probably won’t be a nice grassy walk down or back out. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Michael

Mitten’s “One with the Wilderness” has a chapter or two on solo backpack elk hunting, as I recall in CO, and very good. Peterson’s “Made Made of Elk” is set in CO and TBM sells it, I believe. Lots of articles in TBM’s back-issue files you can find with “search.” Lots of experienced elk guys on this site, who should start showing up if they’re not all gone hunting already 😀 BB

I live in Colorado and I have elk hunted. While I am by no way in any means an expert I can suggest a few things. The first, yes be in shape. I have seen a few hunters come into town and go right up the mountain to hunt only to realize just how steep it is and how deep the “holes” where the elk are. The second is get acclimated to the altitude. I just last weekend saw a guy come from 800ft to over 10,000 and was sick by 4:00 in the afternoon of the first day. From my experience the elk are not talking yet. We have a pre rut archery hunt in Colorado. They are still in velvet and really are not in big groups. I have seen several small groups of 10-20 elk this time of year. While I am sure there are larger groups some places this time of year you really wont be seeming groups in larger numbers. The guy who got sick made a statement that he thought he would go up the ridge and see elk by the hundreds feeding. In my experience it is better to hunt in the last two weeks of September if you expect to hear the bugles and cows. Watch the thermals they can bust you quick and the swirling winds will be a challenge. That’s pretty much what I can say with the limited knowledge I have. David Peterson is much more knowledgeable about it that I.

I’ve done it and have managed to take 3 elk, 2 with longbows, but I am no expert either. The biggest thing though is to get in shape. An elk will walk 2 0r 3 miles a day moving between bedding and feeding areas. Then all of a sudden they’ll decide to leave the area and if you want to stay with em to see where they go you got to be in shape. If you catch them in the feed area and they head out it almost requires a dead run to keep up. They can really cover some ground fast. You can easily beat their eyes and ears but the nose is the key. You have to beat the nose!

I personally would try to find an isolated waterhole or wallow their using and sit on it or cut them off between bed and feed areas. I know a guy in Utah that sets up treestands hunting this principle and has great success.

Good bino’s will save your butt physically. I always find a high spot and glass the area for hours before I decide if its worth my efforts.

Books? Elk Hunting the West by Mike Eastman and Bowhunting Modern Elk by Patrick Meitin are both excellent imo.

I agree with Pagosabow — come late in the season. I’d say the most common mistake guys make is coming too early. The CO season runs last Sat. in Aug. to last Sunday in Sept. Early season bugling is sporadic, days can be quite hot and bugs still out. On public lands before labor day the motorheads and around here, mountain bicyclists, can really keep things stirred up. Black powder season overlaps archery and opens the second Saturday in Sept. and runs 9 days, through the following Sunday. These guys, for a variety of reasons, really screw up the bugling and move a lot of elk off public and onto private land. It takes a while for the elk to settle down and start bugling again. Thus, all things considered I’d come the last week of Sept. There’s also lots of rain in early Sept. Late Sept. is generally gorgeous dry weather, nice temps, no bugs and the aspens are starting to turn gold. Best time of year to be out there, elk or not. You can also buy a turkey tag and small game for blue grouse, and you apply for deer and bear as well. Forget the videos and don’t even bring a bugle. I’ve had best luck ambushing remote waterholes in the evenings, and silently stalking bugling bulls in the mornings. No calling at all. Now, I have to get back out there! Got to within 8′ — yes, feet — of a bugling 5×5 two mornings ago (no shot opportunity because he was facing me, drool pouring from his mouth, gigantic black head, eyes rolled back — spectacular!), have passed sure shots at two cows so far, and had three buglers going at dark last night. These timberline muleys are a whole lot smarter! Two weeks to go and I can’t bear to think of it ending. I could do this every day the rest of my life … so long as all those days were September! 😆 dave

I live at 800′ elevation here in Ohio,get into the best shape you can.there is no way to explain the feeling of hiking at 10,000′ and the oxygen level is at a lower % than what your accustomed to.
We went a week early just to get acclimated,it helped.
We went early for the opener,I will wait until after blackpowder next time.

Put together a good day pack with enough stuff to cover you for three days. I hunt alone and always tell someone or leave a note on my dash as to where I am. Fire, food,water,shelter navigation, and light. I also roll up a little duct tape on a stick for a broken leg splint and carry at least 20 feet of cord. Extra Bowstring and a cell phone in a ziplock shut off to preserve the battery. LED flashlights over the old bulb type. My whole pack weighs less than 10 pds. even with extra socks and a raincoat. I also carry a large Highway dept orange trash bag and a whistle. Yep, I’m anal about survival in the rockys.

“Call it paradise, and kiss it goodbye.” (Eagles) I’ve hunted CO and it’s great, but to many of us know that and the hard part is getting away from “us” especially “us” that rides ATVs! Wilderness and roadless, those are the ticket. Plan to walk a lot. Youll love it! bb