Colorado GMU 44
Newton
5/26/15 7:49am
Hello. New guy here. I will admit up front that I joined for a specific purpose, needing some help with an upcoming elk hunt. Been doing a lot of research and this site had quite a bit of real useful info, not to mention very nice people who were giving it. So I am hoping I can glean a tad bit more and some up to date info to boot.
Going out with a couple of guys this fall to unit 44 in Colorado. Two of us have muzzleloader cow elk tags(or we should have if the backdoor method of checking proves right). We picked this unit for various reasons, but being new to elk hunting and hunting Colorado in general, we decided that this unit seemed to be the best fit. May not have the greatest success rate, but accesabilty, location, and ability to get a decent tag(one of our top priorities is hearing elk bugle....yea, kind of cheesy I know). We are not after trophy's, but I would like to take home a decent sized cow.
I'll have to go back and look at the usernames I came across, but a few years ago there were a couple of guys who actually lived in this unit who were very helpful to a few other guys going out for some mulies. I know its a lot to ask for help/advice, but I'm hoping that I can get some. I talked to the local Ranger and she said that this unit is predominantly hunted by residents during the Archery/Muzzleloader season. I see that it does not have the greatest success rate for cow elk during these two seasons, so I am curious why.
Regardless, we have plans on hunting west of Slyvan lake. Us two that have the cow tags are not afraid to hike or pack one out of a deep hole. Any help and pointers of this area would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Going out with a couple of guys this fall to unit 44 in Colorado. Two of us have muzzleloader cow elk tags(or we should have if the backdoor method of checking proves right). We picked this unit for various reasons, but being new to elk hunting and hunting Colorado in general, we decided that this unit seemed to be the best fit. May not have the greatest success rate, but accesabilty, location, and ability to get a decent tag(one of our top priorities is hearing elk bugle....yea, kind of cheesy I know). We are not after trophy's, but I would like to take home a decent sized cow.
I'll have to go back and look at the usernames I came across, but a few years ago there were a couple of guys who actually lived in this unit who were very helpful to a few other guys going out for some mulies. I know its a lot to ask for help/advice, but I'm hoping that I can get some. I talked to the local Ranger and she said that this unit is predominantly hunted by residents during the Archery/Muzzleloader season. I see that it does not have the greatest success rate for cow elk during these two seasons, so I am curious why.
Regardless, we have plans on hunting west of Slyvan lake. Us two that have the cow tags are not afraid to hike or pack one out of a deep hole. Any help and pointers of this area would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
50,041
Two of us have been getting in good shape for this because we want to be able to hunt those deep holes everyone talks about elk being in, and hunters not. We fully plan to get in and away as far as possible(kind of limited due to the amount of roads), and don't mind a long pack out. After going over the area time after time with google earth, I am wondering what one of these nasty holes looks like. They seem somewhat harmless on the computer screen....lol.
More or less, the southern side of Hardscrabble to the Gypsum Creek Rd. Maybe part of the norther side of Red Table like I mentioned, but staying west of Brush Creek Rd(FR400). We will camp somewhere along Powerline Rd.
Let me know what you guys think.
Coffin did look good when I was Google earth scouting. But I was afraid it might not be far enough away from roads. I guess I could be wrong about that. I saw a youtube video of guys riding their dirtbikes up a trail to the top. It looks nice in the video anyways, but figured it might be plagued with people on atvs.
I'm headed out to colorado Sunday. Wont be able to see the area till next Friday, but hopefully I'll get a feel for it when i get there.
I'll be curious how it turns out this September though. One area I think we are focusing in on is for sure far enough away from the roads, but does have a trail that leads up to within a 1/2 mile from it. But, you have to hike a mile or better in on the trail and its not all that easy. I am curious how many will hike that far, then go further.
I saw a LOT of mule deer. I think I saw one elk, but only a glimpse. It could have been a large mule deer though. Saw some tracks, but not a ton of sign. Of course, only having that one day kind of limited my area of looking, but the tracks help with having confidence there are elk in the area at least.
I would still be glad to get any insight people have on the area.
Moose
I have that area south of LEDE on my radar for sure. There is just so much area to cover that its going to be tuff to cover it all. I suppose that I'll start in the area I have mainly looked at, then if there are just no elk, and lots of hunters, I'll move on to another area.
I just don't want it to be one of those trips where i spend more time with indecision than actually hunting. One thing about LEDE is right now there is even more limited access. I have yet to call them, but when I was up there they had a gate cutting off the road that leads up to the reservoir. It did have a sign that said "Attention hunters, gate will be closed at dark" or something like that. But it was closed during the day when I was there. Maybe they open it up during the hunting season.