Hunting buddy for Colorado

[Ajohnson0587]

I’m planning to head to Colorado 2nd or 3rd week in September for OTC elk. Looking for a hunting buddy that’s serious about getting into hunting out west and killing elk & mule deer. My current hunting buddy is building a house, if he takes any time from it his wife will kill him lol. The others have no interest in archery or hunting/hiking in the mountains, they’d rather sit in a deer stand in Ga.
I’ve already stated working out and plan on heading to N GA to hike in the mountains couple times a month. Anyone is welcome to join no experience necessary lol. Anyone interested in making the drive to CO to try and kill an Elk in September?

 

[menhadenman]

I’m going to kill one in Wyoming in October, otherwise I’d be game!

 

[Gaswamp]

have you been out there before?

 

[sowega hunter]

Have you checked on OTC tags? I was going, but Colorado is not selling OTC to nonresidents anymore, from what I've found. Hopefuly I'm wrong.

 

[Pig Predator]

Have you checked on OTC tags? I was going, but Colorado is not selling OTC to nonresidents anymore, from what I've found. Hopefuly I'm wrong.

Starts 2025 season.

Colorado Votes to End OTC Non-Resident Archery Elk Tag

Rumors have been flying that it was coming, but Colorado has now made the move to end over-the-counter non-resident archery elk tags.

www.bowhunting.com

 

[Ajohnson0587]

have you been out there before?

Never, I’ve been trying for 2yrs, but I kept making excuses, and waiting on buddies that say they want to kill an elk but they aren’t even doing the research or acquiring the needed gear to hunt out west. Over the last 2 years I’ve bought everything I’ll need from, better boots, framed packs, tent, satellite communicator, freeze dried food, etc. I feel like if I don’t do it now it’s gonna keep getting put off. Hunting with an outfitter is an option, but I’d rather keep that $10-$15k in the bank for something else. If I could find someone on here just as motivated to go, then we could learn together or maybe someone might have experience and can show me.

 

[Ajohnson0587]

Have you checked on OTC tags? I was going, but Colorado is not selling OTC to nonresidents anymore, from what I've found. Hopefuly I'm wrong.

Yes, they are going to be available, but in 2025 they will be limiting OTC for non-residents. Right now you pull into a local sporting goods store and buy a OTC bull tag. Also, Utah is another OTC option as well for the future until they decide to do what Colorado has done this spring. Hopefully this doesn’t happen either.

 

[pjciii]

I’m planning to head to Colorado 2nd or 3rd week in September for OTC elk. Looking for a hunting buddy that’s serious about getting into hunting out west and killing elk & mule deer. My current hunting buddy is building a house, if he takes any time from it his wife will kill him lol. The others have no interest in archery or hunting/hiking in the mountains, they’d rather sit in a deer stand in Ga.
I’ve already stated working out and plan on heading to N GA to hike in the mountains couple times a month. Anyone is welcome to join no experience necessary lol. Anyone interested in making the drive to CO to try and kill an Elk in September?

I don't know where you live but had a buddy that was going to Bhutan. He trained just going up and down Stone Mountain for several months.

 

[menhadenman]

OTC will be a goat show… but guys still kill. Only things I’d suggest:

- boots, pack, binos top of the list
- call the regional bios to get some advice
- a summer scouting trip (fly in for a few days with a trout rod, tent and binos) worth its weight in gold
- if you can run at least one 7 minute mile it’d be a big help. Maybe get up to the mountains to ruck a few times this summer
- getting 2 miles from a road and 1 mile from a trail is not a bad goal
- listen to a few podcasts in your free time. Cliff Grey has some good stuff, same with Gritty.
- shoot as many times per week as you can stand.

