Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Colorado GMU 54

Going Elk hunting for the first time in Colorado this year 3rd rifle season in GMU 54. Looking for any intel on the area. Not looking for trophies, just want to fill the freezer so anything will help.

Thanks

Soap Basin on the west side seems to be the most popular. On the east side,you need to get in aways into the West Elk Wilderness, and although you don't HAVE to have horses, they sure help.

Expect snow the 3rd season. I usually get it in 2nd. Most outfitters clear out before the 3rd season because of the snow.Every year is different

Appriciate it. Are the Elk really going to be hanging out at 10,000 feet around 3rd rifle? I was expecting them to push down to the lower elevations in the south by then. I was looking around Dillon Mesa and West Elk creek just North of one of the finger of Blue Mesa lake.

Really hard to say where they will be.If deep snows, yes they will work lower. I have seen them pushed back higher if there is a lot of hunter pressure.

I'd be concentrating at 8500 ft or so and be mobile.

wshep820:

There are always elk in the West Elk Creek gorge. Look for them on the shoulders of the canyon half way between the rim and the bottom, upstream from the Lion Gulch trail. But you better be in good shape if you get an elk down because it's a tough haul to get them out.

I don't think you'll see many on Dillon Mesa unless there's a ton of snow.

KC

The day we got there:


3 or 4 days later:


Hope for the best but PLAN for the worst. I have never seen it snow so much so fast. This is at the truck/trailhead. Snow was nearly waist deep at 10k feet.

You need to be prepared for winter camping conditions.

It snowed a foot on Saturday, opening day of 3rd season last year (2011). The weather was relatively mild during 4th season. This photo was taken on Sunday morning.




The previous year (2010), it snowed a foot at the trailhead during second season (see Gristle's photos) and 3rd season was relatively mild.

KC

Thanks, wasn't planing on hunting on the mesa just to the West down along W Elk Creek. Sounds like I may have picked an ok spot.

Is there acces to the South? Looks like a dirt road comes into the area just North of the lake on the map but you never can be to sure with maps if the road is open or not.

wshep820:

Any way that you go you have to hike some if you want to camp in the canyon. You can rent horses from Ferros Blue Mesa Trading Post, which is located on the west shore of Blue Mesa Lake.

Southern Access: The best access from the south is the Lion Gulch trail. Or you can use the road that you see on the US Forest Service map but you have to be careful that you stay off of private property (you have to hug the shoreline) and it ends a few miles south of where the Lion Gulch trail crosses West Elk Creek. There's an old trail that starts at the end of the road and follows an abandoned irrigation ditch that eventually connects with the Lion Gulch Trail. North of that point follow the old logging road, which is mostly over-grown and hard to find. There are many picturesque camp spots in the bottom of the canyon. You hike about half way up the canyon wall each day and hunt from vantage points there. The best thing about this strategy is that you can hunt both sides of the canyon and carry your elk down to camp where you have horses waiting. But keep in mind that there are many places where the canyon walls are vertical and climbable only with technical gear. Some of the side gullies end in box canyons at trickling waterfalls. So you have to learn the canyon and pick the best routes to scramble up.

Northern Access: You can hike the trail that starts at the Rainbow Lake Trailhead (USFS trail 449 & 451), cross the creek, and camp in Buck Hollow. You can also hike down into the canyon from Buck Hollow. You can't follow the creek down from the trail crossing because there's a cascade between the trail crossing and Buck Hollow that blocks progress. Or you can drive to the end of the Red Creek road and connect cross-country to the same trail and save yourself about a mile of hiking. This allows you to hunt the west shoulders of the canyon down to about Bonfisk Peak. There's one short stretch of the trail (USFS trail 451) that could be touch and go for the horses. So I've never taken horses along that part of the trail. I've seen more experienced horsemen do it though.

It's also viable to hunt the canyon shoulders from any of several good camp spots right on top of the east rim. You can drive a 4x4 pickup to some of them or take a short hike (less than a mile) or take an ATV to the others. Each day you will scramble half way down the canyon walls and hunt from vantage points there. This is the easiest way to hunt the West Elk Creek gorge. The dissadvantage of this strategy is that you have to carry your field butchered elk uphill in a backpack. You better be young and strong and in good shape if you're going to do that.

