Ttt

 

Post your question here also, it's the CO elk hunting site. I'm sure someone may be able to steer you in the right direction!
http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/regional/threads.cfm

It's worth a try! (grin)

ElkNut1

 

I hunted that area last year in the middle of the season. It was mild temps and the elk were still above 10,000 and it is a fair walk into the wilderness from any road end. I did it, the only hitch is you are not very mobile as far as being able to glass a lot of area and being able to move to new areas as needed when the elk are absent.

Since you are NR and cannot do any scouting prior to the hunt you must be mobile until you find them.

There is plenty of space. At each trailhead into the wilderness there are lots of outfitters parked. We hunted outside the wilderness area and I only ran across 1 other hunter in the field. In the area we camped ( on the road ) there was only one other camp for about 5 miles.

The success rate is in the teens.

 

I highly reccommend using google earth as a reasearch tool.

www.earth.google.com

Get CUSTOM maps from www.mytopo.com..... big ones.... prefferably 1:15000 scale or 1:10000. I personally prefer the combination airel photo with topo overlays. NICE!

Call the local DNR office in Durango and ask to speak with the local biologist and see if he can get you some good areas and basins to start in.

You may also want to think about having the equipment to make a spike camp out in the wilderness (2-3 days at a time). This is one of the best ways to get out there and stay out there with the elk and still be mobile. This entails light weight (down) sleeping bags, a multiperson tent, small lantern(s), portable water purification, dehydrated meals and a cooking system (jetboil or other) that's portable and lightweight... and no campfires.

I'm doing the spike camp thing myself this year in SW Colorado.:nod:

-ZA

 

South west Colodrado.........sooooo the pieces come together!!!!

Sshhh....:secret:

 

Forgot to add I will be going back in the same general area. Last year was a hunting/fact finding trip. We saw some elk and some good basin and ridge explored. Got my area scoped out.

I doubt I will try the wilderness area again. To hunt there you need to use an outfitter or be committed to camping in the wilderness and locked into an area which mandates pre-season scouting since you loose ability to move miles and not live in a bag and eat dried stuff. I did enough of that for the Corps. I'm older and poor.

 

Great info - - -

Keep it coming!
I have been using the various web sites to look over the areas already - very good tool.
F.Y.I. - Another nice site is "Virtual Earth": http://maps.live.com

 

Archery elk - Colorado

Any more comments or tips on the San Juan National Forest or the South San Juan Wilderness area for elk???

 

Any more comments or tips on the San Juan National Forest or the South San Juan Wilderness area for elk???

Ya, get in shape. You'll need it.