I “just” got back from my first season rifle elk hunt in Colorado and I thought I would write down/share my thoughts about the hunt and unit while its still fresh in my mind. I will go over:
- Terrain
- Equipment
- Weather
- Landscape
- Experience
The part of Unit 26 I hunted was King Mountain. This part of the unit is dotted with private property so it is really imperative to plan you hunting so that you keep your elk on public. It is also rediculously dense timber. I spent most of my days crawling over deadfall. I cannot stress how much deadfall there is and apparently is a Colorado thing to just leave it. Fortunately, one or some of the private land owners who are Outfitters go into the unit before archery and cut/remove the fallin timber that are on the trails. I stayed on on of the ranches and we rode horses into the public, about 3-4 miles each day one way. If backpacking in, there are places to stay, but the hiking miles will really increase. There aren’t drastic elevation changes, but they can be severe/steap. I constantly had to look for the elk trails to find the navigable path. Some parts of the unit have phenominal meadows, but most of it is heavy timber. Main take away about the unit - HEAVY TIMBER.
2. Because of the heavy timber, the best rifles for this unit would be 100 yard guns. A shorty 308 or 7mm-08 would be ideal - 16-18" barrels. Lever action iron sight also great. 400 Legend, 444 Marlin have also been successful here. Additionally, the lighter the better and the lighter the recoil the better (hence the 308/7mm-08). I brought a 7PRC and it was way overkill for this terrain. Most elk are taken between 40-80 yards, again because the timber is so heavy. I stalked up to 20 yards on 3 cow elk and they never saw me or winded me if that paints a picture for you. I carried my 10lbs rifle around in my hands all day everyday as I didn’t use a sling. I had a gun bearer on my bag, which was useless since most shots taken are spot, shoulder rifle and shoot in about 5-7 seconds. I needed 7-10 seconds to get my rifle from gun bearer to shoulder, way too slow. So you rifle shoulf be in the 7-8 pound range. The lighter the better. Also the shorter since you will be crawling through overgrown and fallen timber.
A day pack is what I used. If going in on a horse, the smaller the better. I had a KUIU Venture 1800 and it was honetly too big. It should be just a day pack, and make sure it hold at least 64oz of water. I used this hose adapter to my nalgene and it was amazing.
4. Weather for first rifle in 2024 ranged from 29 in the morning to 78 in the afternoon. Last year is was sub freezing and snowing all first rifle. Come prepared for both. Hunting elevation ranges from 8000-10000.
5. You will be hunting in the timber, not across a valley or revine. The valleys that are visible do not stay public and are 1000+ yard from one side to the other, and still heavily timbered.
6. I hope I have protrayed a difficult hunting terrain, because it is. It is also breathtaking and really enjoyable. After my first day I took out my comprehensive first aid kit and reduces it by 75%. There is very minimal risk for injury due to falls or because of the terrain. There are other hunters, bears and moose (was 40 yards from a Bull Moose in the timber) so stay prepared. I kept my gunshot wound bandage, my Isreali bandage, a tube of Neosporin and some bandaids. I found my binos usesful, but if my rifle was lighter I would have just used my scope when I needed magnicfication and left my whole bino harness behind.Get out early, hunt hard till noon, rest until 2:30 and hunt hard till 5. Rinse and repeat.
I didn’t take an elk this year, but it was a great hunt and if invited I’d go again.
