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Drew my first tag this year in unit 54 for archery elk. Never hunted in Colorado before, was looking if anyone had any pointers or advice. Not looking for any secret spots just some help to get started. Thank you in advanced

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Get your ass in shape. There's not much air up there, and the mountains will kick your ass.


Originally Posted by Mannlicher
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Check your PM's


If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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I've heard it's some pretty rough country and we have been working out and preparing as best we can. We will see how good of shape we are once we get there haha

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Go in MIll Creek road #720 I think go all the way to the end, start walking west. Don't be depressed after the first days climb you are almost 1/2 way up there !!!!!!!!!!

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The road is fairly decent to the Mill Creek Trailhead and you can drive another mile or two with a 4wd ,but probably can't drag a trailer.

Then you hoof it another 2 miles to the end of that canyon and start to climb. At that point, it's pretty much straight up except where the trail snakes up that canyon.

I rode my mule up there last year scouting and was not impressed.

Probably a lot of camps along that 4wd road.


If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Kkale: Here is a link to the Elk mountains in central Colorado from www.summitpost.org/. You will be more interested in the West Elk Mountains that will be in Unit 54 & Unit 53 in the West Elk Wilderness area.

http://www.summitpost.org/elk-mountains/171580#chapter_9 Lots of info here ! *article & photo credit kane and summit post contributors

http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=236137&confirm_post=12 *photo credit to Kane

Photos looking into the upper portion of the West Elk Wilderness. Mt Gunnison on the left, the backside of East and West Beckwiths on the right, and Haystack Mtn area in the foreground from Storm Ridge. Most of what you see is in Unit 53 and a small portion is in Unit 54.

The first link is the Wet Elk Wilderness portion. Reading what is before the West Elk Wilderness portion and after is also interesting and enlightening with good photos.

As previously mentioned Mill Creek Rd is 727 Rd, it is midway up Ohio Pass Rd 730 Rd. You will drive approx 4 miles back in on that road before being near one of the West Wilderness boundary area. There are several pack trails off Mill Creek Rd into the Wilderness, ***very long pack trails. Walking these pack trails is quite a long journey over steep terrain or deep creek valleys. *** Be warned, and especially trying to pack out a elk from the Wilderness.

You access Ohio Pass Rd off Rt 135 a few miles (approx 3 miles) out of Gunnison headed N towards Crested Butte.

Mill Creek Rd is one access point into Unit 54, Swampy Pass Rd see TR 439 a pack trail off Ohio Pass Rd above the Mill Creek Rd entrance a ways ( 8 miles), is another access point into Unit 54. And west of Gunnison on RT 50 take FR 724 through the Saperino State Wildlife Area to Rainbow Lake is another access point into Unit 54 and the West Elk Wilderness.

There are also Pack trails up West Elk Creek, Coal Creek, Cow Creek and Soap Creek from Rainbow Lake & Blue Mesa Reservior. See Pg 57 & 58 in the Colorado Atlas & Gazetteer. I highly recommend buying that Colorado Atlas.

I would have a 4x4 vehicle for access on all these roads. There will be long hikes beyond the 4x4 trail's end at the Wilderness boundary trailheads to get further into the Wilderness. As mentioned this is rugged country, be in shape. Mtn elevations here are 9,000 ft to 13,000 ft.

This is best hunted using mules and horses. Quads and bikes are not allowed in the designated Wilderness.

Summit Post is a hiking mtn climbing website, but much of the info here will help you with terrain knowledge and access.
See the boundary limits for Unit 54 in the Colorado Big game regulation booklet. RT 135 is the eastern boundary for Unit 54.

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=38.73927,-107.13648&z=12&t=T A topo map link for the Unit 54 area in the West Elk Wilderness, take time to learn to use this mapper system. Sorry I can't get a live web link : https://mapper.acme.com/ try this and move to West Elk Wilderness Colorado area.

Hope this helps you and best of luck. Hungry Horse

Last edited by Hungry Horse; 08/16/16. Reason: many edits, Mapper links added
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Tenderfoot Outfitters operates out of the Swampy Pass trail head,so that can get a little crowded.Plus that is one of the main gathering points for the rancher that has a grazing lease in that entire area. A person might run into more than a few cows there


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Saddlesore: I am not the OP, but I am always thankful for the local knowledge of the area that you offer. I know you and KC are one of the elk hunting guru's of the area, and offer good advice. Thank you, HH

Last edited by Hungry Horse; 08/16/16.
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Kkale: A web link with trailheads and pack trails in the West Elk Wilderness

http://www.coloradoswildareas.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WestElkTrailheads_map.jpg
Click on the map to enlarge

