Looking for any information from past hunters. First time hunting 55. Looking at fossil ridge and Cumberland gap areas.

Noone

Sorry,I never hunted there.ATV'S, OTC's, and crowds I hear

bring plenty of food and booze, it will be fun camping with everyone else in the U S A hunting will suck but it will be a fun camping trip. Passed through there a few years back going to a draw area . Less traffic on I 70

I had always wanted to check that area out myself. Looks like ponderosa's, pinon, and canyonlands to me.

I'm kinds surprised to hear some of the guys say it's crowded but maybe it is one of those units where they issue a lot of tags.

I think smokepole and Alpincrick are the regulars that are closest to that vicinity. Beanman and Exbiologist are a little further off. If you can get the opinion of one of those guys they might know how to hunt it.

Thanks for the replies. Will have plenty of Moonshine

Would anyone who is familiar with gmu 55 send me private message. I been looking over a topo map

Quite a few elk. Burning the boot leather is the key.

I quit hunting 55 several years ago. Too many hunters and too many ATVs. I don't even go up there to fish anymore.

You are quite right about that. However, there are still a few spots that the hordes don't mess with very much. I go there

More people than I wanted to hunt with, but that's been years ago.

Any info on places around crested butte

Any info on places around crested butte

slingbalde: Here is some... well a lot of information, on the Fossil Ridge Wilderness area near Gunnison from www.summitpost.org. Jon Brafford article credit. Lots of nice photos and a wealth of information. I have never hunted here, but thought this might help you in some ways. HH

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

Thanks

Any information about slaughterhouse gulch?

Slaughterhouse is a popular ATV route.

Our local paper had an article yesterday about the folks in Tin Cup complaining about the traffic and crowds. USFS claims they're going to do something about it.

That's a no

Looking over 55 I have found a place I wanna try question is if I hike 2 miles from nearest road or trail. In pretty steep terrain. Will I be far enough to avoid crowds.

A whole 2 miles hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa

Add 6 more on and you have a chance. 55 is crowded for several miles coming in from anywhere. Just remember it's a real bitch getting an elk out from that distance. Alot of rugged terrain in that unit. I was told by a game manager that they went to a draw for archery and muzzle loader cuz of heavey crowds pushing them so far back in that not enough were getting killed in the rifle season. Plus winters have been later so the migration is later thus even less getting shot in 2nd and 3rd rifle. Just my 2 cents

One other piece of advice, outfitters have drop camps in areas on 55. Some are as far back as 12 miles. There are up to 6 hunters in each camp. So basically if you hike that far in you could be surrounded by hunters who got a horseback ride in aND are living in a wall tent with all the luxuries that you won't have. So make sure there are no outfitters with drop camps in that a area. Sucks to bust your ass walking that far in to find hunters walking out of tent nicely refreshed. Plus the horses come take out anything they shoot why you are ready to pass out from walking with all that weight.

well from google map I have not found area that's 10 miles from a road. Unless these trails I see are closed

Get to the edge of the national forest line and follow a trail 6-10 miles and camp there. Im not about to give the trail we follow over internet. we are 10 miles in based on our travel in,not strait line. that will get you away from most people. Most camp on the national forest boarder and walk a couple of miles in to hunt. Then walk back out.

I not looking for specific information. the place I picked out is 2 miles in straight line over rough terrain. The biologist told me it holds lots of elk but its rough terrain. if you were to hike in from a trail it be 6 to 8 miles and then hike over a mountain. I asked him specifically for a hard to reach place. Thanks man. My first time in 55. I have done tons of research. Looked at atlas. TOPO maps. Google earth.

Give it try. Remember elk go where people are likely not to be. Remote meadows are a great place to check out. Get high above the meadows in the mornings and let them come up through the saddles to you. Good luck

Thanks

Thanks

please disregard this previous post - I was thinking of someplace else.


slingblade, You are going about it the right way. Study the maps and learn whatever you can any way that you can. It sounds like the elk there are pressured and smart. Like anywhere else, look for escape routes, look for saddles on the ridges, look for steep terrain. You seem to have a good grasp of the odds you face and you are doing all the right things to give yourself a chance.

My group left our traditional hunting unit some years ago because they reclassified it as an A-list tag. Since then we have hunted a new unit each of the past 6 years and we always kill a couple. We have to do the exact same thing as you – lots of research up front.

Hunting pressure is not always a bad thing. If you position yourself along a good escape route opening morning you will have a chance. I’m sure elk will be killed in that unit every season somehow or other. Have several plans at your disposal. Be sure to have at least one contingency plan and think about what herd and hunter movement will look like in bad weather vs. in hot dry weather. Opening day strategy should usually be a lot different than the days following.

I think what you are doing is pretty cool. I wish you success.

Anyone who hunted 55 this year did you any elk.

No one killed anything yet

slingblade: http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforu...455988&MESSAGES=227&FF=5#4288845

Lots of elk being taken out WEST by bow hunters, many of these are from Colo, Cazadore and Teetons for sure.

Choose your best bet location and give it a shot. I already offered you a location, it might be crowded, elk will be on the move, as many hunters will be there, and elk will be pushed from other nearby units to your 55 unit. Good Luck ! HH

slingblade Here is a you tube video of Tincup Colo area. Just a look see scenery video, not a hunt video. HH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elj9f8zjIYY

Thanks

See your PM's... flashing envelope, there is a short video of Cumberland Pass and to the Alpine Tunnel. Pretty country at 12,018 ft elev. Have a good hunt slingblade ! HH

Thanks Man. Been busy last few days

It is okay... I understand. See your flashing envelope I sent you a web link for mtn bike trails in Crested Butte area. It shows google Maps of locations and some have Vimeo videos also, pretty cool stuff.

https://14erskiers.com/blog/crested-butte-mountain-bike-guide/

Posted for all the 24 hour campfire members to use. Just read the article for links highlighted with a blue "Click here"
HH

Headed out west Wednesday Morning I got 10 areas identified. I am ready to put boots on ground. I want to thanks everyone for there help. I post pictures and give reports on what I found.

Have a safe trip and a successful hunt slingblade. Looking forward to your success and and photos if available. I think you will see the maps and real time on the mountain have a huge difference. Somehow those close elevation terrain lines don't do justice to those beautiful mountains out West ! : ) Good Luck, HH

Found elk but none were legal. Had a awesome time. Hells half acre is something to see. Looking into 74 75 751 next year any info would be appreciated. Pm me if you want more info. I hunted 10 different areas.