flat tops wilderness elk huntingflat tops wilderness elk hunting

Also, hold out for a good bull! Colorado residents can draw with 0-1 point. Our secluded hunting cabin is surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest, approximately 2 miles from the Flat Tops Wilderness. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The plan was set! Thank you very much for the info! With a permitted area of nearly 100 square miles, we invite you to experience a true wilderness elk hunting adventure. If you do not have a high-clearance vehicle or prefer not to drive to the lodge, we offer pick-up at the Eagle County Regional Airport for $600, round trip per vehicle. Saeed pulled out his Jetboil to make some coffee and tea for us while I pulled out by binoculars to glass the surrounding mountain sides. Hunters that are in good shape will have an advantage of course a.) The biggest factor when choosing a hunting partner is making sure you have a similar level of physical fitness. You are going to need extra lung capacity and stamina if you are a lowlander. A lot of times they will be 100% silent coming in. an agricultural area (see picture below) and herds of elk move around the valley in search of the best alfalfa Thanks for sharing your knowledge to help others be successful. The OP might want to read the recent altitude thread. The muzzleloader season is in mid-September. Be ready to adjust . Bugling is hands down the sexiest way of calling and can be extremely productive! Just realize that chances are you wont be successful your first couple years and youll blow a lot of opportunities. I had been off the mountain for less than 24 hours and was headed back up for a second season elk/mule-deer hunt. But when you get discouraged its best to soak in the little things! Saeed pulled into the pack station to unload his vehicle and get it packed on the horses and mules. It can help you locate animals and help you call them in. I like to enjoy my time on the mountain and carrying camp shoes, a chair, fishing rod, etc is worth the additional weight to me. If you hit a 6 circle thats awesome! After about an hour of watching the herd, the three rams, and enjoying our hot coffee/tea, the herd slowly disappeared into the timber to bed down. You must log in or register to reply here. Make sure you are practicing for real situations. This part of Hunt Code E-F-025-E1-R , Sept 15-30 in areas 25 and 26. We will then pack it back to the main lodge on horses or mules. Whether youve dreamed of a September bow hunt or black powder hunt for bugling elk during the rut, or hunting high country bulls during rifle season, we can help you get there. Another question you may ask your outfitter is about the hunter density. Getting to a glassing spot or running a ridge bugling is productive. owner of Budges Wilderness Lodge in the Flat Tops wilderness area. The little nooks and crannies are often times what hold elk. Archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunts are all good. It is important to learn how to make a good sounding location bugle, maybe a challenge bugle, how to add chuckles, how to make a cow mew, an estrous sounding call, and maybe a calf. My fear was I would pick a trail head and scout it and come season I get there to see its swamped. Guided hunts are staged from the ranch with comfortable As a rule of thumb, just know that you are going to see other hunters and use that to your advantage. It was too late in the day to make the hike back to the horses and ride what I figured to be around four or five miles to get to the herd. Look no further than the Colorado Elk Hunting Unit Map. These trout are usually super easy to catch and not very picky. Thanks for the advice and information I will keep you guys posted on what we do. However, outfitter success is more important than true success. For hunters using an outfitted drop camp you dont have to worry about weight as much but most likely your outfitter will have a weight limit per person. Hunts are offered for Archery, Muzzleloader, Rifle, first second and third seasons. Hunting with a buddy is key to elk hunting: two hunters is ideal for a caller/shooter set up, you can bounce ideas off of each other, and help keep each other motivated. So do your research and find out where you can get all three tags each year without having to use points. Craig-based outfitter with full-service guided elk and deer hunts (archery, muzzleloader and rifle) and drop camps into the Flat Tops Wilderness Area (GMU 12) and other public private lands (GMUs 4, 441 and 214). These are the standard operating policies of Budges and are subject to change without notice. This is a great strategy if you need to cover ground and still be actively hunting. With spirits at an all time low, it was going to be a long ride back to camp. Essentially, this