Colorado Unit 67 - 1st rifle season

[Ringo2holliday]

Hey all,

Forgive me if this has been discussed... but my buddy and I drew 1st season bull tags and have never hunted rifle season or this unit before.

Does anyone have experience with 1st season and unit 67? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

THANKS!

 

[Slugz]

R2H,
Welcome to EF. Lots of great people and info here! Recommend you head over to the new members sections and post a quick intro. It tends to soften up the crowd and help people figure out the best way to help and or answer the questions.

I don't hunt down that way but I do know that the southern end of 66/67 and 76 is a great place to first season bull hunt.

If you haven't already the search function here works real well for past articles/posts.

Congrats on the tag and welcome!

 

[Ringo2holliday]

Thanks for the reply Slugz.

I really appreciate the heads up and I'm looking forward to getting to know fellow hunters.

I'll go to the new members section today.

Thanks again!

 

[ThreeTikkas]

Shoot me a P M with what part of 67 you will be hunting.

 

[cmbbulldog]

Hunt high!

 

[Catahoula12]

Ditto... Like cmbbulldog said... Hunt at high elevation.. Good luck!!

 

[Ringo2holliday]

Thanks! Hunting high is what we figured we would have to do... is that still the case if they get some snow?

 

[Slugz]

1st season this year the second estrus cows will be finishing up being bred and bulls will start (not all) to separate from the herd to start recovery post rut. IMO......high is relative to the GMU. In NW Colorado we are pretty much into action at 10,500 from the start of archery until the end of 1st rifle. Big boys then head higher until the snow touches their bellys and or they cant scratch to feed. That's my GMU in a nutshell and its similar to 67. Key for 1st rifle this year (my game plan) due to the longer break between last muzzleloaders shots in the woods and first rifle.....I believe they will be back into a pattern that's pretty predictable for the first 2 days and or until pressured. I'm headed back to camp Oct 10th to glass till the opener that way I got a plan A, B and C to go after them. My son has the 1st rifle tag this year.

 

[Ringo2holliday]

Good thoughts, do you think that they'll still be in and around aspens looking for food or in the deep cover?

 

[Slugz]

Just my thoughts and hunting style and what works for me. Elk inherently are in the " dark nasty stuff".....70% of the time.....20% feeding 10% watering. when scouting an area if I can find north facing old growth timber, water relatively close and good feed ( either in open parks or small parks with in the old growth, sometimes enough light for aspens to grow) then I start my looking there either glassing or on foot. I have a good deal of luck searching out east west running canyons/drainages. Bedding on one side, feed on the other ( from the south facing sun) and water in the middle.

 

[ThreeTikkas]

Sound advise.

 

[Ringo2holliday]

I bought a typo map and the elk concentration map, in which I am plotting spots on Google Earth which seem to meet the criteria you described. Higher elevation drainage area that hold good water and food patches. Will double check if they are east to west facing and also if there dark cover near by.

 

[Slugz]

R2H,
Prioritize good undisturbed bedding (North facing) first in your planning. Priority IMO is a safe home first...food water second.....that's why God gave em those big legs!

 

[Ringo2holliday]

Ahhh... good point