Going to head to Colorado the first of Sept. to bow hunt elk in an OTC unit. Not really sure just where yet. Looking at GMU 18 or maybe north of there GMU 17 south of Rand or GMU 6...171...maybe 161 on BLM land independence mountain. Leaning heavy on OTC 17 south of Rand... up Willow creek. Anybody wanna chip in with comments on the willow creek area... lots of places for a camp? Looks like area is not so rough and steep till you get closer to the divide south of there. We will set up a camp and stay in area. So we need to find a spot were camp can be set up. Any comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!
Colorado OTC BOW ELK
- Thread starter NebrCatMan
- Start date
JPSeveland
Active Member
Personal opinion 18 can be very ruff in the early season unless uou plan on packing way in to get away from all the people. i feel that north park is a much better area for archery elk season with a better chance at a trophy bull. I have hunted all of middle park,18,28,37,371. and north park 16,6,161,17,171. i feel that its better elk hunting in north park. you wont have any problem finding a place to camp on willow creek there are some good bulls in that area watch for moose there is a lot of moose in this area. Try to focus on the north slopes, and high elivation closer to the divide. your going to be fighting the fool moon that first week of september. so if you can spot and elk before he gets to the timber so you can make a move on him that would be best. If you can spot stalk get up in them close within that magic 100 yard mark and start calling thats what i find to work best this time of year. for calls i really like the carlton fighting cow call its high pitched and the bulls seem to respond best to this call also i use a diphram. and carltons estres whine. i hope this helps i will be in unit 18 and 16 opening weekend good luck. Aim Small Miss Small
joemf1985
New Member
I will be headed up to hunt the opening week. We will be hunting in the general region south of Steamboat springs. This will be my first Elk hunt with a bow, hoping to at least have some encounters with some elk.
Hey guys...... thanks for the comeback. It will all fall together here in a few weeks. My buddy and I are going to throw in a coleman camping tent and probably check a couple of spots.... just make a quick camp ... that way we can quickly move on to another spot if needed. If we get into good elk sign we will make a better camp...wall tent, outhouse.. shower..... wood stove .... all the comforts of home away from home. We probably will stay up north and leave the middle park area for another day. If anybody would want to trade a hunt in Colorado ( private land) for a deer hunt here in Nebraska... even a trapping excursion or what ever one want that I can set up.. let me know!!! Thanks again!!!
I have hunted those areas, of and on, for more than 50 years with rifle in the earlier years and then archery the past 30+ years. I have joined other hunters during the archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons to assist with scouting and packing game out. Historically, those areas, especially GMU 6 have only been average, at best. GMU 6 is typically the lowest success rate of all. GMU's 16 and 18 are the better areas to hunt. The elevation for 6 and 16 starts lower and climbs steeply to areas above timberline. I would summarize that like the rest of big game hunting, the further you get away from the roads, and endeavor to get to some of the higher and isolated pockets, the better your odds. As mentioned, especially in unit 6...there are common encounters with moose...be sure to verify your target.
Elkhunter96
Active Member
I'm going off memory here, isnt rabbit ears pass in unit 15ish not too far from Steamboat? Or am I getting my passes mixed up?
I have hunted around steamboat several times and over in 21 before...Lots of bears, great hunts though
I have hunted around steamboat several times and over in 21 before...Lots of bears, great hunts though
Thanks a bunch Colt......and Walleye for the comebacks. I know we will probably see a few or even a lot more hunters. That's the way it is on public. Hopefully we can get a little deeper than most do. Never know.... someone could push something to us. Just planning on having a good time no matter what. Thanks again!!
joemf1985
New Member
I am packing my gear today and all day tommorrow. Pack my trailer wheel bearings and sharpen my chain saw chains and I Should be ready to head out on the 3rd or 4th for sure. I sure look foward to camp in the wild. Love them mountains.... hearing the bulls bugle off in the distance during the nite or even a few cows walking past camp and mewing softly is a rush. While we were camped outside Yellowstone aways we heard the wolves howling at nite during a storm. Sent tingles up your spine. Never forget that trip.. had a grizz come to visit us 2 nites in a row while we spike camped 3 miles from base camp. He never got the chance to bother us 3 nites in a row...WE LEFT...us chicken... na... just didn't want him to eat too good!!!