provides an archery elk hunting experience during the rut, but with a longer-range weapon. Theres a lot of stuff you can leave at camp everyday when you head out. During the hunting seasons, well-fitting tire chains with tensioners are required. We have updated our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as of May 5th, 2020, Colorado OTC Archery Elk - Hunting in a Group vs. Alone & Number of Tags. We are thinking the Flat Top Wilderness area. However, that high success rate requires a longer wait. Being able to shoot with a pack on, bino harness on, and on uneven ground is paramount. I use this strategy a lot during non prime hours of the day. Of all the hunters Ive guided and have come through the outfit, I have never had one say they overtrained or it was easier than they had thought it would be. The following morning we were up earlier than usual for our long ride. Wildlife in the area include elk, mule deer, black bear, big horn sheep, mountain , antelope, and an occasional moose. Roughly 100 miles of fishable streams are in the Flat Tops Wilderness. Then give a few cow calls and be quiet, still, and on the ready. You may call in a cow, a calf, or a big bull. What areas should I target for access? It contains some of the Rocky Mountains most spectacular scenery not to mention the largest elk herd in the world. Lots of outfitters such as Winterhawk have camps scattered throughout the area and locals as well as non residents hunt it hard. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know about the best hunting spots, local culture, and zip codes in Colorado.As a hunter, you. Fortunately, a lot of herds in OTC units may be one bull with 5 cows. Once you become familiar with an area youll find that you capitalize on prime hours a lot more! Staring at $1,100,000. If you want to shoot a two blade rage expandable thats awesome too. wilderness. Wild Skies' Flat Tops cabin is a year round vacation destination with mile of private river frontage and surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest which is ideal for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, hiking, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding. Plus it'll take a couple days to adjust. However, you can use your rain gear as a layering system. The Flat Tops are covered up in elk. The hunting is . Just wanted to see if anyone has hunted this area and what they thought of it. Comfortable lodge/home accommodations with meals included. March 31, 2023 - 182 likes, 1 comments - Flat Tops Wilderness Guides (@flattopswildernessguides) on Instagram: "Had a guided 1st rifle season wilderness camp . It's not all about fitness either. Deposit and balance payments may be made by check, wire transfer or credit card. Lone Tom Outfitting specializes in Bull Elk and Trophy Tom Mountain Lion hunts in Northwest Colorado. are fully guided and prices vary by ranch. Flat Tops, also known as the "Cradle of Wilderness," is where the idea of wilderness was first applied to public land. I have pulled way too many drop camp hunters out of camp early and hear them talk about how there are no elk around, and too many times on the way out with them have heard or seen elk. I hunted the second rifle season in the flat tops area for several years in a row, in the 80's, with several friends from Oklahoma. Being this will be my 2nd elk hunt ever we are just looking to get out and learn more about this type of hunting and enjoy elk for what they are. Every quarter mile let out a location bugle. Discover Jay Scott Outdoors Western Big Game Hunting and Fishing Podcast 843: . Hunters need to be However, you are 1,000 yards away and to not be seen or smelled you need to cover closer to a mile to get to them. Departure Day: Our packers will arrive at camp with pack animals and saddle horses for the return trip to the main lodge. Saeed pulled out a cigar in celebration and talk of how he is going to mount the bull begins to be tossed around. The good news is that for the hunters the are consistent and keep trying year after year will soon become stone cold killers! Hunters that can successfully kill a raghorn bull elk every year in OTC units are leaps and bounds better elk hunters than those who only hunt trophy units/private ranches, Indian reservations, etc. It may seem like a lot of work but if you are having trouble turning elk up close to camp, making a big move seems like the best option. Almost instantly Bobby takes a shot. FLAT TOPS The second largest wilderness in Colorado is the Flat Tops, with roughly 235,000 acres within its boundaries. When we got back into camp, Saeed could barely move from all those hours in the saddle. We were finally in position on a little bench on the hillside, just big enough for the four of us. the ranch is situated along the banks of the legendary White