Hey everyone. To further compound the issue they guy gave out glassing points along the continental divide trail where 95% of the hunters I saw in that unit wouldn't bother to hike if you gave them the coordinates to a 6x6 elk. I went on my first solo backcountry hunt this past weekend, and well, I have some learning to do. Here are the 5 best elk hunting tips you can use to effectively execute an over-the-counter elk permit this year. The number of hunters across the nation fell by 2.2 million between 2011 and 2016, according to the most recent findings published by … 7 Day Package 5 Days Of Hunting $2,200 / Horse Camp $1,400 / ATV Camp / New Hunt! Chasing Ghosts-The Finale 30 days archery hunting for elk in the back country of Colorado. High Quality Guided Backcountry Hunting Services. The “best” unit is one that fits your hunting style, has plenty of elk, and doesn’t get a ton of pressure (or at least pressure where you’ll be hunting). If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small commission. Backcountry sidearms that might be good for one place might not be good for another. Best elk hunting boots in 2020 – Buyer’s Guide. Deer Hunts – Colorado is know for its trophy mule deer, and we’ve got some of the best bucks in our units. Elk, Deer, Big Horn Sheep and Bear hunting in Colorado along with Antelope hunting in New Mexico. Elk Hunts – Come hunt the largest herd of elk in the country! Compounding the issue, Colorado’s hunting base is aging — average age of 55, according to CPW — with fewer younger hunters waiting in the wings. If you’re going to read one book on elk hunting, Cam’s book should be the one. DIY Western Elk Hunt for $1,000 Budget in 2020. This post is based on a chapter from my DIY Elk Hunting Guide and is updated every year to reflect changes in license fees and fuel costs. They are far less nomadic than their Rocky Mountain cousins and will follow somewhat of a pattern until hunting pressure drives them elsewhere, just like a whitetail. Contact. Sidearms for Backcountry Hunting August 25, 2018 August 25, 2018 HuntTested 0 Comments Bear Defense , Elk hunting , Handguns Like Tom Selleck’s character, Matthew Quigley, from one of my favorite movies, Quigley Down Under , I’ve never had much use for pistols. The... 1 min read. I have carried very light rifle outfits (app. Must-have Gear for Elk Hunting. For example, a semi-auto could be great in pig country, but maybe a big bore revolver works better elsewhere..45 Smith and Wesson 1911. Now, lets talk equipment. We offer elk, deer, turkey and coyote hunts. Backcountry Outfitters Inc is licensed, bonded, and insured. Before we dive in, remember that Colorado has plenty of elk. The average backcountry hunter in “hunting shape” will burn around 1,500-2,000 calories just sitting on the couch. Big Country Outfitters have prime hunting country in units 76(trophy unit), 79, and 80 near Creede and South Fork Colorado. Field dressing and packing out an elk is a necessary skill when hunting the animals deep in the backcountry. Any serious gun fanatic might tell you that all rifles are awesome, but not all rifles are awesome for every type of shooting and hunting.. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife. The number of licensed hunters in Colorado (281,201) last year was 23 percent fewer than the 1998 high of 362,927. If you take an elk on a bivy hunt and pack it off the mountain, you will definitely feel like you earned it! I slept in a hammock in the mountains. For elk hunting I normally use a medium weight rifle and scope that weighs around 8.5 lbs. Unlike Colorado, planning the best DIY elk hunt in Oregon relies less on research and more on strategy. Your feet are your most important tool to take care of on an elk hunt… Add a 50lb pack, 5-10 miles of hiking, and 2,000-3,000 of vertical elevation and you realize pretty quickly that you need to start taking in some serious fuel (i.e. The most common reasons people give for not going on a DIY elk hunt to the West comes down to three reasons: We offer archery, muzzleloader, and rifle elk hunts . Bar W Outfitters Colorado Licensed Outfitters providing guided elk and deer hunting, guided fly fishing, and wilderness pack trips for the adventurous sightseer, artist, or photographer in southern Colorado's Rio Grande National Forest and South San Juan Wilderness. by Bill Rider Last updated September 4, 2020 We are reader-supported. The Backcountry Wilderness Area offers various hunting opportunities to HRCA members who are drawn in our annual lottery drawings. Elk hunt in Colorado, fish the White River or sled dog into the backcountry. From our guided elk and deer hunts in the fall to our wilderness camping and fishing trips in the summer, we offer top notch service to all our clients. They are the best September elk hunting boot on the market in my opinion. Deer Hunts – Colorado is know for its trophy mule deer, and we’ve got some of the best bucks in our units. When it comes to elk hunting, you want a rifle that is durable but light enough to carry up the mountain with ease. We offer archery, muzzleloader, and rifle elk hunts . Articles Why Hunt The Backcounty. Success is about avoiding people, not following the masses. If you’re interested in a backcountry bivy hunt, Cam Hanes wrote the definitive guide on the subject in his book, Backcountry Bowhunting. 