Use this in conjunction with a good mapper system. HH

Last edited by Hungry Horse; 08/18/16.
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Originally Posted by Hungry Horse
Kkale: A web link with trailheads and pack trails in the West Elk Wilderness

http://www.coloradoswildareas.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WestElkTrailheads_map.jpg
Click on the map to enlarge

Use this in conjunction with a good mapper system. HH

They really left out a lot of trailheads. In addition to those indicated on that map you can access unit 54 from the following trailheads:
Horse Ranch Park Trailhead
Lost Lake Trailhead
Swampy Pass Trailhead
Beaver Ponds Trailhead
Mill-Castle Trailhead is actually three separate trailheads(Lowline Trail, Mill Creek Trail, Little Mill Creek Trail)
Zigzag Trailhead
April Gulch Trailhead
Beaver Creek Trailhead
Sun Park Trailhead
East Elk Creek Trailhead
Lion Gulch Trailhead
Coal Creek Trailhead
Big Soap Park (several trails start there)
Curecanti Creek Trailhead

There are additional access points on the west side of the West Elk Wilderness but they're not in unit 54.

KC


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KC: Thank you. Excellent listing of access points and pack trails. I am not the OP, but I definitely was not aware of all these, many of them, but not all you listed.
If you enlarge that map by clicking on it, you can see many of the access points aka pack trails you mention.
I was just hoping to show Kkale some access points to help him, since he said he has never hunted Colorado before, when I found this access map. I have sent him additional info in PM's, but he has not read them yet. Not sure why ?

Saddle sore and yourself are great contributors to the Colorado elk hunters questions. I found a thread from 2012 where you contributed a lot of info, thank you both for all you have offered over the years. HH

Last edited by Hungry Horse; 08/19/16.
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Kkale Some photos as you drive up Mill Creek Rd Rd 727

http://www.edarnell.com/Trails/page34.html ClicK the link, photo credit Ed Arnell


Ohio Peak at the upper end of Ohio Pass 730 Rd above Swampy Pass trail head road Tr 438 Tr 439
https://adventurequickies.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/img_3908.jpg photo credit Ashley Upchurch-Kreykes

KKale please see the flashing red arrow when you log in as you have several PM's from me

HH

Last edited by Hungry Horse; 08/20/16.
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KKale: here is a link to summit post gallery 14 photos to see the Anthracite mtn range along Ohio Pass Rd.

http://www.summitpost.org/anthracite-range-ohio-peak/images/p-153635

Read the paragraph under/about Storm Ridge about the elk and where Kane names many high pass locations or mountains in the area. * Bingo !!! Many of those places are in Unit 53 not unit 54.

http://www.summitpost.org/storm-ridge/236080


HH



Last edited by Hungry Horse; 08/24/16.
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Kkale: here is a link to Lost lake campground off Kebler Pass Rd on FR 706 at the base of East Beckwith mtn

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gmug/home/?cid=STELPRDB5368213

The link will show nice photos, a detailed description and directions to it.

HH

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Kkale: Here is a link to the Blue Mesa Reservior with photos and information Double click the photos to enlarge them

http://www.sangres.com/colorado/scenic-byways/westelk-bluemesareservoir.htm#.V76jBeTr3v9

If you go to a Google page, Chose images, type in the search block: Unit 53 or Unit 54 Colorado elk hunting areas, you would be amazed at the info available. Vary your title to find specific photos interest, then click on go to webpage. That is how I found a lot of this information.

http://www.sangres.com/colorado/ offers a lot of info

HH

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Kkale: A link to a article: 5 Tips for beginning elk hunters.

https://coloradooutdoorsmag.com/2014/09/19/five-tips-for-beginning-elk-hunters/.

HH


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Kkale: A web link to Unit 54 % hunter success, numbers killed in each season bull & cow, Archery Muzzleloader 1st rifle 2nd rifle 3rd rifle 4th rifle and for several years. 2012-2015

http://www.toprut.com/hunt/colorado-elk-unit-54/

Hope all this information helps you, and you folks harvest some elk.

HH





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Damn good thread.


"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
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A lot of good info,however,what has not been said is very early in the season, maybe even starting in archery and muzzle loader or the 1st few days of 1st rifle, most of the elk in those eastern drainages head for the Castleton ranch along Ohio creek and the Ohio creek road.

In 2015, coming out the end of the 2nd rifle season,we stopped counting at 300 head of elk in the hay fields along the road.In 2014,there were over 500 head.

Talking to the CPW guy there,they have had some problems with guys hunting the fence along the west boundary of that ranch. They get there by going in thru the Mill Creek trail head. The CPW claims there is no way they can harass those elk back onto NF land

That is why Tenderfoot Outfitters has had such poor success rates,according to Fred Stinson ,owner of Tenderfoot.


If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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