|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293 |
The area I'm hunting in does not have an either sex hunt. So I'm not sure what tag to get. I'm leaning towards cow because their's more of them but the area does have some decent bulls just not as many. This is a first for me. What do you all suggest?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453 |
First hunt? Get the cow tag.
Where are you going?
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.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293 |
Gunnison W.elk wilderness. Why cow elk?
Last edited by Ziggy; 03/02/15.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,131 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,131 Likes: 6 |
Because if you get a cow tag you're sure to see many large bulls.
Seriously though, the cow tag is a good bit cheaper, but if you'd be happier with a bull, get a bull tag. If you'd be happy with any elk, you've got better odds with a cow.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293 |
Yeah I thnk that's good advice. I'm mostly after the meat. Bull elk next year. Seeing a bull and having a cow tag is the way my luck runs your right about that.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,422 Likes: 13
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,422 Likes: 13 |
Meat or antlers? I've shot a lot of both and on the average, the cows are more tender and better eating.
βIn a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.β β George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,098 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,098 Likes: 3 |
It's good to get your trigger finger used learning to hunt elk if you have not been successful before. Cows are all I hunt anymore unless I happen o get an either sex tag
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,562 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,562 Likes: 2 |
Meat or antlers? I've shot a lot of both and on the average, the cows are more tender and better eating. I love the flavor of Elk, and I don't care what any one else says, All the Bulls I've eaten, were "chewey" You want good meat? A Cow tips the odds in your favor.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
since there are more cows that is what we did. Can't eat the antlers anyway.
of course we saw mostly bulls and few cows, but just were not in the right place at the right time.
Personally I"ve become quite conscious of quality management and simply can't bring myself to shoot a couple year old small 4 or 5 point raghorn just to say I did. I don't have that mentality.
I'll get a bull tag for shooting one for the wall one of these days. If I get around to it. As long as cow tags are available and even if they were same cost as a bull, i'd be looking for the cows.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 330
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 330 |
I'll weigh in by recommending a cow. Never had a bad one, and they have all been better than bulls, even spikes. And a mature cow produces more meat than a spike. You are virtually guaranteed to see a big bull you can do noting but look at if you have a cow tag. Enjoy the trip and learn about elk.
Good hunting.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,681
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,681 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,765
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,765 |
Unit 54 or 53? I'd go for the cow tag.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293 |
Sounds good cow tag it is.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,975 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,975 Likes: 1 |
Gunnison W.elk wilderness. Why cow elk? ZiggY: Check page 43 of the 2015 Colorado Big Game hunting brochure. There are either-sex tags offered in every season in unit 54. I think that's the best option for a nonresident. KC
Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293 |
I'm not familiar with 54, all of my scouting was done in 53. All of my maps are of exact locations in 53. I've researched 53 for along time, their was not much else to do until I could finally manage the hunt. What can you tell me about 54? I picked 53 because I was given exact game crossings and started scouting from there. I took off 1wk last yr to check it out. In 54 I was givin large drainges as a starting point but the locations were not exact and required more time to scout.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,098 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,098 Likes: 3 |
I have seen more nice bulls come out of 53 than 54. Specifically the northeastern quadrant going in over Bechwith pass. Last year a young fellow took a bull that was at least 380. During the early hunts and at least about 1/2 away into the 1st rifle season, the better bulls usually get pushed back into 53 and the cows head for the bottom land hay fields on private land. There is a reason that there are so many cow tags left for muzzleloader season.
I don't think anyone is going to give out specific locations of their honey holes. Especially on a forum with 30K-40K members.
I have been hunting 54 for 20 years on and off and I still don't have any, what some would call honey holes. Every elk I have killed in that unit has come hard . If someone believes cows are a sure thing hunt, they haven't hunted in 54 very often.
Last edited by saddlesore; 03/03/15.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
While I think there sure can be honey holes, as nomadic as elk are, I just don't think its nearly the same as a trail crossing for white tails.
Elk just seem to do whatever and for no reason at all typically... obviously they have their reasons, but nothing firm enough to form a set pattern, other than elk have always, for us, been where you find them. And that means about nothing really.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 10
New Member
|
New Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 10 |
with 54 you'll be doing a lot of hiking, but this is what it's all about. TONS of good areas in there, with a nice herd. I live in Crested Butte, so I know the area pretty well, beautiful country. I would say either tags with a cow tag as backup. As far as the area to hunt, weather will be your determining factor.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453 |
Has Ziggy said what season he's considering yet?
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.
|
|
|
|
544 members (007FJ, 1Akshooter, 10ring1, 10gaugemag, 12344mag, 160user, 63 invisible),
2,440
guests, and
1,346
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,193,046
Posts18,500,875
Members73,987
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|