Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Any advice for Colorado unit 55 2nd season elk

Coming to Colorado unit 55 from Southwestern PA for my first DIY elk hunt for the 2016 2nd rifle season any tips for the area would be greatly appreciated made a trip out to camp and scout in may for 5 days drove Taylor pass and parked first day by Taylor lake and did some looking around the area but located no elk I know patterns will change buy the time hunting season arrives did see 4 cows on Tincup pass on day 3 questions I would like to ask are. 1. What is the weather like in late October. 2. What are some good areas to look at in unit 55. 3. What are some items that you would consider must have gear. 4. How many hunters in this unit for 2nd season. 5. Will calls help any during this time of year.

I'll go backwards answering your quetions

5. No not really, doesn't hurt to have a cow call with you while moving around the woods making noise, but not a requirement.

4. Lots. It is a popular OTC unit, you will not be alone.

3. Warm and cold, wet and dry gear. GPS with altimeter. If you have to search for elk, mark your elevation when you find fresh sign. Go around the mountain near that elevation, so if you can't find more signs to figure out where they are going for feed/bedding

2. Always hard to tell, but if you see nothing near Taylor try moving SE towards the 551 border. I think more of the pressure ends up being around Taylor or closer towards Crested Butte.

1. Never can tell. It can still be rather warm, like long pats.long t hunting with a light jacket or vest in the morning. Or, it can be a foot of snow and freezing temps. Just the way it is up there. Be ready for everything.

Be aware that the elk seasons are a week later than usual this year,so a little or a lot of snow could happen

Make sure you have chains for your vehicle in case it gets nasty. I always carry 2 sets so I can chain all four wheels. Have only needed them a couple of times but sure were handy.

fecole30: Hello ! Here is some information from summitpost.org/ on Fossil Ridge Wilderness area, which is 8 miles south of Taylor Park Reservior.

Lot of good photos and a wealth of information on terrain, hopefully this might help you see terrain since you have never hunted here before. Good Luck ! Mile high shooter has given you some good info also. Article credit Jon Bradford.

http://www.summitpost.org/square-top-mountain-fossil-ridge-wild/154442



HH in Pa

Be prepared for winter weather. Single digits with snow is not unusual. Leaves are already dropping at my house.

I'm from NEPA and also going out to gmu 55. It's my 4th trip there and I do a DIY hunt in 3rd season. This year will be 2nd week. I'm 3 for 3 on bulls ,my son went one year and got a bull and my 2 cousins are 6 for 8 on bulls. My best info for you is get a good pack rated at 200lbs. Buy all very lite gear and pack lite as possible. Park at edge of national forest and hike at least 10 gps miles back in. Set up camp and hunt from there. Keep in mind it will take 2 or 3 trips to get elk and gear out so get in shape. We have no problem seeing bulls but it's not easy packing them out. Good luck

Heck lets all just load up and head for 55 this year!! hahahahaha. too much traffic for me gave that one up years ago

Funny the only hunters we see are when we park and the first couple miles of the hike. When we come out with bulls we always get quizzed on where we were. Simple honest answer ,10 miles in and hunt from there. Getting a bull out from that distance is alot of work. Taking meat off the bone is a must. Just got back from a successful ram hunt in alaska, that is alot harder then how we hunt in Colorado.

congrats on the Alaska ram yep used to do the same up in 55 went up Texas creek as far as possible then started hiking from there 66 y o and bum knees those days are gone for me!!!!! Good luck!!! Enjoy while you can

Thanks Mohchick . I don't have to many years left of that kind of hunting . The scenery is awesome in the area your talking about.love hunting the back country ,but the numerous trips out with all the Weight are physically and mentally exhausting. I might start looking into an outfitter for some help otherwise my hunts are limited. I think you'll love a kodiak deer hunt. NoT that expensive, you'll see 50 deer a day and the territory isn't that hard to hunt. Plus lots of brown bear to keep you entertained.

Yep my s i l's Idaho moose hunt, that I went and filmed was the last pack out for me. Right knee never recovered.

Nice, congrats1 Any photos?

Story on alaska super site forum. Under brwnbr -jake Jefferson ram hunt. It was a gift hunt for my son

Thanks Everyone for the information