OTC non-resident colorado elk unit help

[Father&son_outdoorsman]

Hey there, I'm new to the forum and my father and I were looking to plan an out of state DIY elk hunt. We looked at many states and decided on Colorado. We have zero points so an OTC tag is what we are looking at. We are both seasoned hunters and are in excellent physical condition, but we have never hunted in Colorado nor have we hunted elk. We are not looking for a trophy. We want to hunt the unit that gives us the best opportunity to harvest an elk. We looked into many units specifically those in the White River National Forest and north western Colorado. We like the elk population, but hear it can be crowded with hunters. We will be hunting on public land without a guide or horses. We will be on foot. Also we would be hunting in the 2nd or 3rd rifle season depending on unit choice. What unit, in your opinion, has the best odds of tagging an elk considering we will be hunting public land on foot in the 2nd or 3rd rifle season? Also what season in that unit has the best opportunity and how should we hunt that unit? Any info will be greatly appreciated and taken into consideration.

Thank you, John Pulskamp

 

[Musket Man]

Welcome to the form! Sounds like you are on the right track. Most OTC elk units generally get alot of hunters. You can look at the statistics on the CO web page to get an idea of how many hunters each unit gets and success rates. Good luck!

 

[Work2hunt]

Welcome to forum. You are talking a lot of possibilities for hunt options. +1 on checking out the Colorado hunt statistics. They haven't released the 2013 results yet, but you can research the last few years for the seasons and units you are speaking of. Here is a link to the Colorado stats:

https://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/Statistics/Pages/Statistics.aspx

 

[Father&son_outdoorsman]

Thank you both for the info! I looked at the stats and saw that of the OTC units 13, 214, 441, 851, 12, 5, and some others had some of the higher success rates (for rifle) in the past 4 years. That's great, but I wonder how many of the elk killed in those zones were on private land and/or with an outfitter. What is the public access in these units? What other units have good success and good public access during rifle season?
Thanks for the help, John Pulskamp

 

[Musket Man]

I think public land would be my biggest concern with choosing an OTC unit, next would be elk numbers. If you look at the interactive hunting maps on the CO site they will show you the public/private land in all the units. The preview maps on mytopo.com are a good resource for this too. Look for units with a good amount of public land with areas that you can get away from roads. I dont know alot about OTC CO elk hunts, this is just how I would go about narrowing down areas. You may also want to look at limited quota units that can be drawn with 0 points. They should have less hunters and you can still get an OTC tag if you dont draw.

 

[Father&son_outdoorsman]

Thank you, I will take the limited quota tags into consideration. And any info from anyone else about good OTC units in CO will be appreciated.

 

[packmule]

Have you considered LE units with a chance of drawing with 0 pts since you're going to be buying a license anyway?

 

[Father&son_outdoorsman]

Just recently I have, and do those units have a much better chance of success?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Hey guys, welcome. I moved here to SW Co from So Cal 14 years ago when I retired and definately understand your dilema. IMHO 2nd rifle in most areas is a pretty tough situation. Lots of hunters and usually the weather is warmer (but you never know). If you can't hunt early, I would hunt as late as possible. You need to take advantage of the weather if possible. Pray for snow and hope the elk start moving. Hunt 4th season if possible.

If I were coming to Colorado for the first time hunting, I would opt for a cow tag. First...the units that have late season cow tags are ones that the state feels have too many elk. Second you can use the hunt as a learning experience and increase your odds of taking home some meat. Thats what I did my first couple of hunts here many years ago. Use your cow tags as a 2nd choice and buy a point as first choice.

Read you are from Bakersfield...used to have some pretty good pheasant and waterfowl hunting there. Shot a few deer at Greenhorn too. Lived in Downey until I retired, love Colorado....couldn't ever go back!

 

[CoHiCntry]

I would definitely opt for a cow tag in a draw unit. Chances of success or even seeing elk will be much greater. Try unit 61 any season cow tag. These hunts hover around 50% success rate. Plenty of public land. If your still a youth, you might draw, your dad probably won't without any points. You would have to look to see for sure. If you don't draw you can always go OTC instead.

 

[Father&son_outdoorsman]

Thank you, yes I agree with attempting to draw for a draw only unit. What are some of the better units that I can draw with 0 points? And if I need to go with an OTC tag are cow tags as available as bull? Also, what OTC units should I consider if need be.

 

[Musket Man]

I dont think there are any OTC cow tags but some units could have leftover tags. Going over the statistics on the CO page and the MRS will show you what tags you can get and help you narrow it down.

 

[Work2hunt]

I agree with checking out the bull or either sex draws that can happen with 0 pp. Worst case if you don't draw you can fall back on either a leftover tag or an OTC tag. I can't speak for a lot of Colorado areas but there are some decent units in the area you are speaking of that can be drawn with 0 pp.

My recommendation is to review the stats for the seasons you are looking for, narrow the field to a couple GMUs through the stats maps etc and then call the area biologist. I'm working on a locating a few new areas myself and this is the basic strategy outlined to me. Also the new book Elk Hunting the West Revised by Mike Eastman has a good chapter on conducting this research.

 

[Musket Man]

One thing about the OTC tags is you arent married to a specific unit so you can look elsewhere if the unit you choose isnt looking good or if you can get there a few days early you could scout a few units before the season starts and plan from there. I think success rates in OTC units are around 15% or less usually and I would guess those 15% either know the area pretty well or are very lucky. OTC hunts are not easy hunts to fill a tag which is alot of why they can have OTC tags without killing to many elk to sustain the elk herds. If I went on an OTC hunt, which I will some year when I dont draw anything, I would not be unhappy to come home with tag soup.

 

[Father&son_outdoorsman]

That is why I believe a draw unit will be much better. Someone I talked to said that they have had success in unit 3 in the first season and that 100% of those who applied with 0 points drew. Is this true? And how's the hunting in unit 3 in the first rifle season?

 

[Father&son_outdoorsman]

Also are there any other units that you suggest I look in to as a possibility of a unit that i might condider applying for in the first rifle season?

 

[Musket Man]

Most of your questions can be answered by looking on the CO web site and reading the MRS. I realize this years MRS is not out yet but last years will get you a good head start for when it does come out.

 

[GOAT]

Look at units around meeker or gunnison that you can draw with 0 points. Apply for either sex (if offered) as first choice and cow as second in either the first or fourth season. You should be able to draw a tag and have a good hunt. OTC units can be very good but for someone who does not live close and can scout extensively I think this approach is a much better option than going OTC.