Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting General Advice near Fort Collins CO

Hey guys,

I am currently in Vicksburg, MS and am moving to Fort Collins to do work with Colorado State for a year in August. I have been hunting whitetail, wild hogs, rabbit, squirrel, alligator, turkey, etc for years but not elk. I had actually already planned my first elk hunt for this upcoming season down in Unit 54 but am now looking to hunt closer to Fort Collins as I won't be able to take enough to go hunt in 54.

I will be busy a lot during the weeks with work and I love to bow hunt so figured I would hunt the archery season to be out there as much as I can and hopefully get to hear them buggling. I get excited just thinking about it. I know it doesn't give me the best odds as far as units to hunt but I am looking at trying to draw the E-E-007-O1-A tag, units 7, 8, 9, 19, 191, due to proximity. It also is an either sex tag and as much as I would like to kill a bull, I would be just as happy with a cow.

Like I said I won't be there until August, but I plan on putting down as much boot leather as my wife and two little boys will let me before September. With that said, this is my first elk hunt and first time to that area of Colorado so any info about the area, elk hunting, or life up there in general would be greatly appreciated. Please just PM me and we can talk over PM, email, text or phone. I can promise you will find out I have already done a lot of homework on elk hunting and the area in general.

Thanks for any help in advance and if not God Bless and happy hunting.

I guess that it's too late to warn you that's it's far too close to Denver,the capitol of the Colorado socialist movement. On a lighter note, I can't help you with the hunting but do wish you the best! memtb

Yeah, not so crazy about that aspect of it but plan on spending the as much time as I can out in the wilderness to counteract that. Thanks man.

I don't know the zone numbers off hand but the upper reaches of Poudre Canyon have some good Elk.
Hard country to hunt, but I've seen some good bulls there.
Be glad to help you out learning the country if you wish.

What are you doing for CSU? Fred.judsoncolostate.edu

Something on the edge of RMNP. I'd look on the west edge. This is only based on my drive thru the park a couple a years ago during the elk rut. Units 18, 19, 171, etc.

I spent some time (but not enough) hunting 3rd season in GMU 19. Saw some deer but no elk, although I did see several kills from earlier - either archery or muzzleloader - so they're out there. My wife and I also went backpacking into the Comanche Peak wilderness in September and the bulls were bugling then up around Brown's Lake.

I plan to hunt 19 again this year as I accumulate points (and vacation time), and am also hoping to get a deer tag this time also.

If there's one thing I learned last season it's that you need to be prepared to cover a lot of ground efficiently to even get into elk. I probably spend too much time trying to hunt empty country.

Chris

Tracks: I sent you a PM
Beanman: I sent you a PM
MuskegMan: Thanks for the input
Washougal_Chris: I sent you a PM

Thanks for all the input guys.

I used to hunt these units a lot, and Tracks has given you good advise. There are better units to hunt, but one can be into elk every day once they learn the country.

Lace up your boots, and you'll have a decent shot at shooting an elk... and perhaps a large bull... there's a few in there

Thanks ELKiller. I bought some Kenetrek's that I am breaking in just to do that.

Can't wait to just get up there and get out and explore.

It's beautiful country. Two more things:

Don't forget your fly rod for catching brook trout

Don't forget your camera for taking pictures of the moose.

(PS - if you'll be applying as a non-resident, you might look into drawing a cow moose license as well. Many of the non-resident moose tags are actually pretty easy to draw in Colorado... and there's a pile of 'em in that country. Tags are expensive, though)

ELKiller sending you a PM

Just kind of an update on choices. After creating every kind of digital map, plotting trails, and every other type of research I could do for those units I have decided to change to the North Park area. Stats aren't that much better but it does allow me to do an OTC either sex archery tag instead of using my preference point for the draw. That way I can keep building up for a better hunt in a couple of years. Thank you guys on the input so far and any other info on elk hunting in general or the North Park area would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Go west out of Walden on RD 12, it goes between Delaney Butte Lakes and Lake John. Turn off to the left on Rd 16 and follow that until it gets to where trail 1126 crosses the road.That is along Lone Pine Creek.

Follow Tr 1126 to where TR 1128 turns off to the left. Head up towards Bear lake and Ute Pass on Tr 1128.That canyon is pretty steep on both sides,but it eventually starts to level out when you get up there 2 &1/2 miles or so

I have family in Ft Collins. The Cache le Poudre area is amazing country and Estes Park is an awesome place to go. I'm envious!

Saddlesore: Plan on scouting as much as I can and will definitely have to give that area a look over. Thanks for the advice. That will be another place I can get out and explore.

moosemike: Definitely am looking forward to exploring some up that canyon and riding through Estes Park to see all the elk. Can't wait