Colorado Elk unit 86 4th Rifle Season

[txhoghunter73]

Thanks for the help guys! I appreciate it! Started adding a bunch of stuff to my list of stuff to buy to get in there up high and spend a night without freezing to death. Pretty much have exhausted all the public maps. Gonna get on x and see what kind of craziness I can get into with that map.

 

[slv hunter]

I use on-x. Sometimes elk move off the private to bed in the trees. They may only be 1 or 2 hundred yards away from the fence. If you can find a way around the private with the on-x it can work pretty well. Good luck and keep the wind in your face

 

[txhoghunter73]

I use on-x. Sometimes elk move off the private to bed in the trees. They may only be 1 or 2 hundred yards away from the fence. If you can find a way around the private with the on-x it can work pretty well. Good luck and keep the wind in your face

Yessir I was thinking I may try a quick go at them this way. Especially if I can find sign or a bedding area.

 

[txhoghunter73]

So I have that weatherby Weathergaurd 300 win mag it's a 1ish Moa gun out to 600 but it's light. I also have a Remington 700 in 300 RUM that's a .5-.75 moa gun out to 600 and much further if I do my job and call the wind correctly but it's a heavy rifle. Probably in the neighborhood of 12.5-13 lbs. Which would y'all take? I'm not sure how far the shot opportunities will be. Although I'm sure if I was hunting at the tree line it would kind of be a indefinite number.

 

[slv hunter]

You'll be fine taking the 300wm. All the elk I've taken have been 500yds to 25yds. I love my 300 rum, but it stays home when I'm hunting where there is a possibility of a quick shot. Mine is 11.5 lbs and it's not easy for me to pull up and shot offhand. I take the 8lb 280ai and it's plenty to 600 or 700yds. I use a tall Harris bipod and by pack as shooting rest.
I think 90% of the elk will be low in the 4th season. They go for the best food in each season, which is down low in November.
If you see a bunch on private you can see who owns with on-x. Talk to them and see if they would like to hunt hogs in Texas. You never know.

 

[txhoghunter73]

So I been looking in ON-X. I think I found a decent honey hole around the rainbow trail/rainbow trail Lutheran camp. Elk wintering grounds with some good draws and part of the burn scar. Still wanting to go scout it before I go hunt. Does anyone know about camping around that area? If I go scout it'll be four of us trying to pitch a tent somewhere. Don't want to park my truck somewhere wrong or get my stuff broken in to.

 

[slv hunter]

So I been looking in ON-X. I think I found a decent honey hole around the rainbow trail/rainbow trail Lutheran camp. Elk wintering grounds with some good draws and part of the burn scar. Still wanting to go scout it before I go hunt. Does anyone know about camping around that area? If I go scout it'll be four of us trying to pitch a tent somewhere. Don't want to park my truck somewhere wrong or get my stuff broken in to.

I haven't spent any time in that area so can't tell you about a good place. Once your on BLM or USFS you can camp anywhere for free.

 

[txhoghunter73]

Ya I guess I already knew that. Sorry, I'm really tired. Going on like a hour of sleep in 2 days. More so worried about after snow starts falling and you can't drive very far in.

I haven't spent any time in that area so can't tell you about a good place. Once your on BLM or USFS you can camp anywhere for free.

 

[slv hunter]

Ya I guess I already knew that. Sorry, I'm really tired. Going on like a hour of sleep in 2 days. More so worried about after snow starts falling and you can't drive very far in.

There is a place called McCoy Gulch on CR 1a between hwy 50 and 69 that is blm and easy access to a plowed road. I think it's about a 20 min. drive to where your thinking of hunting. It could maybe work for ya'll. I established some rock climbing routes there.

 

[Me78569]

there are plenty of good places to camp up by the Lutheran camp. It is busy though, tons of traffic, so expect to do a good bit of walking or riding to get to some place to hunt.

I've parked up there numerous times with no issues, but I do have CO plates. I doubt you will have issues.

there was some good looking stuff north of that rainbow trail entry point ~4 miles.

 

[Chippewa]

I was just out to Lutheran Camp. If you get lucky there is a national forest camp ground right before you get to the the 4x4 only gate up to Rainbow. Not much parking near the gate. I had my Durango an just squeezed off edge of road to park for a 3hr hike up to Balman Reservoir. I must say its steep and rough. Most of the road is now loose rock. Not sure my truck will even be up to it this fall. Same goes for Hayden pass. Campgrounds at bottom an start seeing dispersed camp sites up at 8000ft. Saw wheelers so i'm assuming Rainbow is like a highway during elk season. The burn looks green until you hike in and find rose, oak brush, raspberry, but blotched grasses here an there. Deffinitly moisture now. Snow is still melting keeping swift runoffs flowing. Crossed one on Rainbow to check out the burn.

I had high hopes of truck camp at 8000ft but might not be worth it. Probably join the masses on BLM to camp and hoof it in from there.

 

[Me78569]

I wouldn't take my vehicle up any of those roads anymore. They are too poor and just beat the hell out of your vehicle.

Rainbow is crazy during hunting. I would vote to hike basic camp gear up above where most camp. You will have to hoof it a good way to get away from the masses.

 

[cohunt]

there are 2 campgrounds in that area, coldale(closed due to fire damage) and hayden creek(only 11 sites available with no potable water)--anywhere there is a campground there will be lots of hunters, people and atvs-- get there early and hike in where there is only foot traffic

 

[Chippewa]

Would BLM around Coledale still be open for truck camps?