CO 7, 8, 19, 191: Muzzleloader for dad, Bow for me

[cbellosu]

Hi all,

I am planning a 2019 muzzleloader family hunt for my dad and uncles; I will probably be using my bow. I am debating between 57/58 and 7,8,19,191 for the muzzleloader season. I have been researching gohunt, and the Colorado harvest and hunter data and have basically narrowed it down to these two areas.

Any insight onto hunting pressure for the 7+ units, and if there is room to get away from roads and hunting pressure. I see there was a big burn in unit 19 in 2012; anyone have experience around that area?





Thanks for your insight from Ohio and trying to organize my dad's first elk hunt out west.

 

[dallsheep]

The 7+ units get hit pretty hard in the rifle seasons since they're so close to Ft Collins, but I wouldn't expect a whole lot in archery or muzzy season but have never hunted in those seasons there for Elk. Maybe somebody else has better insights on those seasons.

 

[Flatrock]

Better decide quick.

 

[warmer]

I hunted 7,8,9,19,191 with my bow twice. 2011 and 2012. Pm me, I've got plenty of info to share if you want it.

 

[wannakillabigbull]

My brother has been hunting the 7+ archery tag every year for a while, and should draw the muzzy tag this year. He has invited me to put in with him multiple times but I personally choose to hunt elsewhere.

Regarding dall's comment, there were 1110 archery tags issued for those unit numbers (7, 8, 9, 19, 191) last year which were all drawn out. If you add up the number of tags drawn for each of the rifle seasons among those units there were 510 for first rifle, 855 for second rifle, 649 for third rifle, and 303 for fourth rifle. Of course some of those tags get picked up leftover but by and large there will be just as many archery hunters as rifle hunters. Add in the 375 muzzleloaders during that time of year and there's going to be more guys that week than any other time of the season, for bull elk tags anyways. You could look up the number of cow hunters too I suppose, and deer hunters. It's an area that's close to a large population center so there absolutely will be other hunters in the woods.

Regarding the High Park Fire from 2012, yes it's there and it's quite a large burn area. I personally don't think of it as a focus area during early seasons. In many of the places it is pretty much wide open and can be tough to sneak in on the elk with archery or muzzleload equipment.

 

[teej89]

Better decide quick.

he's looking 2019

 

[cbellosu]

My brother has been hunting the 7+ archery tag every year for a while, and should draw the muzzy tag this year. He has invited me to put in with him multiple times but I personally choose to hunt elsewhere.

Regarding dall's comment, there were 1110 archery tags issued for those unit numbers (7, 8, 9, 19, 191) last year which were all drawn out. If you add up the number of tags drawn for each of the rifle seasons among those units there were 510 for first rifle, 855 for second rifle, 649 for third rifle, and 303 for fourth rifle. Of course some of those tags get picked up leftover but by and large there will be just as many archery hunters as rifle hunters. Add in the 375 muzzleloaders during that time of year and there's going to be more guys that week than any other time of the season, for bull elk tags anyways. You could look up the number of cow hunters too I suppose, and deer hunters. It's an area that's close to a large population center so there absolutely will be other hunters in the woods.

Regarding the High Park Fire from 2012, yes it's there and it's quite a large burn area. I personally don't think of it as a focus area during early seasons. In many of the places it is pretty much wide open and can be tough to sneak in on the elk with archery or muzzleload equipment.

Thanks for the detailed response! I did look at the very high number of archery and muzzleloader draw tags, but also should have checked out the rifle hunting numbers.

I think I may lean toward 57/58 in the south park area. It has fewer tags, but navigating the public land will have to be in the consideration also. I have been scouting Onxmaps, so hopefully that will help.

Thanks again for the responses everyone.