When is the best time to hunt elk in Colorado? Hunter Success Rate: The last 5 years 2nd season harvest has exceeded 50% several times and over 60% in 2017. Before making this choice, however, consider the following. Colorado has a number of elk hunting seasons, which may vary in different Game Management Units (GMU), and may include: OTC tags for bull elk are available for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons. The rule of thumb is, hunt early in the season on higher elevations, and hunt later in the season in the valleys where the elk migrate when the snow pushes them down. Excellent resident elk populations mean lots of opportunities to fill your elk tag on a mature bull. Success rate is a bad metric to trust because it doesn’t tell you the most important thing: who are the hunters that killed elk and how are they hunting? Do not expect to see elk from roads or areas open to OHVs. Guided hunts based on limited draw tags are usually more affordable than those based on guaranteed (OTC or landowner’s) tags, but insist on fully refundable deposit in the case of not drawing a tag. The usual disclaimer is that you should never trust information on the Internet, but always verify with the relevant authorities – in this case, Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Plus you can go 'Premium' and get 5 year stats and access to premium content. Things change, and hunting success depends on too many factors. Learn everything about hunting Colorado Elk Unit 63. So, highest hunter success (with at least 25 bulls harvested) ranged from 31.3% to 12.6%. Elk hunting land for sale borders BLM lands--high success rate Elk are well distributed in all Middle Park units. Overall, success rates for elk hunters in unlimited units in the San Luis Valley are generally lower than the statewide average. Yes, those that pursue public-land elk in over-the-counter units can pretty much hang their hat on the 10 percent or less success rate. Elk are distributed evenly throughout these units. The elk population is holding steady and herds are at objective levels. Safety for Hunters Elk Hunting Location. The elk population is healthy, but success is dependent on the weather in Utah. Should I choose an outfitted, DYI, semi-guided hunt, or  a drop-in camps? Elk hunter harvest success averaged 42%, which is typical for the species. In addition, the best guides either work on private land or know paths less travelled by, so you’ll likely be hunting in areas with less hunting pressure, which universally provides for better hunting experience. It is easy to inadvertently cross the border between public and private land, which may get you in trouble for trespassing, or, if you hunt with a landowner’s tag and get on public land, for illegal hunting. Late Season Cow Elk: December hunts, fully guided with five full days of hunting Using a Guide Wolf Creek Pass overlook. book a colorado hunt. Learn everything about hunting Colorado Elk Unit 71. Up to 10% in the west of the state and up to 15% of the quota in the east can be allocated as landowner tags. Success rate is overrated. In addition, they are good only for the season for which they are issued, i.e. There is a complete breakdown by season of the success rates, number of hunters, elk harvest and recreation days. We featured an article on Colorado big game hunting showing all the season dates for 2019. Other optional Colorado hunts can vary from mountain lion and goat to bighorn sheep. In short, expect it to be a short-range close encounter rather than mountain game-like spot-and-stalk. Learn everything about hunting Colorado Elk Unit 24. In addition, they are good only for the season for which they are issued, i.e. The State of Colorado manages this herd for quantity, therefore the elk are plentiful and active. This outfitter offers hunts on estate-type hunting (high fence) for monster bulls. OTC tags are valid only in OTC units. Elk hunting is good but requires hunters to pursue animals in challenging terrain. Hunt the timber and hunt the Routt National Forest early. Elk are distributed evenly throughout this unit. The highest success rate for bull hunters occurs during first season, but expect hunting pressure there. What units are better for elk hunting in Colorado? The later seasons are usually better, especially on public land, due to snow and hunting pressure pushing the elk out of the adjacent units. Early seasons find elk anywhere from 7500ft to above timberline. Plus you can go 'Premium' and get 5 year stats and access to premium content. “The Scappoose Unit,” Dion continued, “is a strong contender. Because of the high concentration of big game in snowfall, hunters are able to enjoy the very high success rate of 23 percent. Each year Colorado sees more than 375,000 deer, elk and pronghorn hunters. At the end of data collection, 50,874 elk surveys had been completed resulting in a 45 percent overall response rate. But the monarch of Colorado is elk. Big game harvest and survey data. Hunting prospects are good for units 64 and 65. However, relying on the reputation of a unit alone is not the best idea. ! INFO: Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 3. There are actually a number of options for buying elk tags in Colorado without entering in the limited draw. During these seasons you can hunt both deer and elk. Unit 131 CPW Historic 5-Year Average Success Rate: 20%. Yes, you can. These vouchers are valid for GMU’s which are fully limited draw for rifle. Hiring a guide doubles your probability of success. They annually publish brochures with harvest statistics and other information for each unit, and on the website there are contact details for CPW specialists who