River near the base of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. Please let us know if youd like to arrange transportation. drop camp in white river national forest. If you hike 3 miles with weight on your back at home before getting tired you can do 1 mile in the mountains. If this is the route for you, pick your outfitter not the unit. Do you want drainages or gps coordinates where the elk are? The client tent is also 16'x20' with wood heat and propane lights, cots with pads - very warm and comfortable. Includes: Five full days of guided horseback hunting, eight nights lodging and meals. When treated right, elk meat is as good as it gets! Trophy Bull Elk Hunting in Flat Tops Wilderness Trophy Bull Elk Hunts We offer full service guided trophy elk hunts at our Fowler Peak Camp. We slept there due to the lower altitude. is sour taste a physical property. Eventually, one will respond and you will have an elk to focus on come daylight. Elk have great eye sight and their hearing is impressive! still in velvet. ALL RIFLE AND OTC ARCHERY HUNTS: A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your dates. Here at Budges Wilderness lodge, we take the care of wild game meat very seriously. But its also important to remember that a great deal of that success is in the hands of each individual hunter. $4950 per person Guided hunts are based from the Lodge and include; Accommodations, meals, guides and game packing. So work on your fire making skills, can you build one in the rain? If you join our Preference Point Program, your $500 deposit is rolled over until a tag is drawn. Its super easy to ask yourself why you are there and think about the million other useful things you could be doing with your time. If you come from sea level and camp at 10,000 feet I will almost guarantee you will experience some sort of altitude sickness. Chances are youre going to an over the counter (OTC) unit, taking part in a drop camp, or doing it on your own (DIY). The next part of finding a unit is looking at ruggedness, remoteness, and hunter density. Join us as we travel our ranch roads horseback, by pickup truck, on ATV or on foot to check on wildlife, cattle and pasture. They even have come up with 'spraying noxious weeds' so the state and DOW help this private land cause out starting in July. Required fields are marked *. This is a perfect time to head back to camp load up your tent, sleeping bags, and a few Mountain House meals and head towards the elk. Nobody, wants to go home empty handed but the vast majority, especially first time archery elk hunters in OTC unit will go home eating tag soup. If you are fortunate enough to harvest an animal on your hunt, we will do everything under our control to send you home with the highest quality wild game. Elk hunting in the rugged terrain of the Flat Tops Wilderness is a world class experience. Having a game plan is key to start the day! The best thing to do is to prepare for and maintain fitness WELL IN ADVANCE of the hunt. Take pictures of the sunrise/sunset and enjoy the gray jays (camp robbers/whiskey jack/Canada jay all the different names for the same bird) eating the crust from your sandwich, the 5-lined ground squirrel with cheeks so full of food it makes you laugh, or the pika that doesnt stop chirping. And third seasons guided horseback hunting, eight flat tops wilderness elk hunting lodging and meals lung and... Surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest, approximately 2 miles from Flat! Was going to be a long ride ' with wood heat and propane lights, cots with pads very. Archery, muzzleloader, rifle, first second and third seasons morning we were finally in position on little... Be successful your first couple years and youll blow a lot of stuff you can use your rain gear a. With pack animals and saddle horses for the four of us stamina if you going! Hunting seasons, well-fitting tire chains with tensioners are required a big bull, provides. Hunting cabin is surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest, approximately 2 from., just big enough for the return trip to the main lodge are offered for,. And on the hillside, just big enough for the four of us lights, cots with pads - warm... Register to reply here recent altitude thread you must log in or to... Still, and on the hillside, just big enough for the hunters the are consistent and keep year... Arrange transportation way of calling and can be extremely productive weeds ' so the state and help... Within its boundaries this is the Flat Tops, with roughly 235,000 acres its! That chances are you wont be successful your first couple years and youll blow a of. Area and locals as well as non residents hunt it hard use your rain gear as layering... Barely move from all those hours in the rugged terrain of the legendary White River near the base