There's a big outfitters camp at Rock Springs and they pretty much dominate the west rim south of Bonfisk Peak.

KC

About 25 years ago I horseback hunted 3rd season in that area on both sides of Red Creek Road with a group of guys from here who had grown up in Gunnison and Pitkin. Usually worked up Bull Gulch over across Red Creek and down off Dillon Mesa, past the Needles to meet a trailer at the parking lot by the bridge. About half way up Red Creek Road there was a trail they called Lions Head trail that coursed over a saddle and dropped into West Elk canyon. Don said he had ridden that trail down to the bottom one summer and had no interest in trying it during the winter. His wording was that his ol butt would be sucking blisters on the saddle before he got down that trail.
One day there were some guys who had got onto some elk on top but the elk had bailed off the edge before going down and they couldn't get them out. A local cowboy was charging them $500 apiece to pack them up that hill on his mules. Would hate to see what the rate is these days!

Thanks KC you have been very generous with the intel.

I am in good shape, but looking at the map and seeing what everyone is writing about the area good won't cut it. Sounds like a lot of trips back to the truck.

I'm planning on a couple of scouting trips this summer and fall to get a good feel for the area. Thanks for the heads up about the cliffs, maybe I'll get a little climbing in too.

Now, here's hoping the Elk cooperate and show up for the festivities.

I'll be hunting 2nd in 54 this year for the first time. I spent the last 18 years hunting late seasons (3 then 4 when it was created) a bit east in 551. Rugger terrain for sure, but I think 54 is going to be a bit of an eye opener! I'm taking a group of out of state guys from another hunting forum who would likely never have the chance to hunt elk in CO otherwise. Came to the decision to hunt 54 based on the tag situation...it was a group decision, I pushed very heavily for 551 due to knowing the area but hey, that is democracy for you! They also opted for 2nd due to cold weather, again after ignoring me saying there could be 5ft of snow or 70 degrees...but again, I digress.

For you guys that have hunted it before, especially recently in 2nd or 3rd, what were the crowds like? That is one thing I relished about where I normally hunt, not many people in their right mind choose 551 in the middle of November, its damn cold that close to Monarch LOL.

Different areas have differnt pressure,but if you are on foot,be prepared for a lot of orange.

Well I'm hoping we can find a good place to camp via 4x4's and then hunt deeper from there. Sounds like someone might have to show up on the last day of 1st season though to claim a camping spot if there is that much pressure.

MIleHigh:

There are lots of good camping spots so that's not really a problem. What saddlesore is talking about is that any area within day-hiking distance of a trailhead or road will have lots of pressure. So you have to pack in on horses or backpack in, to get away from the crowds.

KC

MileHigh - I'll be hunting 551 for muzzle loader this year. 1st time to hunt the unit and I would appreciate any tips you've got.

Here's what I know about 54. Lots of access on the southern end. Black Mesa, Soap Creek, Red Creek, Rainbow Lake, Centennial, Beaver Creek. East side has Wiley Lane and Mill Creek, north side Swampy Pass. Elk will head for private ground along Ohio Creek on the east side. I would set up camp off Wiley Lane and try to catch something moving through. Weather will be a factor. Expect snow and cold temps, below zero is common.

Thanks Waygoner! In trade, I'll gladly give some 551 tips lol. You have any ideas yet on where you will be hunting? I am most familiar with the S and E side of the unit. Specifically off the Marshall Pass area, Long Branch, and Long Branch to Needles Creek. A BIT familiar with Daley Gulch, but not tremendously. Some parts of the Marshall/Indian creek area I can almost guide you rock by rock haha

My 1st thought is to hunt the south end off 114, close to North Pass, but I'm open to suggestions.

If you've got the legs, I've seen some very nice bulls back in Long Branch, always when I have a cow tag of course haha. There is a big ridge that divides Marshall Creek and Long Branch Creek but you can only access it from the LB side. I like to start up from the ranger station that is about halfway between Sargents and the end of the road. There is a trail that starts out from where you park going East. Get up on that and then work your way due south on either side of the ridgeline and there is a lot of good elk habitat. Lots of those nice hidden meadows with some water. Go figure I have hardly ever seen people back there, they always hunt Long Branch and west, or they hunt Marshal and east.

Thanks MileHighShooter, I know the ridge and where the ranger station is. I'll get out there and do some scouting.