Hey guys, I'm planning a pack in trip to PROBABLY one of these 3 units. I have 3 pref points for elk and plan on muzzleloading. I normally rifle hunt 12/23/24 in CO but for muzzleloader I'd need 10 pts. Looking for ANY info anyone could give to where to start scouting.
Any info for CO GMU's 39, 500 or 54?
- Thread starter Iowahunter
- Start date
Old Hunter
Banned
No tag yet. The hunt planners said these 3 units are either 2 or 1 pp required for a muzzie tag. I have 3 so I would expect to draw. I just don't have a clue where to start/which unit to put in for. My main concern is 1)where to start 2) number of hunters 3) elk numbers and 4) big enough to out walk others.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Yea I'm just looking for some starting points I guess. Don't know these ares and being 12+ hrs away makes it tough to scout.
Well, I think I am going to put in for CO unit 54. By the topo and google earth, it looks rough. It sounds like the Rainbow Lake area gets pounded pretty hard so I'm trying to steer clear of that area. Any other areas anyone knows about that would be good starting areas? Slight chance of coming out this Sept to get a feel for the ground but for sure coming out July/august 2013 to scout ground
Conrad8899
Active Member
I can help U a little. Never hunted rainbow lake area. For reasons U mentioned. Co road 723 and 721. Are good starting points. Theres elk in there. Its pretty country and steep. U mite want to contact eagle mt outfitters. Thay will pack Ur meat out. Thats if U are in 721 area. Farrows will rent U horses to. If U need.
Conrad8899
Active Member
Well, according to the hunt planning team it requires 1 or 2 pts. So I'm crossing my fingers. I'll probably do a 2nd choice of unit 500 and if happen to get drawn for that, deal with it the best I can. Both are new unit for me but want to muzzie hunt at least once. Thanks for the info on pack animals. Good to know if I get in a bind.
Ha after reading some other posts, didn't mean to try and steal any hunting spots by asking where to hunt. Just wanted to know some roads because through my years hunting CO units 23 and 24, by google earth and other maps, it shows "roads" but once we got out there it was more of a slight path and with any rain or significant snow, it was pretty hairy. Just didn't want to scout an area by Internet and plan on driving in to cut distance so far and get out there and not be able to drive it with a normal size four wheel drive truck.
Conrad8899
Active Member
If U plan on going on Co rd 721. Clear to the trail head. There is a really bad hill on it. With any rain or snow. U will need chains.
That's what I was wondering about...helps tremendously! And that's the part why we're going to come out early and mainly scout the roads to get in there. Thanks again
Vanish
Member
I know it won't help you, but definitely do not trust Google Maps when it comes to forest roads. In our area they show roads that have been closed for years.
I often wondered that even with the CO game unit map on line too. If I look on the roads and aerial map, it shows a bunch of roads in unit 54 but when I just received the topo in the mail a week ago from huntdata, it shows only a couple roads where all the others were pictured.....too bad they weren't accurate!