Big, 300+ size bulls are common. The elk tend to stay put over the seasons. Movement is weather dependent. Overall, elk are scattered throughout the unit. Hold out for a good bull as the average size is around 305.
Elk are distributed evenly throughout this unit. During the day, the bulls will be in dark timber - glass in the early morning and evening.
Elk are scattered from about 7,000ft to above timberline. As hunting pressure increases, they seek the deeper canyons and dark timber areas way from roads.
If there is no snow, elk will likely be scattered throughout the high elevation landscape. Hunters will be most successful by walking along transition areas up high.
You will need to get away from the roads. There are lots of legal bulls as the area is managed for quantity of bulls rather than trophy status. Hence, trophy bulls are present but relatively rare.
Elk can be found throughout the unit, especially in the western two-thirds of the area up to timberline.
As hunting pressure increases, they seek the deeper canyons and dark timber areas way from roads. Concentrating on the large stands of dark timber and the larger wilderness areas will increase your chance of finding a big bull on public lands.
Good cow hunting opportunities exist in this unit. The best hunting is in remote areas, mostly at high elevations, where the elk tend to hold up in pockets of green timber and aspen. Check out the Texas Mountain area and Rat Hole Ridge.
Elk hunting is good but requires hunters to pursue animals in challenging terrain. Overall, success rates for elk hunters in unlimited units in the San Luis Valley are generally lower than the statewide average. Weather is a dominant factor for hunters.
Concentrate your efforts in the piñon/juniper areas and canyon areas.
Elk are found throughout the unit, and most will generally be found between 8,000 feet and 10,000 feet in elevation. This is a "high-country" unit with numerous 14ers in the area. The area around Shavano provides good elk habitat for early seasons.
The elevation in this area ranges from 5,778 feet to 4,856 feet. The terrain is Flat to gently rolling. The vegetation consists of Shortgrass prairie.
Hunters are advised to be in good shape and to hunt well away from roads. Elk will move to difficult terrain when hunting pressure starts; so be prepared to hunt canyons or thick timber.
The herd is growing, well distributed and hunting is rated as good. Most elk will be at higher elevations during the early seasons above 8,500 feet in thick timber and oak brush. Distribution changes in relation to weather and hunting pressure.
Finding bulls is tough. They have survived by knowing how to avoid hunters. Concentrate on rugged terrain away from other hunters. Weather often dictates the success rate in this area.
Hunting prospects are good. Because of the extent of wilderness area in these units, elk find plenty of lush meadows for summer grazing. The elk will stay high until hunting pressure or weather force them down.
Elk are plentiful throughout the Upper Yampa area. Licenses are also readily available, but hunters should not rely on leftover license availability as these herds approach population objective.
Generally, this unit is considered very good elk hunting. Because of access roads, hunting pressure is high on Sleepy Cat, Lost Park and Sand Peak.
The southern 30 percent of unit usually holds more elk than rest of unit. Twin Peaks and Lake Creek are a good place to drive through on Hwy. 82 scanning for elk. Keep in mind this is very high country with elevations not going far below 9,000 feet.
Hunters must be prepared to walk into remote and forested areas. Do not expect to see elk from roads or areas open to OHVs. In early seasons, stick to cool areas on north-facing slopes in the spruce/fir and aspen forests.
Hunters applying for limited tags in Western states have lamented in recent years about preference point creep. Is preference point creep wide spread or limited to a few coveted units? We break down the data to answer the truth about point creep.
When applying for a limited license, a preference point is awarded when an individual is unsuccessful in drawing their first-choice hunt code.
Limited licenses are limited in many aspects beyond just quantity of licenses available.