CO Elk Help Needed

[DaveT]

#6472

Hey all,

Been a long time since I have checked in here. I need some of you CO guys expertise here. A buddy and me are finally making our first elk trip this coming fall. I think we are leaning towards Unit 24 but not totally set yet on this. We are planning on coming out at least couple of days early and hunting the first week. I need some strategy tips here since I am new to the CO Elk game. We are really wanting to get away from the roads and backpack in. Probably will be looking at setting up a camp somewhere at least 2-3 miles from nearest road and working out from there. I am an experienced backpacker and would consider myself in good shape (avid crossfitter, ran marathons, etc..) however I am a Georgia boy (albeit N.GA) so I know from out west fishing trips that the thin air will be interesting:D.

In addition to deer hunting I do allot of North Georgia bear and hog hunting. I do all the hog/bear hunting OTG and this includes allot of still hunting and brush blinds so will be using this technique out west. Now just to get the dialogue going….do any of you guys backpack in and hunt from a spike camp? How far in do I need to get to get away from most of the crowds. Here in GA I can usually get a mile off a road in the national forest and never see another person. Do you find this to be the case out here? I am planning on getting an OTC either sex tag and am planning on taking the first cow or bull that I am blessed to get a shot at so not picky. I have read allot of the old Elk threads and these are great but just wanted to see if anyone has any specific CO tips. I’m sure I will think of more questions but this will get it started.

[David Petersen]

#51847

Dave – I applaud your willingness to walk away from the crowds. Just remember that for two guys to pack out an elk, boned, will be two trips down each (I don’t expect anyone else to do it as I’ve come to in recent years, two guys each with half an elk in a game bag slung over shoulder like Santa, one trip down) … which means two trips back up to camp and then packing out camp. Packing downhill in steep rocky terrain can be tough on the knees and even dangerous, so be prudent about how far you go in and how high. Go far enough to get away from the sound of motors, not only on roads but motorized trails especially, which are poison to elk. If you camp right along a horse and hiking trail you’ll never be completely alone. If you bushwhack off-trail you may not have to go that far to get into elk. Finally, be careful not to camp in the elk’s bedroom, a mistake I’ve seen hunters make since I was a kid.

And tempting as it is to get on with it, don’t come the first week of the season if you can any other option, as first week is the worst week. Second week of Sept. would by nature be the best week if the good old boys in Denver hadn’t filled the woods with rifle hunters, aka “black powder” (even though you can’t even buy black powder in most small towns these days, so totally has it shifted to Pyrodex etc.). With their aggressive hunting techniques, nonstop bugling and what seems the highest per capita use of ATVs in any big game season here, it not only ruins hunting that week but shuts up the elk for as much as a week after it’s done. Too many people wanting too much from too little resource, and agency flaks with too little spine to say no. Leave your bugles at home and burn any DVDs that make them appare a panacea. On a happy note, CO’s elk pops just keep growing. Enjoy

[DaveT]

#51873

Thanks Dave for the tips….I was hoping you would chime in here:)! We actually discussed coming out a little later but I am not crazy about being out there during muzzleloader season but then again not sure if that would be crowded or not since I have never been. I have read the old posts about calling and such and agree that keeping quiet sounds like the way to go. I do like the idea of going the first week and hopefully hunting animals that have not been pressured. As far as ATVs go I am trying to pick a place where they are banned outright like the Flat Tops area. I don’t mind having seeing someone every once in awhile if they are in deep like me but having someone ride up on me in an ATV doesn’t fly. I have had it happen here in GA too on the national forest so seems like it happens everywhere. Do you have any input on Unit 24 or the White River area? Also when you are hunting early in the season what are some tips/techniques you would recommend?

Thanks in advance for any input.

[skifrk]

#52132

I have not hunted in unit 24 per se but have hunted elk up near there a fair bit and what Dave describes can be worse being close to the Ski mountain town areas in terms of day users up on the roads, so you may have to go a ways to get back in away from people. I do have friends that have hunted the Flat Tops and had a lot of success. The one thing that i always see overlooked when hunting here in CO is to stay hydrated so you can help minimize altitude sickness.

[turtlebunting]

#62273

has anyone on here hunting elk in eastern KY? and if so whats it like? i put in for the lottery i hope i get a tag i did a bull and a cow! i be happy with both!

[Hiram]

#63205

Try to get there 2-3 days early and camp at the altitude you’ll be hunting to acclimate. Take some Zyrtec and have Carmex on hand. Water pump purifier too.:)

[turtlebunting]

#19413

is a 52 pound longbow enough to use on a elk? and what is a good arrow weight to use one them?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#19680

turtlebunting wrote: is a 52 pound longbow enough to use on a elk? and what is a good arrow weight to use one them?

I would look at your second question first, as I tend to think that the arrow is more critical than the bow – 600 gr. is the minimum I would personally use for elk, with as much of that weight forward as possible.

With that in mind, back to your first question – will your longbow handle such a 600 + gr. arrow accurately and well, with good penetration? If so, then yes.

I know that in theory, any #50+ bow should be capable of handling such an arrow, but in reality I find that some handle them better than others…

[David Petersen]

#19725

I second Smithhammer all the way, except to note that in Dr. Ashby’s extensive studies the “minimum heavy bone weight threshhold” for arrows is 650. And the lighter the bow, the more benefit you gain from heavier arrows and higher FOC. I shoot a 53# r/d longbow with 790 grain arrows and generally get pass-throughs on elk. That’s what we want! Get some test arrows and experiment to see how much weight you can shoot through your bow and maintain accuracy at 20 yards without excessive trajectory. The more of an arrow’s total weight that’s up front, the better flight and penetration you’ll get.

[Hiram]

#20442

Depends on the design and performance of your Bow! I have killed several Elk and have never used more than 58 pounds at my draw weight. Some Longbows and Recurves are capable of exceding other Bows in performance. I only hunt with ILF risers and limbs with FF strings and always stay with the 10 grains of arrow weight for each pound of draw weight at the minimum. I usually exceed this weight which in my opinion is too lite for large Game. I see Elk as large game, so use as much weight as I can compfortably draw and hold with repeatable good form and in different postures of shooting. All the Elk I have killed has been from the kneeling position! NO!! wAS not PRAYING at the time but it always helps! lol I think the most important aspect of killing with an arrow is preparation and shot placement. The last Elk I killed was from a Black Bear ILF riser and a set of Winex limbs set at 44 pounds at my 28 inch draw weight. I was using a 550 grain Max 4 Beeman and a Magnes two blade 165 grain broadhead. Shot was 18 yards and the angle was good quartering away. This Bow shot these arrows through the Chrono at 168 fps. I did NOT get a pass through! The Elk piled up within 75 yards. DO I reccomend this? No! I had a shoulder injury at the time and was shooting enough to know the 18 yard shot was a chipper for me. This year I will be shooting the same rig set at 51 pounds. 😀

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