That type of weather can become life threatening in a hurry. Happened to us one year in NW Colorado. FS came around at daylight and told everyone to get out or wait til spring, lol. We were at 8500 ft for base camp. By the time we rolled up the wall tent and threw it and everything else on our trailer we had a foot of snow. It took us almost 4 hours to get off the mountain (normally an hour). Of course, it was rain at lower elevation. We did get one cow though. Later on we heard about some spike camp hunters that didn't hear the forecast had to be rescued. Not sure to what extent, just that they were brought out by search and rescue. Not sure how anyone who knows anything about elk hunting can go to Colorado and not see elk like you were saying. We have gone since 1999 and our group (6-8) always does well. Usually within the published success %. I know that is not always the case, but if you do your homework beforehand and even talk to CFW you should at least see some. Especially with the online resources we have today. In my erly years it was word of mouth and hand drawn maps, lol. At any rate, any hunting trip to the Rockies is a successful one in my book. I absolutely love the mountains, there is just something special about them. Thanks for publishing/ sharing.
How far is that bull? You 10 to 20 it should push them down. You simply have to go after them. That is how you do it. You can go further than you think you can. Yes, there is a learning curve, you are telling it like it is! A lot of times We would climb up where we were seeing them and wait. It did not always work but some of us would get into them sooner or later. You have to ge tthere ahead of them and wait or get there by daylight and be waiting. It is tough but we learnedthe trails and would climb the mountain before daylight. I was living in Kentucky and several of my hunting buds were form there. We figured t out and started gettign them. Take turns and try to get a mix of cow tags and bull tags to take home some meat.
Hard to hunt elk in the rain. I hunted Colorado about 40 years every year. lately started missing a uear now and then. Used horses for half those years getting older. I would make suggestions if you go back on camp. We switched to porpane heaters on a 20 pound tank. we also got into canvas wall tents, but the trick is use a tarp over the tent . Snow sliides off, rain runs off. You need to rig a spacer on the tent sidewall to keep the tarp up off the canvas for most of it. That allows your tent to stay dry. Snow is always what you want but it is unpredictable so you need to remain flexible and patient. Snow and cold pushes them down at night to feed and they will slowly go back up. You want to get above them when they are coming up. Yes, over those years mule deer tags got less and less and we hunted elk harder and harder. Good Luck guys. You are getting a classic , beautiful hunt!
That type of weather can become life threatening in a hurry. Happened to us one year in NW Colorado. FS came around at daylight and told everyone to get out or wait til spring, lol. We were at 8500 ft for base camp. By the time we rolled up the wall tent and threw it and everything else on our trailer we had a foot of snow. It took us almost 4 hours to get off the mountain (normally an hour). Of course, it was rain at lower elevation. We did get one cow though. Later on we heard about some spike camp hunters that didn't hear the forecast had to be rescued. Not sure to what extent, just that they were brought out by search and rescue.
Not sure how anyone who knows anything about elk hunting can go to Colorado and not see elk like you were saying. We have gone since 1999 and our group (6-8) always does well. Usually within the published success %. I know that is not always the case, but if you do your homework beforehand and even talk to CFW you should at least see some. Especially with the online resources we have today. In my erly years it was word of mouth and hand drawn maps, lol.
At any rate, any hunting trip to the Rockies is a successful one in my book. I absolutely love the mountains, there is just something special about them. Thanks for publishing/ sharing.
Most definitely! We had a great time! Can’t wait to go back!
How far is that bull? You 10 to 20 it should push them down. You simply have to go after them. That is how you do it. You can go further than you think you can. Yes, there is a learning curve, you are telling it like it is! A lot of times We would climb up where we were seeing them and wait. It did not always work but some of us would get into them sooner or later. You have to ge tthere ahead of them and wait or get there by daylight and be waiting. It is tough but we learnedthe trails and would climb the mountain before daylight. I was living in Kentucky and several of my hunting buds were form there. We figured t out and started gettign them. Take turns and try to get a mix of cow tags and bull tags to take home some meat.
He was 1200 yards. To close within 400 yards too 40 min and was a 1.25 mile walk lol
Hard to hunt elk in the rain. I hunted Colorado about 40 years every year. lately started missing a uear now and then. Used horses for half those years getting older. I would make suggestions if you go back on camp. We switched to porpane heaters on a 20 pound tank. we also got into canvas wall tents, but the trick is use a tarp over the tent . Snow sliides off, rain runs off. You need to rig a spacer on the tent sidewall to keep the tarp up off the canvas for most of it. That allows your tent to stay dry. Snow is always what you want but it is unpredictable so you need to remain flexible and patient. Snow and cold pushes them down at night to feed and they will slowly go back up. You want to get above them when they are coming up. Yes, over those years mule deer tags got less and less and we hunted elk harder and harder. Good Luck guys. You are getting a classic , beautiful hunt!
Thanks for the info! Part 3 coming soon
Headed their this year for second rifle love your guys videos! Any advice to a new elk hunter? Much appreciated!!
I wish I could…my best advice is to just go! When you see animals…go! Be smart, and make sure whatever you do that you make it back home.