Peak Elk Hunting in Colorado
The largest elk population in the United States can be found in Colorado. The most common elk in Colorado and the Rocky Mountains is the American Elk, formerly the Rocky Mountain Elk. Colorado boasts an elk population of more than 300,000. Bulls can weigh more than 800 pounds, and females weigh 450 to 500 pounds.
-
Licensing
-
The 2010 nonresident licensing fees, according to www.BigGameHunt.net, are $550 for bulls and $250 for cows. Resident license fees are $49 for both cow and bull elk. Colorado provides unlimited licenses for the archery season, second rifle season and third rifle season. The first and fourth rifle seasons are limited to a specific number of licenses, and licensees are determined by a draw based on a point system. The limitations are put in place in specific areas and times to control overcrowding and the quality of the hunting experience.
Hunting Public Lands
-
Without hiring a guide or gaining permission to hunt on private land, elk hunters will be limited to hunting on public land. In Colorado's 23 million square miles of public land, it can be overwhelming to choose a good hunting location. Colorado's public lands include state and national forests, state wildlife areas and state trust lands. Colorado has 11 national and state forests and more than 8 million Bureau of Land Management acres.
-
Best Locations
-
Unfortunately, elk are forced onto private land by hunters. Because trespassing is not tolerated in the state, hunting on the edges of public lands, where they abut private land, is a great hunting strategy. Three of the best places for elk, according to "Outdoor Life," are in the northern half of White River National Forest; the Routt National Forest, near Bear's Ear; and San Juan National Forest, with the largest populations near the Continental Divide. The millions of acres encompassed in these three areas will provide incredible opportunities for elk hunters.
Seasons
-
Archery season is from Aug. 28 to Sept. 26. The first rifle season is Oct. 16-20; the second rifle season is Oct. 23-31; the third rifle season is Nov. 6-14. The fourth rifle season is five days, Nov. 17-21. Muzzleloader season is Sept. 11-19. Colorado also has two late seasons where elk hunters can only hunt cows, and they are the weekend of Thanksgiving and another in January.
Tips
-
During elk hunting, bring high-quality binoculars or a scope to scan the hunting areas. Learn about elk, what they do, what food they like, how they travel and where they flee when they are being hunted. Contact local hunters, biologists and wildlife and forest managers to determine the best locations and travel patterns. And mind a hunter's responsibilities: respect others and private and public lands; do not litter; care for the game and environment; and ensure the safety of yourself and others first.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Elk image by bas from Fotolia.com
