OTC elk tag CO GMU unit 75

[joeban]

I am getting an otc elk tag this fall and hunting in gmu 75 or 751 and I was curious if anyone has any information on this unit. I don't know anything about it except for the long days researching the unit on maps and reading about what past hunters have done in the unit and how they hunted it. I was just curious if anyone has ever been in this unit and would like to share some info

Thanks

 

[rmyoung1]

Joe, yeah, I've hunted the unit. I used to live in Durango. It's beautiful country. How do you plan on hunting? Archery or rifle? Backpacking? With horses? Are you interested in hunting the roadless wilderness or more accessible country? Let me know a little about what you're looking to do and maybe I can offer a suggestion or two.

 

[joeban]

thank you very much for replying. I am 23 years old and I have never hunted elk before. my father always hunted in 66 out of lake city for years for elk and mulies did very well actually. I sadly don't have him around any more to still teach me the thing I need to know. so I figure its time to strike out and get started doing this. I plan on going the 2nd or 3rd rifle season and I plan on basically driving as far in as I possibly can in truck and then hiking another 2 to 3 miles in and setting up a camp then going another 4 or so miles to hunt, hopefully being far enough in that I am away from day hunters. I like the Henderson lake area and also the tank creek area. I also like the area north of stump lakes but that's just me looking on maps. if you could help me out that would be great

 

[Walkitoff]

Henderson Lake looks like it has heavy road access to the north and all to the south. I'd avoid areas that have heavy road access. The northern part of GMU 75 looks like it's pretty rugged, and not much road access, which means fewer hunters, but also difficult attain. I'll take a closer look at the map after work and see if I can come up with anything helpful. If you can find a spot where road access comes relatively close to the wilderness boundary, that's a good place to start looking. The wilderness designation will keep the road hunters out, but you won't have to pack miles and miles to find elk.

 

[joeban]

Thank you very much. that would be a great help if i could get someone else opinion on where about i am hopefully going to be able to get away from the most people and still be set up in areas that i have a good chance at taking an animal.

 

[dihardhunter]

I would second the recommendation to focus on the wilderness areas. I haven't hunted that exact unit, but have covered some elk country in neighboring units with great success in archery. That being said, I realize you are going to be rifle hunting, so another month can do significant changes to where elk are bunched up... If you can find the right pockets, I'm guessing they'll be even more concentrated than when the archers are pestering them.

 

[joeban]

i am planning on going as high as I can and hunting the high timberlines. my understanding is I need to start out pretty high and work my way down until I find out the elevation that they are staying at and working in.

 

[rmyoung1]

PM sent

 

[mixedbag]

I HIGHLY recommend spending at least 2 days ahead of season to scout;more would be better.Elk aren't like deer evenly spread out,they are usually pretty grouped up.you need to cover some ground to find the herds

 

[joeban]

I HIGHLY recommend spending at least 2 days ahead of season to scout;more would be better.Elk aren't like deer evenly spread out,they are usually pretty grouped up.you need to cover some ground to find the herds

i was planning on leaving a week early. I will be travel from texas so I should get there with 3 to 4 days to spare for scouting and picking a camp site.

 

[T Bone]

I've not hunted it, but I've spent a couple weeks backpacking in there. Amazing numbers and quality of animals way back in the wilderness. Very vertical country.

We were south and east of Silverton.

 

[Oak]

PM sent

Best advise on here.

 

[joeban]

I've not hunted it, but I've spent a couple weeks backpacking in there. Amazing numbers and quality of animals way back in the wilderness. Very vertical country.

We were south and east of Silverton.

so you were over in the deer creek are, mt Rhoda area? I looked at going up there to try and hunt but looking on maps shows its accessible by roads. do you think there would be a problem getting off the beaten path and away from most people?

 

[T Bone]

My mind was constantly thinking about the logistics of getting a bull out of that country before spoiling in the Archery hunt.....There are a couple options. I'll let you find out the specifics on your own.

We got on the train in Silverton and jumped off southbound. It was about 4200 foot elevation gain before we started seeing good numbers of critters.

The train doesn't allow firearms, but is ok with archery.

 

[joeban]

My mind was constantly thinking about the logistics of getting a bull out of that country before spoiling in the Archery hunt.....There are a couple options. I'll let you find out the specifics on your own.

We got on the train in Silverton and jumped off southbound. It was about 4200 foot elevation gain before we started seeing good numbers of critters.

The train doesn't allow firearms, but is ok with archery.

that is really one thing that i am constantly thinking about, i know i shouldn't because ill most likely jynx myself if i keep thinking about when i shoot one instead of thinking i hope im able to shoot one. the only advantage ill have is hopefully it will be a little less warm than bow season so i should be able to have a little more time to be able to pack a bull out of that area. it is going to be very tough i know that much and its going to be very worth it.

 

[Pagosa]

Check out the Missionary Ridge fire area, really thick with regrowth. But a good area.

 

[huntin' lunatic]

From another Texan headed west, we will be in Unit 75 for the 3rd rifle season. Going to be hunting out of a drop camp.

i was planning on leaving a week early. I will be travel from texas so I should get there with 3 to 4 days to spare for scouting and picking a camp site.

 

[joeban]

From another Texan headed west, we will be in Unit 75 for the 3rd rifle season. Going to be hunting out of a drop camp.

what outfitter service are you planning to use for the drop camp?

 

[Aaron nel]

I know this is an old thread but I'm hoping someone can help me out. I am looking for an area to hunt the second rifle season in Colorado. Was thinking about unit 53 but after hiking around 20 miles and not seeing very much elk sign we are looking for a different area. Unit 75 looks good on OnX and Google Earth. Since we spent most of our scouting time on unit 53 we don't have much time to scout a new unit. Can anyone point me in a direction on where to concentrate scouting? We are hiking in with Llamas and hopefully getting away from the crowds. Any help would be very appreciated.