Another 61 first season Elk tag holder

Aaronjhanson · Jul 20, 2022

Hey there, I too have a 61 First season elk rifle tag this year. I decided to get out of the points game. I hope I picked the right unit. LOL!

I am headed to Nucla for 3 days to do some scouting on that side of the unit. I have a hand full of areas picked out down there, and I am wondering if I should have some higher elevation spots on my list?

At what elevations should I focus on for that first rifle hunt?
What kind of pressure should I expect during that short hunt?
I have read lots of comments to stay away from the divide road. Would I miss out on anything if I don't hunt that side? I never hear anything about the Northern parts of that unit.
I have been on google earth picking out places to hike. Just wondering if I am missing something.

MountainSqwabler · Jul 20, 2022

Best of luck man. I will hopefully be drawing the archery tag in a year or so! Shoot me a message and maybe we can do some scouting together!

The_Coloradoboy · Jul 21, 2022

You will absolutely wear yourself trying to cover/scout that entire unit. I can speak from experience on that.. like it’s been stated probably a thousand times over again on this form and probably others, there are elk in about every reasonable drainage in the unit. Depending on the time you have to invest into scouting, I’d recommend picking a section of the unit and focus on solely learning that country. From what I’ve witnessed from being there in the 1st rifle season as of recent is the pressure from archery, Muzzy and Early rifle season will typically push whats remains of the decent 300 type bulls into the lower desert type PJ country. Majority of the bulls that stay up on top with the cows are typically small 6 points and 5 points that honestly majority of people with tags in the first season end up killing.

Aaronjhanson · Jul 21, 2022

The_Coloradoboy said:
You will absolutely wear yourself trying to cover/scout that entire unit. I can speak from experience on that.. like it’s been stated probably a thousand times over again on this form and probably others, there are elk in about every reasonable drainage in the unit. Depending on the time you have to invest into scouting, I’d recommend picking a section of the unit and focus on solely learning that country. From what I’ve witnessed from being there in the 1st rifle season as of recent is the pressure from archery, Muzzy and Early rifle season will typically push whats remains of the decent 300 type bulls into the lower desert type PJ country. Majority of the bulls that stay up on top with the cows are typically small 6 points and 5 points that honestly majority of people with tags in the first season end up killing.

Thank you Coloradoboy, Isent you a PM

Elkasaurous · Jul 21, 2022

Agree with Coloradoboy, I'd hunt the pinyon sage up by Casto Reservoir in NW corner of unit.

tracker12 · Jul 21, 2022

Its been a few years now but I scouted that area by the Reservoir and it was loaded with Elk. I was there right after archery ended and before 1st rifle started. Caught some nice trout dinner there also.

270Whatelse · Jul 21, 2022

I agree with CoBoy that alot of the bigger bulls in 61 come from the lower country.

coloradoman · Jul 21, 2022

tracker12 said:
Its been a few years now but I scouted that area by the Reservoir and it was loaded with Elk. I was there right after archery ended and before 1st rifle started. Caught some nice trout dinner there also.

You didn’t catch them from Casto!
?

coloradoman · Jul 21, 2022

There is no Casto reservoir like stated above.

BeanMan · Jul 21, 2022

True beans, Casto drys out often enough that fishing can be rather poor. Lot’s of waterdogs though. You must be thinking of Big Creek.

tracker12 · Jul 22, 2022

I stand corrected I was near Big Creek Reservoir.

Elkasaurous · Jul 22, 2022

Ok, I stand corrected too. Hunt pinyon and sage west of where Casto Reservoir used to be, jeezus.

coloradoman · Jul 22, 2022

Lol I was just razzin you

Aaronjhanson · Jul 22, 2022

Thanks for all the input gentlemen, I have spots to check out all over the unit. I need to narrow it down to a few spots. Heck that might changes as soon as I get feet on the ground there.

I will be staying in Nucla this time, where is a good place to eat?

oilcan · Jul 22, 2022

The_Coloradoboy said:
You will absolutely wear yourself trying to cover/scout that entire unit. I can speak from experience on that.. like it’s been stated probably a thousand times over again on this form and probably others, there are elk in about every reasonable drainage in the unit. Depending on the time you have to invest into scouting, I’d recommend picking a section of the unit and focus on solely learning that country. From what I’ve witnessed from being there in the 1st rifle season as of recent is the pressure from archery, Muzzy and Early rifle season will typically push whats remains of the decent 300 type bulls into the lower desert type PJ country. Majority of the bulls that stay up on top with the cows are typically small 6 points and 5 points that honestly majority of people with tags in the first season end up killing.

“the lower desert type PJ country”
Coloradoboy what is the lower elevation of the PJ country your talking about here ?

