Colorado High Country ELK Hunting

BARTFRNCS · Sep 18, 2012

Every year I go hunting in the Colorado high country. I pack in on horses and set up camp 10 or 15 miles into a wilderness area. Elk hunting is the most pyhisicly demanding hunt I go on in a year theres no air at 12000 ft above sea level. Does anyone else do this type of hunting? If so tell me about your experiance.
Bart

enysse · Sep 18, 2012

I would if I had horses. Horses being the BIG factor. They help get gear in and out. Plus hauling elk quarters anymore than 4 miles is miserable. The last time I went elk hunting was 2 years ago in New Mexico and we were in the 11,000+, it doesn't bother me much and I'll be 40 next year. I love the mountains. It's a good time if the weather is nice. If there are storms it can be a real treat and will test you mental fitness as well as your physical fitness.

jeffpg · Sep 18, 2012

Yes I do high country muzzleloader hunts in Colorado & I absolutely love it up there!
I normally get horsebacked several miles into the wilderness & then backpack hunt from there, going in before the season begins by a couple of days at least. That gives me a chance to get on the Elk for opening morning plus just gives me more time in the mountains.
I hunted the same spot the last 2 years but I won't be going this year as I have neither the time off work or the tag.
I will be going after Pronghorn in Wyoming, Bear & possibly Mt. Lion in New Mexico, and Whitetails in Kansas. All good hunts for sure, but nothing like what you can experience above the timberline when the bull Elk are bugleing. It's not easy getting close enough with the open sighted front stuffer but it sure is fun trying. If I'm really into the Elk, it's usually an emotional roller coaster with a lot of "almost" shooting scenarios.
Next year I'll be off for the entire month of September. It'll be on then!

BARTFRNCS · Sep 22, 2012

This year is special to me its my 12yo sons first hunt I got him a deer tag and an elk tag.

RickB · Sep 22, 2012

BARTFRNCS said:
This year is special to me its my 12yo sons first hunt I got him a deer tag and an elk tag.

That's great. Hopefully its a successful group of hunts. Something I look forward to as a father as well! Good luck to you.

35bore · Sep 23, 2012

Good luck to the both of you. Sounds like a great hunt.

Diamondhitch · Sep 29, 2012

That is a huge passoin of mine. We hunt the Willmore wilderness area in the northern Rockies, absolutely gorgeous country. Lots of work but it is worth every bit of it. No Elk but Moose, Sheep, Mulies and all the fresh mountain air you can stand, heaven!