BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

danmoritz · Newbie Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Iowa

My dad is 66 years old and has shot whitetails, antelope, and black bear but he has never shot an elk. He is in great shape and can probably out hike me, and is tough as nails (vietnam vet) so we would have no problem hiking in/getting packed in with horses, etc. to an area more remote. We want to muzzleload hunt in 2010 and have 3 points. We have been thinking about the flat tops wilderness. We would rather hunt an area that has a better chance of success, higher animal population over trophy quality, not super crowded, as our goal is any legal bull elk or a 5 pt. If anyone has any suggestions about the Flat tops or any other areas that fit the bill, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Critter · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject:

A do it yourself hunt is going to be hard for a successful hunt for the first timer. Depending on what you want to spend you may have to hire a guide that does all the prehunt scouting and locating the animals for you. You may want to check out the guide that Epettit used on his hunt http://www.biggamehunt.net/for.....mp;start=0 It look like they had a great time. Also if you do want to hire a guide for a real trophy you could look into High Lonesome Ranch out of De Beque, Colorado . By the way this isn't a recommendation for them but I know and have hunted the area that they hunt in and there are some great bulls there. Good luck on what ever you decide.

danmoritz · Newbie Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Iowa

Thanks for the tip. I checked out there website also, that would be a good option. Our budget would let us at most do a drop camp. We have actually hunted elk before in 2nd season, 3 of us went, it was a little crowded for our liking, we still saw elk, my dads buddy got a 5X5, me and my day came close but no luck. We would be able to do some preseason scouting and we would be able to hunt for 7- 10 days so thats one of the reasons we were considering doing a DIY Hunt.

exbiologist · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:40 am Post subject:

Dan,
First of all, I'm glad you guys are going to give elk hunting another whirl, but keep in mind Colorado does not allow scopes of any sort on their muzzleloaders. Iron sights may be an issue for a 66 year old man, even if his physical condition is not at issue. 3 non res points would get you all sorts of great tags, including some very good rifle season tags. So what season would you actually prefer?
Muzzleloader season is certainly a great time to be out, but so is first rifle season in my opinion. Of course you'll hopefully have the added thrill of more bugling during muzzleloader season.
Last year the minimum number of points required for the nonresident state muzzy tag was 2 points, so you should be guaranteed that if you want it. The limited areas with good populations and high success like the Bear's Ears/Elkheads and the Flat Tops require too many points for a muzzleloader tag. If you want muzzleloader, go for the statewide tag, if you want a limited rifle tag, look at units 66 or 67, you'll draw either one.

HeavyC · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:58 am Post subject:

SoCoKHntr · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:24 am Post subject:

HeavyC · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:27 am Post subject:

I just thought I read that somewhere after their meeting on the 2010-2014 season structures. basically that muzzleloader was going to all draw too...though I am pretty bad about skimming over things so let me dig some more! Oops!

HeavyC · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:31 am Post subject:

If I am reading this right....from page one of the new season structure brochure

"Muzzleloader:
There will be a 9-day season (weekend opening), opening on the second Saturday in September.
?
Deer: Limited ES or limited antlered and limited antlerless in some units, all licenses issued by GMU/DAU
?
Elk: Limited ES or limited antlered and limited antlerless in some units, all licenses issued by GMU/DAU:

http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR.....14BGSS.pdf

Please tell me I am reading this wrong adn I will surely eat some crow or whatever

HeavyC · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:34 am Post subject:

If I am reading this right....from page one of the new season structure brochure

"Muzzleloader:
There will be a 9-day season (weekend opening), opening on the second Saturday in September.
?
Deer: Limited ES or limited antlered and limited antlerless in some units, all licenses issued by GMU/DAU
?
Elk: Limited ES or limited antlered and limited antlerless in some units, all licenses issued by GMU/DAU"

Please tell me I am reading this wrong and I will surely eat some crow or whatever

Basically "I was told" there is no more "statewide' muzzy tag anymmore.

HeavyC · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:39 am Post subject:

If I am reading this right....from page one of the new season structure brochure

"Muzzleloader:
There will be a 9-day season (weekend opening), opening on the second Saturday in September.
Deer: Limited ES or limited antlered and limited antlerless in some units, all licenses issued by GMU/DAU
Elk: Limited ES or limited antlered and limited antlerless in some units, all licenses issued by GMU/DAU"

Please tell me I am reading this wrong adn I will surely eat some crow or whatever

HeavyC · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:41 am Post subject:

Sorry about that, the first two posts gave me an error messege

exbiologist · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:59 am Post subject:

I forgot about that... I heard the same thing last night, but had dismissed. I hadn't seen the finalized report until just now. Thanks for posting that.
So, in that case we need to point you towards a unit, but will have no idea how many points are required. It's fair to assume 3 will get you nearly any one that you want. Of the now former statewide muzzy tag units, 471 is interesting in that it had a 5 year average success rate of 32%.

exbiologist · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:02 am Post subject:

Wow, check this out boys!!! 3rd rifle is now a 9 day season!!! Wooohooo

Critter · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:08 am Post subject:

The way that I read it everything stays the same.

limited antlered and limited antlerless in some units

Or are they saying that they are doing away with the Statewide bull tags? When they say "in some units" what are they referring to if not the units that have been draw in the past?

The old proc says

"Muzzeloading Elk

Muzzeloading elk licenses are limited, available by drawing for specific units."

Then in the muzzeloading section

"Statewide
Muzzeloading Bull
All units except units xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx?

Nothing like confusing the local hunters.

SoCoKHntr · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:22 am Post subject:

Yeah, I'm thinking Critter is right we still have the statewide muzzleloader tag. Just worded a little differently.

Nine day third season! That's great! I still wish they had a buck season for mid late Nov. when their really rutting. I believe they do in some select units but are few and far between.