Bigwiffy · Jul 22, 2022

Aaronjhanson said:
Thanks for all the input gentlemen, I have spots to check out all over the unit. I need to narrow it down to a few spots. Heck that might changes as soon as I get feet on the ground there.

I will be staying in Nucla this time, where is a good place to eat?

5th Avenue Grill. A bear had gotten into their dumpster the night before I rolled in. The bear left full and I left fat.

The_Coloradoboy · Jul 22, 2022

oilcan said:
“the lower desert type PJ country”
Coloradoboy what is the lower elevation of the PJ country your talking about here ?

The country where there’s piñon, juniper Sage..

coloradoman · Jul 22, 2022

The_Coloradoboy said:
The country where there’s piñon, juniper Sage..

Exactly! How hard is it?
Lol

MountainSqwabler · Jul 22, 2022

The land up neat the reservoir doesn't look to be super super terrible. Am I correct? It seems that the more southern part of the unit is pretty nasty.

The_Coloradoboy · Jul 22, 2022

MountainSqwabler said:
The land up neat the reservoir doesn't look to be super super terrible. Am I correct? It seems that the more southern part of the unit is pretty nasty.

Not to bad. There’s plenty of elk there. I never found anything big there though. Spent a day over there with my brother on his tag and found one 280 to 290ish bull And alot of raghorns

BeanMan · Jul 22, 2022

MountainSqwabler said:
The land up neat the reservoir doesn't look to be super super terrible. Am I correct? It seems that the more southern part of the unit is pretty nasty.

It’s the middle area that is super nasty

MountainSqwabler · Jul 22, 2022

BeanMan said:
It’s the middle area that is super nasty

Ok. Just thick coverage nasty or a mix of brush and steep?

Elkasaurous · Jul 22, 2022

MountainSqwabler said:
Ok. Just thick coverage nasty or a mix of brush and steep?

Yes!

The_Coloradoboy · Jul 22, 2022

MountainSqwabler said:
Ok. Just thick coverage nasty or a mix of brush and steep?

There’s a lot of stuff in that unit that I refer to as ‘Nam like country. Think jungles of oak brush that will absolutely beat you up trying to walk through

MountainSqwabler · Jul 22, 2022

The_Coloradoboy said:
There’s a lot of stuff in that unit that I refer to as ‘Nam like country. Think jungles of oak brush that will absolutely beat you up trying to walk through

Haha I like it. I'm pretty in shape and know elk fairly well so I'm really excited for the next year or two. Got mostly everything planned out and just gaining knowledge of the unit off foot and internet now.

BeanMan · Jul 23, 2022

Elkasaurous said:
Yes!

MountainSqwabler said:
Ok. Just thick coverage nasty or a mix of brush and steep?

Both although you can find steep anywhere in the unit.

OldMan2 · Jul 23, 2022

oldmossback · Jul 25, 2022

MountainSqwabler said:
Haha I like it. I'm pretty in shape and know elk fairly well so I'm really excited for the next year or two. Got mostly everything planned out and just gaining knowledge of the unit off foot and internet now.

Watch Randy Newberg's video of him hunting 61 a few years back. I think is called " pack out from hell"

MountainSqwabler · Jul 25, 2022

oldmossback said:
Watch Randy Newberg's video of him hunting 61 a few years back. I think is called " pack out from hell"

I think I've seen that video. I also watched outback outdoors and he had a tag back in 2018 I believe? Could be wrong on date, he missed an absolute stud bull, but most of the terrain he is hunting is nasty, thick and steep.

MountainSqwabler · Jul 25, 2022

Some thick country it looks like. Looks like a blast for calling elk in! Lol

coloradoman · Jul 25, 2022

I know where he killed that bull by the scenery. Yes it’s steep and deep.
I probably would have gone a different direction but that’s just me.

OldMan2 · Jul 25, 2022

You can still call in elk 1st season? Wondering?

MountainSqwabler · Jul 25, 2022

OldMan2 said:
You can still call in elk 1st season? Wondering?

Call in, I have no clue. I would assume so. But I've had elk screaming at me 1st season. And that was in an OTC unit. So I would assume it's possible especially in a unit that's better than an OTC one.

The_Coloradoboy · Jul 25, 2022

Called this one in to 40 yards for my brother during first rifle.

MountainSqwabler · Jul 25, 2022

The_Coloradoboy said:
Called this one in to 40 yards for my brother during first rifle.
View attachment 82106

When I get my archery tag, (fingers crossed on when I will) I'd shoot him on day one.

BeanMan · Jul 25, 2022

I helped a friend pack out a cow from too far down, at least we didn’t have to pack a head. This was on the way down for the second loads, we were hoping to discover a better way up.

The_Coloradoboy · Jul 25, 2022

MountainSqwabler said:
When I get my archery tag, (fingers crossed on when I will) I'd shoot him on day one.