 

[menhadenman]

OTC will be a goat show… but guys still kill. Only things I’d suggest:

- boots, pack, binos top of the list
- call the regional bios to get some advice
- a summer scouting trip (fly in for a few days with a trout rod, tent and binos) worth its weight in gold
- if you can run at least one 7 minute mile it’d be a big help. Maybe get up to the mountains to ruck a few times
- getting 2 miles from a road and 1 mile from a trail is not a bad goal
- listen to a few podcasts in your free time. Cliff Grey has some good stuff, same with Gritty.
- shoot as many times per week as you can stand

 

[notnksnemor]

If you're going OTC area public land plan on hiking at least 2-3 miles past where any vehicle will go. If you can find a trailhead where outfitters horseback in, follow the trail. It will be easy to follow.
Keep in mind, you will have to pack the elk out on your back if you are successful then go back and get your gear.
Anywhere you can drive a vehicle to will look like Walmart parking lot.

Speaking from experience.

 

[Ajohnson0587]

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it, but all these are things I have already considered or I’m currently doing. I’ve been acquiring everything needed for this trip, (optics, food/water & filtration, proper clothing/boots, safety & shelter items, etc…) I’ve spent 2yrs planning, studying, and picking the brains of other elk hunters across the country at archery events. I’m just looking for someone to hunt with, mainly for safety reasons, but also to share the experience with a like minded individual. I plan on having a spike camp that is at minimum 5miles in with a water source, and I already have a trip planned in August to scout for those things. I don’t want to go in completely blind. I even flew to Montana last week to shoot the Total Archery Challenge event as a simulation for the Hiking (8-9 miles each day for 3 days straight), shooting at elevation, this was to get a baseline on my fitness and also see how the elk setup on my bow will shoot at 7k feet of elevation. I’ll be in Colorado the middle of July for another TAC event as the last fitness baseline test.

 

[Ajohnson0587]

I don't know where you live but had a buddy that was going to Bhutan. He trained just going up and down Stone Mountain for several months.

I live in McDonough. I made a few trips to Stone Mtn already trying to get ready for the Montana TAC event. It helped a little, but more-so, me losing 60lbs since December had been the real determining factor

 

[pjciii]

Congratulations on your weight loss. That alone will go along way on your body putting it thru the rigorous demand on your body. Altitude, thin air, walking up hill, downhill, side hill and packing out the meat.

 

[Ajohnson0587]

Congratulations on your weight loss. That alone will go along way on your body putting it thru the rigorous demand on your body. Altitude, thin air, walking up hill, downhill, side hill and packing out the meat.

It definitely helped, it showed last week in Montana, hiking down from 8,8XX feet to 7,2XX for 3 straight days, and averaging 8-1/2 miles a day. Boots & gear were also a big help, legs were a little sore (to be expected) but, back & feet held up great.

 

[menhadenman]

I live close to Blood Mountain, AT, and Duncan Ridge, send me a message if you’d like to get a good hike in with weight. I’ll be hitting it hard in prep for my hunt too. Lived out west for close to 15 years and hunt the Rockies pretty often.

Planning on a ~15 mile overnight with my puppy in next week or two. Lots of elevation gain is good medicine for that kinda hunt.

 

[HardlyHangin]

Two years ago the summer before my CO elk hunt i hiked the entire ga section of the benton mackaye in single overnight trips to test gear and get in shape. Sounds like you've got the right mindset!

 

[Ajohnson0587]

Two years ago the summer before my CO elk hunt i hiked the entire ga section of the benton mackaye in single overnight trips to test gear and get in shape. Sounds like you've got the right mindset!

I've been known to get lucky and kill on first time hunt's, last thing I need to do die of a heart attack at 37 trying to get an elk off a mountain lol.

 

[cowhornedspike]

I've been known to get lucky and kill on first time hunt's, last thing I need to do die of a heart attack at 37 trying to get an elk off a mountain lol.

Hunting is the easy and fun part. Getting him out is when it gets tough...I promise.

 

[notnksnemor]

Sounds like you've got a solid plan.
The only thing exercise can't prepare you for is the lack of oxygen at altitude.
Your body has to become acclimated to that.
I would suggest getting there several days prior to your hunt to acclimate.