Looks like after striking out in az and nm that I'm down to choosing an otc elk unit in Colorado. Was wanting some opinions on archery and rifle seasons. Pros and cons. I can go either way and I would love to hunt rutting bulls vs hidden bulls but it looks like there will be just as much hunting pressure and in some units even more than rifle season during archery. Interested to see what yall prefer and any advice and input from seasoned otc hunters.
colorado otc archery vs rifle
- Thread starter swampokie
- Start date
JimP
Administrator
There is always a lot of pressure no matter which season you choose, and if you want to hunt during the peak of the rut there will be even more pressure.
As for units start at Grand Junction and head east on I-70 and pick one on either side of it all the way to the Continental Divide. I know of a couple of areas in unit 444 but I don't know of anyone that would pack a elk out of them. I packed a deer out of one and figured that he was enough. Another couple of good units would be 421 and 42 just out of Grand Junction or any of the flat top units north of Glenwood Springs.
Or if you hunt with a muzzle loader wait and find out what left over tags there are for cow elk. That way you can get to know a area while hunting a cow and just might bring home some meat.
As for units start at Grand Junction and head east on I-70 and pick one on either side of it all the way to the Continental Divide. I know of a couple of areas in unit 444 but I don't know of anyone that would pack a elk out of them. I packed a deer out of one and figured that he was enough. Another couple of good units would be 421 and 42 just out of Grand Junction or any of the flat top units north of Glenwood Springs.
Or if you hunt with a muzzle loader wait and find out what left over tags there are for cow elk. That way you can get to know a area while hunting a cow and just might bring home some meat.
cmbbulldog
Active Member
- Jul 18, 2011
- 264
- 21
I would think your best bet of killing a good bull is the first day or 2 of archery season when the bulls are still up high in there summer patterns.
Slugz
Veteran member
You will see less pressure during archery than rifle.
Don't forget the leftover list also in CO....there is always a few very good 1st rifle hunts available. You got options in Colorado every year regardless. I wouldn't compare them.....pick your style of hunting you want then get the tag.
Don't forget the leftover list also in CO....there is always a few very good 1st rifle hunts available. You got options in Colorado every year regardless. I wouldn't compare them.....pick your style of hunting you want then get the tag.
Slugz
Veteran member
CODAK
Active Member
IMO, OTC is OTC, unlimited tags means unlimited people. Depending on where you go, there could be dozens of diaphragm squeelers in one canyon, and vacant the next. The next year (or week) it could all be the same. Same goes for rifle. My success is learning where the elk hide when the army hits the mountains. They generally go somewhere like the steepest, rockiest, wettest, thickest spot around. Find that and you'll have a better hunt than most draw areas. This too, can change week to week, year to year based on where the army is. Just be prepared to pack one out from these spots. It pays to be young, and people always overlook the spots we like to go for that fact! Good Luck
Slugz
Veteran member
"It pays to be young, and people always overlook the spots we like to go for that fact!"
Or have a pack string and a good lead horse
Or have a pack string and a good lead horse
CODAK
Active Member
Slugz, pack horse would definitely be the way to go! Just depends on the deadfall situation, I don't imagine many horses can go through that nasty stuff with 200lbs on their backs?
gypsumreaper
Active Member
- Mar 13, 2014
- 308
- 0
xtreme
Very Active Member
Watching to see what you choose. I am drawing pointless for archery deer in unit 81. Two young strong guys are going to buy otc elk. We plan to drag down hill. Just kidding of course but that tells you where we will begin. I know odds will be low but like CODAK tells us, we should know where to find them once the La. army gets them going. Good luck and you are welcome to stop by.
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Yes xtreme I do know where you are talking about! If we decide archery theres probly not a better unit than yours but rifle odds look long for the last couple years. Looking at south san juan and weminuche also but theres so many options I'm really struggling on setting my sights on any particular unit or even method of take. I really appreciate everyones input thus far and looking forward to hearing more opinions.
If you have a gohunt account that has helped me and my hunting partner narrow the options down. As others have said the OTC options make it tough. We finally just decided to set an arbitrary success rate and that narrowed our options down to only a few. Now we will call some biologists to get some more specific details about the units we have left and go from there. And if that doesn't work there is always darts at a dart board to choose.
Slugz
Veteran member
IMHO.......I think using the success rates to pick units is the worst thing to do.......here's why.
I think we all can admit there are some data sets that are very good, in the middle and just way off WRT accuracy. Until Colorado goes to a 100% mandatory check or reporting system the success rate data set is the farthest off than anything. Its based off people taking the time to fill out that post hunt online survey ( I could be wrong)
I think a better way to solve...for Colorado where to hunt is to.
1) Determine the hunt you want. Meat cow, any bull or mature bull.
2) Evaluate herd size versus the EAU....gets you overall herd #s.
3) Evaluate bull to cow ratio (doesn't work for the trophy units as they are managed differently)
4) Determine method of take and evaluate last years leftover list
5) Evaluate public land % / ability to get where the animals get pushed to upon pressure or be on them opening morning.
Just my 2 sense and what we use when going into a new area or looking for a new area. I'm not gonna hunt in a GMU with a small herd size, limited public land. You will find us in the big NF where the big #s of animals are to counteract years there is pressure. If we are mature bull hunting defined as heavy horned 6x6 or that age class bull then we will adjust to a GMU with medium numbers of animals and a bull to cow ratio of 35/100 or over.
I think we all can admit there are some data sets that are very good, in the middle and just way off WRT accuracy. Until Colorado goes to a 100% mandatory check or reporting system the success rate data set is the farthest off than anything. Its based off people taking the time to fill out that post hunt online survey ( I could be wrong)
I think a better way to solve...for Colorado where to hunt is to.
1) Determine the hunt you want. Meat cow, any bull or mature bull.
2) Evaluate herd size versus the EAU....gets you overall herd #s.
3) Evaluate bull to cow ratio (doesn't work for the trophy units as they are managed differently)
4) Determine method of take and evaluate last years leftover list
5) Evaluate public land % / ability to get where the animals get pushed to upon pressure or be on them opening morning.
Just my 2 sense and what we use when going into a new area or looking for a new area. I'm not gonna hunt in a GMU with a small herd size, limited public land. You will find us in the big NF where the big #s of animals are to counteract years there is pressure. If we are mature bull hunting defined as heavy horned 6x6 or that age class bull then we will adjust to a GMU with medium numbers of animals and a bull to cow ratio of 35/100 or over.
hoshour
Veteran member
Really, if you want big bulls or bucks, you want to get away from everyone. That may mean poor access and difficult terrain. I partially agree with Slugz on harvest success, but it depends on the reason for high harvest success. Is it easy access, high populations and a lot of hunters (classic opportunity unit) or is it a high point unit with few tags? Or is it a high M/F ratio and some good fawn recruitment with tag numbers on the rise? Sometimes a low success year compared to its history can be a good thing the next year because the weather made for fewer bucks or bulls harvested that prior year.