We passed this bull multiple times. Ended up killing him the last day. All the big bulls I had found during the summer were killed muzzy/early rifle and the others fled to the desert country. Couldn’t make it happen down there in the short time we had so came back up on top and killed one. Absolutely amazed me the amount of guys that were smashing raghorns after day 3

MountainSqwabler · Jul 25, 2022

The_Coloradoboy said:
We passed this bull multiple times. Ended up killing him the last day. All the big bulls I had found during the summer were killed muzzy/early rifle and the others fled to the desert country. Couldn’t make it happen down there in the short time we had so came back up on top and killed one. Absolutely amazed me the amount of guys that were smashing raghorns after day 3

That's insane. I'm after the archery tag so luckily I won't have the muzzy and rifle guys before me. If I get a 300in bull in front of me I'd be tickled. I am more looking for the awesome experience. But I'll work for a nice bull.

OldMan2 · Jul 26, 2022

The_Coloradoboy said:
We passed this bull multiple times. Ended up killing him the last day. All the big bulls I had found during the summer were killed muzzy/early rifle and the others fled to the desert country. Couldn’t make it happen down there in the short time we had so came back up on top and killed one. Absolutely amazed me the amount of guys that were smashing raghorns after day 3

They need to move muzzy to 4th season rifle. Eliminate early rifle. And cut back on tags, to bring quality up in 61.

rmanwill · Jul 26, 2022

OldMan2 said:
You can still call in elk 1st season? Wondering?

yes. called several in a few years ago on 1st hunt

OldMan2 · Jul 26, 2022

rmanwill said:
yes. called several in a few years ago on 1st hunt

Wondered. Last two times I hunted out there, 61 and 10, both times 3rd season we still had elk bugling. Thought that unusual.

The_Coloradoboy · Jul 26, 2022

OldMan2 said:
They need to move muzzy to 4th season rifle. Eliminate early rifle. And cut back on tags, to bring quality up in 61.

They give to many tags in 61 for it ever to be outstanding. I truly think the only reason it’s become increasingly harder and harder to draw is the massive amounts of people giving up on drawing the NW corner units and jumping ship to 61.

khunter · Aug 1, 2022

1st season, low country in 61

3404barrel · Aug 2, 2022

OldMan2 said:
You can still call in elk 1st season? Wondering?

Ya the bulls will rut into mid October and beyond.

270Whatelse · Aug 2, 2022

OldMan2 said:
They need to move muzzy to 4th season rifle. Eliminate early rifle. And cut back on tags, to bring quality up in 61.

Your more than welcome to use your Muzzy in the 4th season if you choose. It will take less points too!

OldMan2 · Aug 2, 2022

270Whatelse said:
Your more than welcome to use your Muzzy in the 4th season if you choose. It will take less points too!

Muzzleloader season here is Nov. 28 - Dec. 7.

The_Coloradoboy · Aug 2, 2022

OldMan2 said:
Muzzleloader season here is Nov. 28 - Dec. 7.

No…. Just do an archery, Muzzy and one rifle hunt

270Whatelse · Aug 2, 2022

OldMan2 said:
Muzzleloader season here is Nov. 28 - Dec. 7.

Cool! Muzzleloader season here is Sept 10-18.

Elkasaurous · Aug 2, 2022

khunter said:
1st season, low country in 61
View attachment 82786 View attachment 82785

Yes.... this is what I'm talking about. Nice bull!

rmanwill · Aug 3, 2022

BeanMan said:
I helped a friend pack out a cow from too far down, at least we didn’t have to pack a head. This was on the way down for the second loads, we were hoping to discover a better way up.
View attachment 82132

yep, packing a head out in that stuff is just tuff.

OldMan2 · Aug 3, 2022

The_Coloradoboy said:
Called this one in to 40 yards for my brother during first rifle.
View attachment 82106

What did he score. 270? Bigger?

The_Coloradoboy · Aug 3, 2022

Never even bothered to tape him

MLT · Aug 17, 2022

Aaronjhanson said:
Hey there, I too have a 61 First season elk rifle tag this year. I decided to get out of the points game. I hope I picked the right unit. LOL!

I am headed to Nucla for 3 days to do some scouting on that side of the unit. I have a hand full of areas picked out down there, and I am wondering if I should have some higher elevation spots on my list?

At what elevations should I focus on for that first rifle hunt?
What kind of pressure should I expect during that short hunt?
I have read lots of comments to stay away from the divide road. Would I miss out on anything if I don't hunt that side? I never hear anything about the Northern parts of that unit.
I have been on google earth picking out places to hike. Just wondering if I am missing something.

Are you looking for a place to stay. I have an opening for the 1st rifle season. My place is located in unit 61 near Campbell Point. Bordering both Forest and BLM. Great place to be during 1st rifle.
Contact me 970-778-7145 for more information