CO Units 12 & 13

[youngbuck2]

I am heading out to Colorado for the 4th rifle season. We are heading out a few days early to do as much scouting as possible but thought I would see if anyone on here is willing to give some advice and feedback. I was lucky enough to get a bull tag good for zones 12, 13, 23 and 24 but my buddy has a cow tag only good for 13. So, we thought we would target 12 and 13 to start with since they are close.

The weather looks like its going to be warm....too warm for the lower elevations.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

[amoor983]

How did you do? I hunted 3rd season around the confluence of 23, 12, and 24. It was super warm and it seemed like many of the elk had not moved down yet. We found them only on the steepest, darkest, thickest north slopes, and they never offered a shot. We were at 9 to 10,000 feet on National Forest, mostly winter areas. Mixes of aspen, spruce, and oak. I had a really nice bull pose for me but no permit (story of my life). there were tons of hunters, but honestly it seemed like most of them drove around on ATVS and never really hunted. And several camps packed up early because there were not the elk numbers they expected. Our friend who hunted there for a few decades said hunter numbers were way down (I found that hard to believe). The local guide said "the elk will come through any day, probably the day after you leave." I suspect he was very close to right.