Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
07-07-2005, 05:52 PM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location:
Posts: 51
RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
Hey Tuff,
I just got back today from a hiking trip in the San Juan National Forest, just north of Pagosa Springs by Williams Lake. I saw 30-40 elk, most in clusters of 3-6 and tons ofmulies. I also saw some good bulls. I've never hunted elk either and don't have any friends that have any serious interest in making a trip there. I picked up some brochures form the State of Colorado while I was there, and will be reading through them in the next couple of days. PM me if you have any questions or you guys need another hunter to spread gas costs or just help locate the elk. I'm dying to go!
PS -- fancy seeing you on this forum, haven't visited TBH in a while.
Will
I just got back today from a hiking trip in the San Juan National Forest, just north of Pagosa Springs by Williams Lake. I saw 30-40 elk, most in clusters of 3-6 and tons ofmulies. I also saw some good bulls. I've never hunted elk either and don't have any friends that have any serious interest in making a trip there. I picked up some brochures form the State of Colorado while I was there, and will be reading through them in the next couple of days. PM me if you have any questions or you guys need another hunter to spread gas costs or just help locate the elk. I'm dying to go!
PS -- fancy seeing you on this forum, haven't visited TBH in a while.
Will
07-08-2005, 05:37 PM
#14
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Weatherford, TX
Posts: 557
RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
Stinkbelly, heres a email address for you, [email protected]
Texashunter, things are always busy at TBH, I will be talking to Steve in the next couple of days, we will try to firm up the plan a bit
Can you get mule deer tags over the counter for archery season??
Texashunter, things are always busy at TBH, I will be talking to Steve in the next couple of days, we will try to firm up the plan a bit
Can you get mule deer tags over the counter for archery season??
07-08-2005, 08:19 PM
#15
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fallbrook CA. USA
Posts: 322
RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
I've hunted the Pagosa area for about 10 yrs, always on public land and have harvested4 bull's and a few deer. north of Pagosa up towards Williams lake seems much more productive than south of Pagosa in my opinion.Theres a resident herd that stays in the area all year but my hunting has always tried to be timed with the migration. If your buddies haven't seen an elk then theres something drasticlly wrong with their hunting plan or lack of a hunting plan.If you decide to go I'll share my info with [email protected]
07-09-2005, 08:31 PM
#16
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alamosa, CO, USA
Posts: 5
RE: Thinking about hunting elk for first time...
Tuffbroadhead,
If you have the opportunity for an archery elk hunt around Pagosa, you should go and catch the fever that keeps the rest of us on the verge of divorce and bankruptcy. Now, for my opinion on things said andthings thus far left unsaid (that along with about $3.50 will get you a bad cup of coffee at Starbucks):
1. If this is to be your first elk hunt, don't waste time on half-measures. Don't just run the video camera or buy a cow tag. An either sex archery tag is only an extra $235.00. Considering the amount of money you will spend on the trip, this amount is relatively small, and has the potential to yield big rewards.
2. I don't know where your friends have been hunting, but Blue Moose is correct. Most of the land south of Pagosa is either private or reservation. There is some national forest southeast of Pagosa, but (again, my opinion) the better hunting is north of Pagosa. No disrespect to your friends, but if they haven't seen an elk in two years they probablyneed to reevaluate how they are hunting, not where, and drag out of camp earlier, hunt higher and hunt away from the roads. This means a lot of walking, so make sure you are in relatively good shape. Another note, since you won't know the area, if you don't have a GPS, get one and learn how to use it. The less time you spend being lost, the more time you spend hunting.
3. There are no over-the-counter deer tags in Colorado, and I doubt that there will be any leftover deer tags.
4. I agree with USA, the area around Williams Lakes is generally quite productive. One reason for this is that Williams Lakes are just south of the border with GMU 76, a limited draw, quality management unit.
I've been too long winded, but hope the info helps. Feel free to drop me an email.
If you have the opportunity for an archery elk hunt around Pagosa, you should go and catch the fever that keeps the rest of us on the verge of divorce and bankruptcy. Now, for my opinion on things said andthings thus far left unsaid (that along with about $3.50 will get you a bad cup of coffee at Starbucks):
1. If this is to be your first elk hunt, don't waste time on half-measures. Don't just run the video camera or buy a cow tag. An either sex archery tag is only an extra $235.00. Considering the amount of money you will spend on the trip, this amount is relatively small, and has the potential to yield big rewards.
2. I don't know where your friends have been hunting, but Blue Moose is correct. Most of the land south of Pagosa is either private or reservation. There is some national forest southeast of Pagosa, but (again, my opinion) the better hunting is north of Pagosa. No disrespect to your friends, but if they haven't seen an elk in two years they probablyneed to reevaluate how they are hunting, not where, and drag out of camp earlier, hunt higher and hunt away from the roads. This means a lot of walking, so make sure you are in relatively good shape. Another note, since you won't know the area, if you don't have a GPS, get one and learn how to use it. The less time you spend being lost, the more time you spend hunting.
3. There are no over-the-counter deer tags in Colorado, and I doubt that there will be any leftover deer tags.
4. I agree with USA, the area around Williams Lakes is generally quite productive. One reason for this is that Williams Lakes are just south of the border with GMU 76, a limited draw, quality management unit.
I've been too long winded, but hope the info helps. Feel free to drop me an email.
-------ElkNut1
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