Elk by the numbers

Okie Hunter

Okie Hunter

New member
I have been looking at Colorado elk hunting by the numbers. I looked at the 2005 archery harvest success rates, number of bulls’ taken, total pressure and relative size of the unit.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am no statistician but here is my analyses of the units.

Looks like units 24, 23 and 33 may be the best options, based on the above stated criteria. All three are medium size units relative to other units in the state. The following are the numbers for each unit.

Unit 24 had 90 Bulls Killed, 29 Cows Killed with a 26% Success rate with 542 Pressure.
Unit 23 had 102 Bulls Killed, 31 Cows Killed with a 24% Success rate with 604 Pressure.
Unit 33 had 66 Bulls Killed, 34 Cows Killed with a 25% Success rate with 419 Pressure.

Is my analysis criteria the most important factors, or are there others that I should be giving equal or greater weight to?

Can you guys give me any feed back on these three units?

Thanks for the help.
 
Well all 3 of those units require you to draw. They are not over the counter for achery. Typically you are probably looking at taking 2 to 4 years to draw as a nonresident in that area. I also do not put much weight into their stats. I am not sure how they are coming up with numbers now, but they used to call on the phone and ask what units you hunted, how many days, were you successful etc. I have not been called in 6 years and even my stats are all over the place. For example 2 years ago I hunted 2 days for archery got my bull. Last years I put in over 14 days and did not take a bull. The unit I hunt in says that archery hunters had nearly a 50% success rate. I know 14 other guys that hunt there, 1 shot a cow last year. Again if stats held true than 7 of use would have gotten an elk.

Those 3 units are awesome elk units, especially during archery season. They are high alpine forest with aspen and black timber. Most of my family hunts up there and they take one or 2 bulls each year. There is lots of Public access in the White River National Forest and the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. It will be a great place to hunt, but it will take you a year or two atleast to get there. I could recomend a vacation up there to check out the country and see what you getting into.

Do not worry about unit size, they are all much bigger than a person could hunt all season long. Unit 23 for example is roughly 20 miles north to south and close to 25 miles East and West.

Lett me know if you have any questions.

BTW when do you plan on coming this way to hunt? I will be more than willing to help you out with any questions you might have.
 
Of those three, I've only hunted 33. One thing about hunting the flat tops area is the elk head into the canyons once the pressure starts. Archery hunting alone seems to push them down into the thick black stuff. It's still good hunting but not easy. You have to get onto the benches that run part way between the top and bottom of the canyons. Once you have one, be ready to work to get him out.

Elks has the right idea about taking a vacation and spending some time in the area. You could even do it during the bow season. that would give you some good fishing, some grouse hunting and a good idea of where the elk are and how they behave during the season.
 
Elks I down loaded a page from the CO web site and it shows that area as OTC for Antlered/either sex licenses. the Map I refer showes the area E-6 around Meeker down to Glenwood Springs as "green" which is OTC. Am I looking at this all wroung?
 
They have called me every year. Go figure. Statistics are funny, if they do it right they are very accurate. If not.....? This is the only survey that I answer truthfully.
 
Yeah it is always best to check out the brochure. I am not real sure where you are looking, but here is the link to the big game hunting regulations.

Colo Big game Brochure

If you look on the the very first page, there is section titled archery. Under that you will see The section listed as unlimited archery. It states that unlimited either sex archery tags are avalible for all units EXCEPT: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 19, 23, 24, 29, 33, etc. So for archery these units are draw only. Now look in the unlimited Rifle elk list and they are not there, thus unlimited for rifle seasons. The archery hunters, myself included really got the shaft about 7-8 years ago. The outfitters in the areas pushed to have the whole area go to draw. But settled for squeezing out the archers inorder for their clients to have better luck during rifle seasons.

Are u planning on coming to hunt this year? If so I could help point you in some direction. I have hunted in a few different areas. I could definitely suggest a few areas along the northern front range area that are good, around Ft Collins. If it doesn't have to be this year for the hunt take a couple years and really plan and research. Again I can help if you have anyother questions.

Also looking at those units when you read the application part they actually split the units into 2 catagories. One is east of a ceretain point and one is west, which makes things a bit more tricky, but still do able with a little research.
 
Elks thanks for clearing that up for me. Those regulations are difficult at best to read and understand.

I would welcome any help you can give. Here is my situation.

I have an ATV and a camper trailer and there will be 2 or three of us. I don’t mind walking in a few miles from the trailhead. Living in Oklahoma makes for a difficult transition to the thin air but I am in fair shape and will be in better shape by the first of September.

I have not hunted the rut but mule deer hunted in NM last year and kind of got hook on the elk. I could wait for a gun hunt but would rather make it a bow hunt. I hunted in the southwest part of the state during the second gun season last year and did not think we were high enough for bow season.

I will not have time for a scouting trip; I will just have to scout and hunt at the same time. Your info would be greatly appreciated.
 


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