Decided on unit 421

[Jas1984]

Well me and my hunting party decided on unit 421 and were hoping we could get some info on possible spots to check out on our scouting trip this summer. We are bringing some youngsters with us this year along with a couple side by sides to make it more fun for them... they are excited for there first hunt and for the scouting trip, just trying to find some areas to check out with a chance for the kids to see some animals to get them hyped up for there first hunt. After some studying we have heard of bear activity in the area which doesn't bother me but makes my hunting partners wife a little worried about the kids, is there many bears in the area?
For the scouting trip we will be looking for any signs of animals and for good areas to camp, mainly close to traveled road for ease of getting out of there in case a storm were to move in since we will be hunting out of a base camp (I don't think my hunting partners sons are quite ready for spike camps yet).
We will hopefully all be holding a couple buck tags, cow tags and a couple bull tags.
Thanks for the info/advice in advance

 

[Slugz]

Jas I'm in there every 4th rifle for the past 10 years and fish ride quads at Vega at least once every summer. Shoot me a Pm and I can help you and the kids out.

 

[RICMIC]

Jas; I don't have any info on the unit, but have extensive experience in dealing with black bears. I teach "bear aware" to canoe groups in wilderness areas. I won't go into all the details here, but if you keep a food safe camp, I don't consider black bears to be any kind of a danger. You can get all the advice from the F&G websites. One thing that I have learned though the hard way, is to personally check on the kids to ensure that NO food ever ends up inside the tent. They will lie to you and sneak in candy bars, etc. Trust me on this, as I've guided over 200 boy scouts on these trips, and I bet over 10% will try to get away with it.
You will be hunting with others, have noisy quads, all have guns, bear spray if it makes you feel safer, etc. If you see a bear, consider it as part of what you are going into the wilderness to experience. Good luck.

 

[Jas1984]

Jas; I don't have any info on the unit, but have extensive experience in dealing with black bears. I teach "bear aware" to canoe groups in wilderness areas. I won't go into all the details here, but if you keep a food safe camp, I don't consider black bears to be any kind of a danger. You can get all the advice from the F&G websites. One thing that I have learned though the hard way, is to personally check on the kids to ensure that NO food ever ends up inside the tent. They will lie to you and sneak in candy bars, etc. Trust me on this, as I've guided over 200 boy scouts on these trips, and I bet over 10% will try to get away with it.
You will be hunting with others, have noisy quads, all have guns, bear spray if it makes you feel safer, etc. If you see a bear, consider it as part of what you are going into the wilderness to experience. Good luck.

Thanks for the info, I'm comfortable around bears and will keep a eye on the kids and food in the tent... mainly just trying to figure out if there actually is a bunch of bears in the unit or not, we all have bear proof coolers and they usually stay locked up in my truck under my bed cap.

 

[JimP]

Just a fyi for you if you don't know but your ATV's need to be registered in Colorado no matter what. There also may be some travel restrictions on them for where you are headed. I know that there are restrictions on the Grand Mesa.

I wouldn't worry too much about bears. Just be prudent as you mentioned.

 

[Jas1984]

Just a fyi for you if you don't know but your ATV's need to be registered in Colorado no matter what. There also may be some travel restrictions on them for where you are headed. I know that there are restrictions on the Grand Mesa.

I wouldn't worry too much about bears. Just be prudent as you mentioned.

Yupp thanks for the info, all of our side by sides have ohv stickers. That's another thing I forgot to add to my post is we will also be scouting the restricted areas to be sure we know the areas. I have hunted in Colorado and been a resident all my life but this is a new unit for us so we appreciate all the info we can get.
This trip is centered around the kids and getting them out in the outdoors instead of glued to the tv.

 

[JimP]

I didn't even look to see that you were a resident.

I'm so used to non residents asking for help that I just thought that you lived out of state.

Thinking can be a very dangerous thing for me to do at times.

 

[Jas1984]

I didn't even look to see that you were a resident.

I'm so used to non residents asking for help that I just thought that you lived out of state.

Thinking can be a very dangerous thing for me to do at times.

No worries at all and my wife tells me not to think cause its dangerous for me too lol

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

If you keep a clean camp, you really won't have to worry about bears. If you see them while your hunting, as soon as they know you are there, they'll run like hell. The biggest problem will be at night in camp. they'll smell the food and it will attract them.

 

[Bonecollector]

Buy a bear tag then you'll be guaranteed NOT to see one!

 

[Jas1984]

Ya we have had 1 bear come into camp while camping in unit 44 one summer, one shot in the ground and he scared off pretty quick. I have my 10mm on my hip at all times while hunting or camping for a just in case.

 

[Jas1984]

Lions scare me a lot more than bears... hunting unit 211 the past couple of years is what lead me to getting my 10mm for a side arm, finding cat tracks right on top of yours when you were just through there a hour ago gets a little worrisome.

 

[JimP]

Buy a bear tag then you'll be guaranteed NOT to see one!

Isn't that the truth.

Lions scare me a lot more than bears... hunting unit 211 the past couple of years is what lead me to getting my 10mm for a side arm, finding cat tracks right on top of yours when you were just through there a hour ago gets a little worrisome.

Lions are like any other cat, they are curious and will follow hunters just to see what you are up to. But they are also big wimps when confronted face to face. The big thing with cats is not to run away from them, if you do it will trigger the chase insistent in them and they will be on top of you before you know it.

I have actually watched a lion track a hunter around and over a hill walking right in the hunters tracks through some thick brush. They just like to know what is going on.

 

[Jas1984]

Isn't that the truth.



Lions are like any other cat, they are curious and will follow hunters just to see what you are up to. But they are also big wimps when confronted face to face. The big thing with cats is not to run away from them, if you do it will trigger the chase insistent in them and they will be on top of you before you know it.

I have actually watched a lion track a hunter around and over a hill walking right in the hunters tracks through some thick brush. They just like to know what is going on.

Makes sense and ya I have read not to run away so that the plan if I do ever come across one face to face. Just don't like the fact you can't hear them, all the bears I have seen seem to make some noise as they walk along.

 

[JimP]

A couple of the bears that I have had walk into me came in as quiet as death itself. It was interesting watching them come in and how careful they were doing it.

A person can learn a lot by watching a predator move through the forest.

 

[Jas1984]

A couple of the bears that I have had walk into me came in as quiet as death itself. It was interesting watching them come in and how careful they were doing it.

A person can learn a lot by watching a predator move through the forest.

We learn something new everyday, I have probably been around a lot more bears than I thought. I haven't seen a lot but what I have seen all made slight grunting noises and they weren't very graceful with walking lol, they weren't stalking anything tho so that might change if they were.

 

[RICMIC]

Black bears are often referred to as, "The black ghost." I'm not a bear hunter, but have several friends who are, and they seldom hear a bear before it appears close to the bait pile.