I have a pretty simple question. I am going OTC 2nd or 3rd rifle elk this year in CO. My plan is to pack in 10 or more miles from the nearest vehicle access roads, and not see another person for the entire hunt. I wont ask for any honey holes, basically all I'm asking is what are some opinions on the most remote units in Colorado? I'm talking very limited vehicle access, nasty terrain where the weekend warriors don't want to go
Most Remote Units in Colorado
- Thread starter txhtr333
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JimP
Administrator
10 miles into any remote location will put you next to a road.
While the wilderness areas are quite large they are not that large. Plus do you plan on packing 200-300lbs of meat that far?
Also most areas if you get further than a mile back in you will not see another hunter. Even a mile is quite a ways to pack that much meat.
For a remote hunt I would pick any of the wilderness areas and even perhaps the San Juan's
While the wilderness areas are quite large they are not that large. Plus do you plan on packing 200-300lbs of meat that far?
Also most areas if you get further than a mile back in you will not see another hunter. Even a mile is quite a ways to pack that much meat.
For a remote hunt I would pick any of the wilderness areas and even perhaps the San Juan's
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xtreme
Very Active Member
I am going to pack in with mules, so getting the meat out won't be an issue. Ok, maybe 10 miles is excessive, what I'm looking for is some remote country where I'm not competing with dillweeds on 4 wheelers, and wanting to get in far from any trailheads. I'm basically asking which units have the most limited vehicle access with the toughest terrain
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Hogloftis
New Member
Funny you say that, I've just about narrowed it down to either 74 or 75, just getting some other opinions
colohunter
New Member
- May 25, 2016
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"dillweeds" with horses are just as bad as "dillweeds" on atv's or walking in from the nearest trailhead or road. The thing is in most places where there is enough room to get that far back on a horse someone (most likely an outfitter) is already going back there. Will you see less competition than the folks by the road, yes; but will you rid yourself of every other hunter, no. The best you can do is go farther than than the atv crowd, and into nastier terrain than a pack animal can handle. Places where only elk, deer, sheep, and a few crazy humans go. Even then, you might find another hunter out there with the recent push of young guns wanting to be the next cameron hanes.
To directly answer your question, the real steep and nasty of the sangres deters most folks. There are many a drainage that would be next to impossible to get a horse into and down right dangerous to pack an elk out of. Make sure you are in the absolute best shape of your life and tough as nails if that is your plan though.
To directly answer your question, the real steep and nasty of the sangres deters most folks. There are many a drainage that would be next to impossible to get a horse into and down right dangerous to pack an elk out of. Make sure you are in the absolute best shape of your life and tough as nails if that is your plan though.
JimP
Administrator
Another problem that you are going to run into is if there are going to be any elk where you pack into during the season that you pick.
Elk move around a lot and they might be there in October and then they might not. Going into a unit blind is not my idea of a successful way to hunt.
Elk move around a lot and they might be there in October and then they might not. Going into a unit blind is not my idea of a successful way to hunt.
Slugz
Veteran member
If a bull to cow ratio of over 50 to 100, the prettiest spots in Colorado, solid numbers of animals......that requires a solid string of animals.......and some very above average bulls interest you then feel free to PM me.
As colohunter and others have said......I think its key to know where they get pushed to post archery, muzzleloader and 1st rifle.....regardless of who or how they got pushed
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I've hunted both and neither are that far from roads. The north part of 74 and the eastern part of 75 are the only areas I would say are remote. 77 would be another candidate as would be the Lizard Head Wilderness part of 71 & 70. There is some really high, remote areas around Silverton also.
xtreme
Very Active Member
Look at the Juan and maybe the Lizard head. I have been in both and if I was serious I would go San Juan, the beauty and remoteness alone would make it a memorable trip. Most of the hunters will be at red lake. You cannot get your mules up the Rio Del Pinos. The trail at Cumbres would be good, then go above the del Pinos. Like CC told you 74 and 75 will present some problems. Outfitters should have the best spots but you can work around other hunters in most places.
We hunt SW montana and hike in 3-4 miles. We're the only guys on foot but there's an outfitter that has a camp back there and a couple other groups on horseback. So like was stated before, where there's no guys on foot or atv, your going to finds "dillweeds" on horseback.
hoshour
Veteran member
Just look at the CO Hunting Atlas at http://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/index.html?app=HuntingAtlas, look at the wilderness shading and the scale of miles. Even Unit 751, which has one of the largest wilderness areas, is only 12 miles across at most. Units 24 and 43 have probably the biggest contiguous wilderness areas.
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RICMIC
Veteran member
#43 has 4 or 5 fourteeners that have a limited number of ways across them. If you come from any direction, by the time you hit the peaks you are coming back out on the other side. In any event, by the 2nd season OTC, the elk may well be on their way down lower depending on the weather. Outfitters do cover this zone fairly well, but I have been able to get away from them by bushwacking off the trail a couple miles.
HiMtnHnter
Active Member
2nd season would be better in the high country, as the weather can get severe by 3rd and the elk start moving down. The Weminuche is probably the largest chunk of roadless country in the state.
Dos Perros
Member
- Jul 1, 2015
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