I hunted Area 161 near Pearl for three years. There are very few Elk up there but while I have not hunted during bow season, others up there tell me it is the best of the Elk seasons. Out of Pearl, take CO Rd 6A toward Big Creek Lake and Mt Zirkel. Do not go to the lake. CO Rd 6A becomes Co 3. Go 1.5 miles to the top of the hill there. You can park your truck on the right side, there are two small roads that you can park on, but you can not drive on them past just getting off the road. Follow that road into the woods about 3/4 mile and you will come to a large area of Dark Timber.( Now dead from the pine beetle.) Follow that for a couple hundred yards to the North and you will go down a hill and to three small lakes, about three to four acres each. That is the only area I found small concentrations of Elk in. BTW the success rates for all of 161 is around 9%. I hope this helps, but if it were me, I would try closer to Rifle in an area that does not require a draw. Good Luck.
