Elk unit of 74 Colorado

[jester69]

Hey guys, anybody archery hunt 74 ,north of Durango? What kind of
pressure does that area get? Looking at 2nd week of September
packing in 2-3 miles on my back. Just wondering what to expect.
Usually hunt around Steamboat Springs and haven't had too much problem getting away from the crowds.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

What part of 74 are you wanting to hunt? I've hunted it a lot as it is pretty close to my home place.

 

[big44a4]

Thinking about unit 74 next season for archery as well. Is there a lot of access for 4 wheelers or is it mostly foot/horseback?


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[Colorado Cowboy]

Get a San Juan NF map, has all the roads marked. There are lots of both types (with & without roads).

2nd week of September is also M/L season, so there will be a lot of orange hunting too.

 

[jester69]

Looking north of Durango, off Ebert creek rd heading west. Looks like you can camp on top and hunt down. Looking on google earth, can spot a few camps when the picture was taken. Don't mind a few guys, willing to go in after the elk with my backpack, if I have to. Girlfriend usually comes along and I try to make a more comfortable truck camp for her.

 

[BKhunter50]

I've archery hunted 74 three times in recent years. Last year was bad for everyone due to weather. In prior years I've always gotten into elk. To get away from people you will need to go in a few miles, and even then you MAY bump into someone - but overall people are pretty scarce once your back in. The elk are in pockets. To be most successful you will need to be willing to move around until you get into elk and then decide where you need to camp. Also - one thing I learned the hard way......you may want to find out ahead of time where cattle will be crazing. I called in a nice 5x5 bull in to 7 yards for my buddy one year - who made a good clean kill. So of coarse we decided to go back the next year to the same spot only to find cattle grazing all over the place. I'm originally from Michigan, but now live in Mississippi. All of the cattle I've ever seen graze prior to then were in flat to rolling areas. I was pretty surprized to find out just how steep cattle can climb and craze when in the mountains. Let's just say the elk hunting wasn't nearly as good. Lesson learned. Still a few elk in there - but I wouldn't have gone back had I known about the cattle. Beautiful country. If your mobile, in shape, and strong willed - you will have a good time.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Usually cattle are in the NF on the grazing leases until at least the 1st week of October.

 

[big44a4]

Usually cattle are in the NF on the grazing leases until at least the 1st week of October.

So avoid the cattle is what your saying?


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[Colorado Cowboy]

I am not saying that, what I said was in SOMEareas you can expect to see cows. A lot depends on the area, some areas cow & elk co-exist ok, others they don't. A lot depends on feed and water availability.

 

[BKhunter50]

I'll avoid areas where cows are grazing. Like Colorado Cowboy said - SOMETIMES they will co-exist, but I don't have a lot of time to figure out if the cows and elk are hanging out together, so i'll just avoid the areas where there are cows. Hey Colorado Cowboy - do you know where you can get info from the state on where cows may be grazing? That would be good info as you plan the hunt.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Hey Colorado Cowboy - do you know where you can get info from the state on where cows may be grazing? That would be good info as you plan the hunt.

Not at the state level as grazing allotment/leases are set and issued from the USNF. Each NF sets there own quotas and rules. I would contact the NF you plan on hunting in. BLM also does there own thing separate from the NF people.

My experience has been that deer/elk will usually avoid cows usually, as cows seem to attract a lot more flies and other bugs than the game animals do. But if it is a dry year and water is scarce all bets are off.

 

[RICMIC]

I was solo hunting in the Maroon Bells a few years ago and stopped at the G&F office in Glenwood Springs on my way home to report a dead calf. They could care less about the calf and had no info on who had the grazing lease. They told me to contact the Forest Service. I found the cattle were up as high as 11,000', and saw zero elk and few deer in the area until the cows decided to mooooove on. There's nothing like a good steep cliff to get you away from the cows.

 

[Guitarman1562]

Bkhunter50,

I am new to this group and am from West Texas. I am wanting to do my first elk hunt this year with my two brothers. I wanted to ask you more about unit 74 if you do not mind. I am wanting to apply for first season rifle. We are looking at backpacking and camping. Do you have any suggestions on where to start backpacking? I have noticed that most hunters say 74 is good if you go deep and we would plan on doing that and hunt from a camp that we backback to. I would really appreciate if you have any tips since you are experienced in this unit. Thanks!