CO Elk Unit 66 - Archery Tag: which Wilderness?

teamtoppin

New Member
Mar 11, 2017
3
0
Central Wisconsin
Hello:

I have put in for a Unit 66 archery tag. I am using my 7 points I accumulated since I wont catch any other units with point creep and my age.

I am an experienced elk hunter and backpack hunt 5-6 miles back off trailhead and will hunt from there.

I have hunted elk a lot and know what to do. I have not hunted this unit before, obviously, since it takes at least six points as a NR.

I would like to maximize my opportunity. No I do not need and outfitter, guide etc. I have used outfitters in the past and feel it is not what I am looking for at this time.

I have and will do a google earth, map recon, etc. whatever you can do remotely. I have talked to USFS and CO fish and game - for what that is worth.

Since I am from out of state, I will do a recon trip to the unit this summer. So, What I am asking is I can only do so much on the trip out this summer.

I would like to avoid roads and ATV access and hunt wilderness. What is the best wilderness area to concentrate on in unit 66?

1. Umcompahgre (Big Blue)
2. La Garita
3. Powderhorn.

I have also identified the Cannibal Mesa area as a potential area on google earth.

I appreciate any CO residents or other hunters with time spent in Unit 66 hunting, hikeing, backpacking or fishing to give me some advice to help focus in on a productive area. I am not looking for anyone's "secret formula or sauce". I am just looking for some friendly advice on which area is better in terms of elk, hunter density and work/reward for hikeing 6 or 7 miles back in.

I will do the rest of the work on my own but I don't have 4 weekends or 30 days to scout the entire unit on foot myself. I hope to narrow it down to one area and do a mid-summer scout trip to CO.

I hope that makes sense and I know the usual response of "go do it yourself" will come back. I know. I am. I am trying to maximize the time and money constraints I have.

I feel that as a non-resident I am not competing on a regular basis with anyone as it will probably take 8 or ten 10 points with point creep to redraw this unit.

Thank you in advance to all who post. Feel free to PM me if you don't want a general post.

Anything worth doing is worth over-doing!

Team Toppin.
 
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