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Do you hike miles before light or park by your tree stand?

I'm not trying to be a wise guy but it's important.

Do you creep through the dark timber, bust through the oak brush or sit on a high vantage point?

If every hunter on this thread told you units they've found elk it would likely be every unit in the state.

Ken

Go to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.

Click on THINGS TO DO

Click on Big Game

Under that subject is a lot of information including how to hunt elk, and a break down of elk herds and units to hunt.

You have plenty of time to do some research on your own and then come back to this site and ask some specific questions after you have narrowed down the units you might hunt in. 90% of the fun of elk hunting is the research and then getting your feet on the ground. 80% of the elk are in over the counter areas which means, just purchase a tag and go hunt. Bow hunter success in Colorado in 13-15% but can be as low as 3% in some units.

IN most of the National Forests west of I-25, there are elk herds. So start by finding where you might travel to, and then do some research on you own. There is tons of info out there about elk hunting in Colorado in books, magazine articles, and as I have stated, the CPW website.

My best, Paul

I've lived in CO my whole life and have bowhunted elk for 40 years. I still spend many hours poring over maps like StartMyHunt, DIY hunting maps, USFS maps, two different satellite programs, and the CPW interactive maps. The loft in my cabin is laid out as my map research area.

Start digging and come back with some specific questions and you'll get help. Get in the best shape you can.

I will likely repeat much of what has been said. CDOW website has a TON of info. Whether it be unit research, Elk University, etc. They also have a mapper.

2nd, I will recommend StartMyHunt products. There are so many OTC GMU's, you will need to separate the wheat from the chaff. You will look at stats, terrain, etc. Fid out a few units which peak your interest. Then drill down. Identify a unit and then do some cyber scouting on Google Earth. Find some country that peaks your interest and order up some maps.

Develop a plan a, plan b, plan c, plan d. Buy your tags, lace them up and start hunting.

Your biggest problem is elk hunting will ruin you for all other critters! (I know, I never thought I would be that guy but once you have some fun in elk country, everything else just takes up time in between elk seasons.)

Personally seen elk in every one of those units.

"GMU 14 or 16"

Seriously!? WTF. There's a freakin' PM function for a reason.

Ok, I made that specific FR up because I'm hoping Brian and his buddies move on someday so I can hunt there again.

But every OTC unit in CO has that same opportunity somewhere.

Sometimes when I do talk to someone at the trailhead, they havent seen an elk and I have blood on my hands.

I could not agree with you more. Based on my research, pretty much all the CO GMUs have something to offer. Someone calling one out really has no effect on the chance of success. If I said to hunt in a specific unit, you would still need years to figure out the patterns that the elk follow. It is not quite as simple as saying hunt in this unit at this spot at this time. Elk are fickle critters, and they can move like ghosts..

Mike

X1000- Just about every unit west of I-25 has elk. With the tools available today, finding a good spot has never been easier. Listing a spot online does nothing but create undue and often times undeserved hype.

"Someone calling one out really has no effect on the chance of success."

I kind of agree with this statement as well. But packing hunters into an area sure makes success a lot more difficult. Drawing attention to the unit tends to at least put the unit on a person's radar. If the unit looks even slightly more promising then the other prospects then it is likely to become the spot of choice. I think most guys on this website would be amazed how many trollers look at these posts. I would bet that for every posting member on this site there are 10 non-member trollers viewing it. If a group of guys is trying to pick a spot and one guy sees this post, "GMU 14 or 16" you can bet he will relay to his friends," I heard good things about unit 14 and 16".

All I'm saying is a lot of guys did the research to come up with their spot, please be mindful and respectful of that.

Finally WRT the OP- There really are a ton of options. Listen to Paul at the Fort and check out all the maps available out there. Be realistic as to the physical condition of the weakest link in the group and it is better to underestimate what you can handle. If you are worn out by day three, you won't get much out of the hunt. Be aware that lots of parts of CO have a lot of beetle kill which a lot of guys don't like to hunt. Endless acres of deadfall are very hard and physically demanding to hunt. My best piece of advice is: In CO athletes hunt and we have some very fit hunters. There seems to be an unofficial,How far back can you go, contest every year. If your strategy is to go way back to get away from the crowds, you may find that you will go way back and get into the crowds. Look for difficult to access spots and you will probably find elk. Also, thousands of elk hunters drive right past some great spots every year to get to the "good hunting".

I have lived in Colorado for 40 years and been on this site for 10 or more...... Its ok man!

I know, I know...you're right. I'll get over it.

So what I'm saying is every unit is both good and bad.

I recommend that you don't pick a unit because you heard "We were into elk every day". Here are what I think are more valid reasons:

-Access. Length of drive from home; roads and trails that suit your abilities.

-Terrrain and elevation. Some guys dream of an above-treeline hunt. Some like sagebrush, or pinyons, or ponderosas, or dark timber firs. Go where it floats your boat. But if several are equally acceptable, go to the area of lowest elevation. It's better to spend precious hunting days hunting hard rather than acclimating.

Good luck.