6 lbs.) and have had be very careful with my heavy breathing or I shot poorly. With a total elk population of 280,000, more than 22.7 million acres of public hunting land and a generous license system, do-it-yourself elk hunters can find plenty of public land hunting opportunities throughout Colorado. The right gear is critical for backcountry elk hunting. ... Our hunting area is located in North central Colorado east of the town of Walden and near the small community of Gould in the Colorado State Park. It was very tough physically and mentally. Be Prepared to Travel Quality over-the-counter elk permits are available but they are scattered throughout the west. I listened to screaming bulls at night, I caught and cooked trout, I found bones and antlers, I ate mostly backpacking meals I prepared my own way. As you are going for Elk hunting the most important part of the list is hunting gears. ... Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Member and Donor. Licensed in: Colorado : 102 . This is true backcountry archery elk hunt with President and Founder of Outdoor Edge Knives, David Bloch and will take place in the fabled Medicine Bow National Forest just north of historic Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I have also use a 10 lb. Why hunt the backcountry? The Colorado Division of Wildlife defines these areas as Game Area Units (GMUs), which are identified based on license availability, opening up underhunted territory in order to offer the best hunting experience. Backcountry Outfitters www.elk-hunting.com. In a few hours my friend Steve I will leave for a wilderness area in Colorado’s GMU 521, at the headwaters of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, for a big game backpack hunt. GMU’s 1, 2, 201 – If you have the points saved up, we hunt some of the best trophy elk and deer units in Colorado. calories). Western Colorado Outfitters is a Permittee on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest / US Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management and is an equal opportunity service provider. Colorado OTC Elk units (rifle & archery) ranked by total elk harvested and by hunter success for last three season (2016 - 2018) to choose 2020 hunt Backcountry Chronicles DIY Hunting, Fishing & Outdoor Tips Since the majority of these trips occur in late summer for mule deer and September for elk, this gear list would need to be modified for a late season foray into the mountains. With the extreme elevation and the miles we were covering each day, it got tougher to stay focused as the week progressed. The Roosevelt’s elk favors a disposition you’ll see in whitetail deer. MORE READING: Colorado License Fees Could Increase 100%. There are many reasons to hunt where many don't/won't trod. Enter now to win the western hunting experience of a lifetime you've always dreamed of. No pressure from other hunters. 1. In September 2020, I packed a bunch of hunting gear and three of my children into my Chevy, bound for the Colorado backcountry. Colorado is in the heart of Western American elk territory and offers areas with various elk populaces, and options that will warrant particular skill levels. Explore the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, all from the beautiful, historic cabins at Ripple Creek Lodge. Mike Malchow is a full time elk guide in Colorado. Although I told my friends and family I was disappearing to hunt elk, I was mostly trying to hide from 2020.. Let’s face it, 2020 has thrown most of us for a loop. 119 N. Duke Street Hummelstown, PA 17036 Phone: (717) 566-1276 Fax: 717-566-1658 On this Thanksgiving Day, a time to honor family customs, the tradition of harvesting elk in the Rocky Mountain backcountry is on the decline. Experienced Guides. 2 years ago . Here at Gunnison Country Outfitters we are dedicated to providing a true Colorado backcountry experience in the Colorado high country. We offer fully guided hunts set in the Colorado backcountry as well as drop camps and a pack service for experienced hunters who want to go on their own. You will need good boots, I recommend Hoffman Boots or Lathrop and Sons. While making your elk hunting day pack list you will have to divide it into three categories: hunting gears, camping gears, and emergency gears. All of the details and instructions are found in the documents below. I... 1 min read. BACKCOUNTRY ELK HUNTING IN COLORADO | The Finale. Colorado Elk Camp Thinking out of the box or non-traditionally is something that I've done for quite some time. Backcountry Outfitters Inc is an equal opportunity provider/employer operating under a special use permit in the San Juan National Forest, Weminuche Wilderness, and Piedra Primitive Area. Thank you for considering us for a big game hunt. For now, you should be honing your elk hunting skills every year with over-the-counter permits. GMU’s 1, 2, 201 – If you have the points saved up, we hunt some of the best trophy elk and deer units in Colorado. When a guy picks a unit like CO 82 for their first elk hunt its only polite to give them a heads up that it is a very difficult unit both physically and mentally to hunt. This article will cover some basic gear I use on a 5 day bivy or backpack trip into the backcountry. Elk Hunts – Come hunt the largest herd of elk in the country! outfit that felt just a bit heavy for the job. Situational awareness is key. David Guilliams Phone: (970) 731-4630. My hunt for elk , in the Colorado backcountry, turned out to be a great experience. I drew an either sex Muley archery tag in 25/26 (Colorado) and I have an OTC anterless archery Elk tag as well. 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