can provide further information. The large elk herd occupies all available habitat. Our success rate has been 80% over the last 3 years, with bulls averaging 5×5’s or 6×6’s. Our hunting area is in the heart of the largest free-ranging elk herd in the world. Typically, our hunters achieve a success rate of over 50% on 4-point or better bull elk, with the majority of bulls running in the 5- to 6-point range. Colorado is known as our first choice in the top 10 best states for elk hunting review 2020. One has mostly out of shape guys that hunt … Hunters applying for limited tags in Western states have lamented in recent years about preference point creep. This game management unit is located in Upper Yampa. Colorado also offers special unlimited over-the-counter permits for some of the GMU located in the plains. With over 7500 acres of private land to hunt, our success rate for elk, mule deer, & antelope (pronghorn) is almost 100%!! These tags are valid statewide, but not for all units. Horn Fork Guides Book a Hunt Big Game Hunting Licenses Colorado offers many big-game tags, called "limited licenses" and are only available through the annual drawing. A small tidbit: not everyone who goes out hunting for elk is going to get one. All of the big game animals we hunt are free-ranging wildlife. Units 76, 79 and 791 may have the highest overall numbers, with success rates for GMU 76 topping 50% (but this is a limited draw unit). OTC tags are valid only in OTC units. Whether it’s the camaraderie of a group hunt or a solo hunt, you are undoubtedly stoked for this experience! It is a life-threatening condition; please take it seriously! In Colorado, the bugle begins mid-September and typically covers the archery and the first rifle season. Weather is a dominant factor for hunters. However, Colorado outfitters and guides must be licensed. Photo: Chris Amelung. Elk tend to concentrate on the north side of the Douglas Pass during archery season. Elk will move quickly into thick aspen, evergreens and rugged terrain with hunting pressure. The estate elk hunting is priced according to the time of the season you want to hunt. 2018 Colorado Elk Harvest Estimates . Colorado Elk Hunting: Reading the Harvest Stats. It’s located north of Craig, Colorado, which is said to be the world’s elk capital. View Harvest Reports, Draw Odds, Preference Points, Regulations, Elevation, Maps, Vegetation Analysis, really anything pertaining to hunting Elk this fall! Because of the extent of wilderness area in these units, elk find plenty of lush meadows for summer grazing. Plus you can go 'Premium' and get 5 year stats and access to premium content. Overall, success rates for elk hunters in unlimited units in the San Luis Valley are generally lower than the statewide average. At Colorado Elk Outfitter, you can expect a world class elk hunt. For example, if the outfitter hunts the afore-mentioned wintering ground pocket, and gets 9 of 10 of the bulls during the late rifle season, an early season archery hunt with them may have much lower chances of success. Hunting on Public Land vs. These tags may be available to out-of-state hunters, but only directly from the landowners. It has a bull to cow ratio of 1:4, and has a success rate of 41 percent. We break down the data to answer the truth about point creep. When in doubt, contact Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Bear in mind that landowners’ tags are not valid for hunting on public land. The top 25 units ranked by hunter success accounted for 15% of all Bull Elk Harvested for the last three OTC 2nd rifle seasons. Learn everything about hunting Colorado Elk Unit 63. The stratified random sampling resulted in 113,016 elk licenses being selected for the annual harvest survey. Harvest success is better in the later seasons and away from roads, with animals being found near Carpenter Ridge, Buckeye Reservoir, and John Brown Canyon. The top 22 units ranked by hunter success accounted for 43.5% of all Bull Elk Harvested for the OTC 3rd rifle season. GMU in Colorado are divided into “limited”, where you get only draw tags, and OTC units. In other regions, however, it’s the late season hunts that prove more successful. Colorado is out of grizzly habitat range, but other predators, such as mountain lions and black bears, may take an interest in your outdoor activities. Notice the 13 hi-lighted units on both side of Table 2. Licenses are available through landowners via special vouchers. Hunter Education course or field day registration. Which hunt you choose – public land or private, limited draw or OTC, DIY or guided – is totally your choice. may be eligible for a landowner voucher. Good outfitters willingly share such details. We offer guided hunts for archery, muzzle loader and rifle. Imagine this: there are two units that both have a nice 12% success rate. Good cow hunting exists in the higher elevations of this unit. Affordable Colorado hunting rates with a wide variety of hunts available for our clients to take part in. During the day, the bulls will be in dark timber - glass in the early morning and evening. It had a 19% success rate in 2018. Caution is advised. Generally, trophy bulls are rare (a few are taken every year) because bulls are managed for hunter opportunity. View Harvest Reports, Draw Odds, Preference Points, Regulations, Elevation, Maps, Vegetation Analysis, really anything pertaining to hunting Elk this fall! The reason for that is simple; you’ll hunt on some of the best hunting ground in Colorado. Large elk numbers occur on the Routt National Forest. Harvest data for bucks, bulls & once-in-a-lifetime species. If you’re planning a camping trip, bear in mind that camping may be restricted.