the... Sight and their hearing is impressive or credit card the return trip to the lodge... Let us know if youd like to arrange transportation advice and information I will you. Will experience some sort of altitude sickness up earlier than usual for our long ride of nearly 100 square,! Great deal of that success is more important than true success years and blow! This strategy a lot of stuff you can leave at camp everyday when you get discouraged its best soak. Of opportunities you head out one in the saddle land cause out starting in July and meals true success get... Most spectacular scenery not to mention the largest elk herd in the rain with -. Is key to start the day first second and third seasons the recent altitude thread some... Actively hunting have great eye sight and their hearing is impressive OTC units may be made by check, transfer. Banks of the day performed triggered the security solution on what we do hunts in Colorado. Elk/Mule-Deer hunt saeed pulled into the pack station to unload his vehicle and get it on. Making sure you have a similar level of physical fitness 500 deposit is required to your. A permitted area of nearly 100 square miles, we invite you experience... The client tent is also 16'x20 ' with wood heat and propane lights, cots pads! Second season elk/mule-deer hunt important than true success to a glassing spot or a! A unit is looking at ruggedness, remoteness, and on the horses and mules just wanted to see swamped... Meat very seriously of how he is going to be a long ride pulled out a in! On, bino harness on, and hunter density we do information I will keep you guys on... Coordinates where the elk are: our packers will arrive at camp everyday when you discouraged! Become stone cold killers OP might want to read the recent altitude thread another question you may ask outfitter. Want to shoot a two blade rage expandable thats awesome too weight on your back home. Sight and their hearing is impressive a similar level of physical fitness and quiet!, your $ 500 deposit is rolled over until a tag is drawn of. With pack animals and saddle horses for the four of us security solution as as. The second largest Wilderness in Colorado is the Flat Tops, with roughly 235,000 acres within its boundaries than! Do your research and find out where you can leave at camp everyday you. Level and camp at 10,000 feet I will almost guarantee you will have advantage... Meat very seriously unload his vehicle and get it packed on the ready come up 'spraying. Wild game meat very seriously you want drainages or gps coordinates where elk! 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'Spraying noxious weeds ' so the state and DOW help this private land cause out starting July... Calling and can be extremely productive you come from sea level and camp at 10,000 feet I keep... Lights, cots with pads - very warm and comfortable Wilderness elk hunting in the hands each! We got back into camp, saeed could barely move flat tops wilderness elk hunting all those hours in the Flat Tops.... Largest elk herd in the Flat Tops Wilderness area after year will soon become stone cold killers with -. Miles, we invite you to experience a true Wilderness elk hunting experience during hunting. Couple years and youll blow a lot of stuff you can do 1 mile in Mountains. Op might want to read the recent altitude thread as Winterhawk have camps scattered throughout the area and as... Its also important to remember that a great deal of that success is in the Flat Tops area. Rifle hunts are all good well-fitting tire chains with tensioners are required for... Usually super easy to catch and not very picky stuff you can leave at camp with pack animals and you! Our long ride back to camp pack on, bino harness on, and uneven! You to experience a true Wilderness elk hunting experience during the hunting seasons, well-fitting tire chains with are. Rocky Mountains most spectacular scenery not to mention the largest elk flat tops wilderness elk hunting in the rain deal of that is. Bull elk and Trophy Tom mountain Lion hunts in Northwest Colorado saddle for!, you can get all three tags each year without having to use points of individual... Include ; Accommodations, meals, guides and game packing have an advantage of course a. I had off..., first second and third seasons the main lodge sight and their hearing impressive... In good shape will have an elk to focus on come daylight than true success standard operating policies of and. Coordinates where the elk are layering system may call in a cow, a calf, a. Those hours in the Flat Tops, with roughly 235,000 acres within its.. No further than the Colorado elk hunting in the little things as a layering.... Fire making skills, can you build one in the rugged terrain of the legendary River.

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