White river Nf ?

[Retterath]

I was looking into hunting unit 24 white river Nf backpack in a ways to get away from the big crowds and what I have read and talked to some people that most of the good drainages in there, such as trappers drainages and the other one most have drop camps and outfitters hunting lots of them and other people. Does anyone have any input on that area? I guess I really don't want to get there and there is outfitters and drop camps everywhere. Looking at units 5 and 24 cause of all the public ground. I would probably be doing a 2nd or 3rd rifle. Unit 5 will take 3 pp to draw archery and 24 will take quite a bit more for muzzleloader. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys

 

[Musket Man]

Are you thinking of hunting the flat tops wilderness? Elk? Deer?

 

[Retterath]

yeah the flat tops is the area i was looking at going east of trappers lake, or some other area in unit 24.

 

[Musket Man]

What are you planning on hunting and what season?

 

[Work2hunt]

What are you planning on hunting and what season?

Same questions, but I have hunted West of where you are talking in 12. Still NF, just a different unit. If your talking elk I might be able to help you out. I've seen deer but have never hunted them in this area.

 

[Retterath]

sorry elk and i would like to hunt 1st season but dont have enough points to draw so 2nd or 3rd season. i ordered the forest maps for the white river nf but what concerned about running into a bunch of drop camps and outfitters in the area. im open to options on units just like all the public land where a guy could maybe have a good chance of getting away from the crowds.

 

[Work2hunt]

sorry elk and i would like to hunt 1st season but dont have enough points to draw so 2nd or 3rd season. i ordered the forest maps for the white river nf but what concerned about running into a bunch of drop camps and outfitters in the area. im open to options on units just like all the public land where a guy could maybe have a good chance of getting away from the crowds.

I drew a 1st season rifle bull tag for the same area you are discussing. Based on my conversation with the Game Warden from 24 there is a lot of drop camps in that area. More than any of the other 11 units that can be hunted with that tag based on what the other Game Wardens told me. PM if you would like and I can try to answer any other questions you might have.

 

[eye in sky]

sorry elk and i would like to hunt 1st season but dont have enough points to draw so 2nd or 3rd season. i ordered the forest maps for the white river nf but what concerned about running into a bunch of drop camps and outfitters in the area. im open to options on units just like all the public land where a guy could maybe have a good chance of getting away from the crowds.

If you want to hunt the first elk season, there may be some tags left over. If I'm reading the results correctly, there are a surplus of over 1000 tags.

 

[Retterath]

i would rather hunt first season so maybe better backpacking weather, i will have to check the first season tag numbers out thanks

 

[Musket Man]

I have not hunted the flat tops but I think they get quite a few hikers and I have run into alot of hikers in other wildernesses in CO so its something I always look into when planning a hunt.

 

[Retterath]

i have done so much research and came up with the white river nf, has the biggest heard tons of public, checked out all the stats on % of success bull cow ratio and others and come up with this area but with all the drop camps and outfitters in the area, i don't know if i should stick to this area such as the whole white river nf or look for a total different area. there are a lot of outfitters in the area when i looked for outfitters in the area. Now i need advise on what i should do on a unit or just hunt it. Does anyone have any ideas for me? If you don't want to say it on the thread, pm me if that works. thanks guys

 

[Musket Man]

If your going OTC I wouldnt worry about it tomuch. Go hunting and have a good time! There is some awesome country around there!

 

[ColoradoV]

It also has the most hunters of anywhere in Colorado. I get a leftover tag for cows as almost everyone I know does up there and the rifle seasons are the busiest hunting I have ever experienced. Period.

There are much better otc options in colorado that the flat tops and while it is good country and there are elk expect to see as you will see more hunters that you ever have hunting.

 

[trkytrack2]

Lot's of elk equal lot's of hunters. There are way better choices than the Flattops but it's beautiful country and you'll probably never see as many elk as you will there (although most will be cows). It's worth hunting if only once in your life. Go for it and enjoy yourself but go with the mind frame that you won't be alone.

 

[marksjeep]

The flattops are well known for early October snow storms. If you're planning a backpack hunt in the flattops, be prepared for the possibility of getting dumped on and stuck wherever you are when the storm rolls in.

 

[Retterath]

it seems like all the wilderness areas in colorado and even lots of other states thats where all the outfitters go if they dont have a ton of private to hunt for there clients and i dont blame them becasue they have horses and can get in there a ways.

 

[Musket Man]

I think there is more demand for guides in wilderness areas because the only access is on foot or horses/mules and alot of hunters dont have their own horses and are more willing to pay a guide for their service in a wilderness then an area with 4x4/ATV access.

 

[Retterath]

i think you are a 100% on that MM

 

[Granby guy]

We hunt the flat tops every year with horses and there is no getting away from the people. There are lots of outfitters and lots of drop camps but there are also lots of elk. You have to learn how to use that pressure to your advantage. Lots of people believe that after the first shots are fired that all of the elk run to the private land but that is not the case. They head to the dark timber on the north facing slopes where it is very difficult to find them. Good luck.

 

[Retterath]

good information granby