Colorado elk rifle season 2016

The previous version had the proposed dates before the final commission meeting. I have a bull elk tag for the first rifle season in unit 54. Hunting elk in the early rifle season pure hunting. Eichler of easton bowhunting tv took down this elk in colorado. Deer is a draw and can only be hunted 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons only. Most of the blm land is landlocked by our private land. This is my first season rifle hunting elk in northern colorado and im trying to figure out if theres any benefit in carrying calls during rifle season. The otc hunts are great because you can save up points each year for unit 61 but still chase elk in the colorado high country of unit 62 every year in the meantime. With the first rifle season following the archery and muzzleoader season, hunters have a very good chance of harvesting a trophy bugling bull elk. Warm weather hampers elk, deer hunting season in colorado.

We may be tagging along with a more experienced hunter but that is not a certainty. Best elk hunting season colorado elk hunting colorado. After locating a big herd bull, eastman comes up with a plan to take advantage of an unusually hot fall elk hunting season. One month after dougs left knee replacement he was determined to go on this elk hunt knowing that. As conditions deteriorate in their summer range, the elk and deer herd up and begin to migrate towards their winter concentration areas. These seasons are also the longest seasons which makes sense if youre coming from outside of colorado. Affordable colorado mule deer, bull elk, cow elk hunting. For information on how to obtain season licenses for harvest, visit the colorado parks and wildlife website. Fourth season deer and elk historical and future season dates. We hunted season 3 of the colorado rifle season and booked one of. Otc bull elk licenses antlerless cow elk licenses available through the draw, or as leftover licenses. I know the locals take the 3rd and 4th because the elk leave the high country. Elk have been hunted for a month in archery season, nine days in muzzleloader season, and five days in the 1st rifle season that just ended a couple days prior to this season. Our private ranches have been producing many trophy bulls in the 300 to 350.

Plains deer east of i25, except unit 140 dec 15 dec 31. The weather can make the season, so if conditions are cool and you get that 1st snow it can be great there is less pressure in that seasonless than archery,2nd rifle not sure about 3rd or 4th. This extremely warm weather has the bull elk in deep holes, as to be expected with postrut and late season public land elk. Many out of state hunters want to hunt the over the counter bull elk hunting seasons which are 2nd and 3rd rifle season. As for the rifle seasons, the otc rifle tags are good for the 2nd or 3rd rifle seasons. In 2016, gmu 24 had 166 hunters harvest a total of 19 elk 7 bulls in 642 days of. Additionally, colorado hunting seasons include several regional and special permit hunt times. This also puts the elk and deer season concurrent with the existing archery bear season. The first rifle season is a draw hunt that starts a few weeks after the archery. Doug crookston colorado, 2016 late season bull elk hunt.

Im still on the fence on whether to do colorado 1st rifle elk or muzzy elk. He used a montana decoy to seal the deal on this bull. Ive done a little bow hunting and know that during the rut calling to be beneficial, but later in the season, third or fourth, rifle is there any benefit in. Colorado elk hunting 756 county road 519, fraser, colorado 80442 rated 4. Hunting elk in colorado requires patience and a keen eye. Colorado is in the midst of second rifle season through sunday, during which mule deer and elk are open game to hunters with a valid license and tag in. Each one of these seasons has their unique advantages and disadvantages, no season is a bad season and we have been successful during all these seasons. First rifle season is fully limited and elk only, so this season offers the least crowded hunting option for elk hunters.

This can possibly be the most difficult time to hunt elk in colorado. There are four rifle seasons in colorado that we guide during. I was planning on entering from the rainbow lake trail head which seems to be very popular and thinking of having a base camp somewhere between south baldy and storm pass. Hunt elk in colorado with overthecounter elk tags in 2020. Archery high country rifle muzzleloader 1st season rifle elk 2nd season rifle 3rd season rifle 4th season rifle note.

Unit 62 is an overthecounter otc unit for bull elk for archery season, as well as 2 nd and 3 rd rifle. In 2016, 223,745 archery and rifle hunters bought elk licenses and harvested 39,306 elk for an 18 percent success rate. The archery season runs september 2nd thru the 30th. After researching lots of information and using gohunt insider, we decided to apply for 1st rifle season 17 oct 2018, gmu 4, colorado. Big game hunting photos timberline wyoming big game. The unit im looking at has similar draw odds between the two hunts but the success rate changes quite a bit with obviously 1st rifle being higher. During the third rifle season we were able to join outfitter scott gesell of beaver creek outfitters on what turned out to be a most memorable colorado elk hunt. My brother and i are planning a co archery elk hunt. Colorado hunting seasons, 20182019 hunting season hq. For 2020 through 2026, colorados 4th season is still a 5day season that opens on a wednesday. Elk hunting unit 76 colorado 76 is a fantastic unit, if you have the points.

Elk numbers are probably better in colorado as compared to the other states that i mentioned. A plains rifle season east of i25 is also available from september all through january of the following year. After many years of keeping the same season structure, colorado parks and wildlife has made some changes to the season dates. The total consisted of 19,997 bulls and 17,415 cows. Old information has been crossed out to avoid confusion and to provide context.

I begin the trek and the first hour isnt bad but im racing the clock because i know i dont want to setup camp in the dark. Plains deer east of i25, except unit 140 nov 4 nov 30. Ive yet to observe the annual migration it was delayed by warm fall weather in 2016 and 2017, but i think its normally a fourth rifle midnovember or late season through midjanuary affair. Colorado hunting seasons, bagging totals and available licenses vary by region. I am not sure on the draw requirements for rifle hunting any of those states due to being an archery hunter. Jbarh outfitters,the best elk hunting in northwestern. Since no luck on elk during the last 3 years of hunting 2nd rifle season in western colorado, this year i decided to try a different season.

Colorado overthecounter elk hunting western hunter. A beautiful sunset on opening day of the 2016 archery elk hunting season in colorado. Although the elk density isnt extremely high, it has one of the best bullhunter ratios, among the lowest hunter density in every season, fantastic trophy potential, lots of land, much of which is wilderness, and very good, consistent success. We will probably be going in early september with the unfortunately bright moon. These seasons require less planning since you can buy a bull tag over the counter. Tactics for rifle elk hunting vary depending on when in the fall you head afield.

What an adrenaline rush that must have been for him. Hunter capacity is being doubled to 48 available hunts for the 2016 season on fully guided hunts for elk, mule deer and black bear on over 20,000 acres of private land and over 40,000 acres on blm permitted leased land in gmus 11, 22, and 23. The bull harvest was a bit down from 2015 when 221,274 hunters tagged 22,558 bulls. Licenses must be applied for, and some are selected at random. This article has been updated to show to finalized 20202024 season structure.

Top 25 colorado otc elk hunting gmus units for 2020. Colorado hunting dates colorado license fees 2020 colorado big game hunting season dates archery. If you have an interest in big game hunting, then it may be time to start planning your colorado hunting trip and think about the opportunities youll have to chase an elk, one of north americas most challenging big game animals. Camp size is small with 24 hunters maximum and we have a 2x1 guide to hunter ratio. Unit 62 lies right across the road from our base camp at dark timber lodge. Then four separate elk rifle seasons are open from october through early november, of which the second and third last about 9 days each, and the first and fourth about 45 days. Login or register to reply to a current post or to. There are lots of different opinions on which season to hunt and if you are lucky it can work well in either 2nd or 3rd rifle season. From what i remember hearing most of colorado is over the counter rifle tags with the exception of a few units. My colorado elk hunt 2016 first rifle season youtube. Go fair chase hunting with ike eastman as he searches for a trophy bull elk.