My wife and I packed the truck and headed west in late October to hunt Colorado's 3rd season which ran Nov. 3-Nov. 11. We got into Colorado 3 days before the hunt to scout. This was a DIY public land hunt.
We found a cabin to stay in while scouting and planned to set up a camp on nearby public land after scouting the area. We decided to just stay in the cabin and hunt from it. We got a discount on the cabin if we stayed at least 7 days and it was close enough to the area we hunted that it really involved no more driving every day.
I'd deer hunted Colorado once before in 2010 and tagged along with some other guys who had been in the past. But I couldn't get anyone to go with me this time. In 2010 we hunted the NW corner and I was tempted to go there this time. But I settled on the south central area near Pagosa Springs. Coming from GA it is almost a full day's drive closer. From PA hunting in the northern part of the state may be closer.
After the 2010 hunt I decided that if I were driving that far I'd buy an elk tag next time. I can kill a deer at home. My plan was to go back every other year until I got an elk. But life often has other plans and it was impossible to go before this year.
My wife and I are both 60 and not getting any younger. I decided that I probably only have a few more years that I'll be able to climb the mountains so we just went for it. My wife doesn't hunt, but she went along as company and to help get one out if successful.
The tag was $661. I drove 3700 miles total and was gone 2 weeks staying in either motels or the cabin. I didn't include the costs of food because we'd have to eat at home anyway, but we spent about $2000-$2200 total on the trip. Had I gone with another hunter and split the costs of gas and lodging it would have been less expensive.
I didn't see any sign while scouting, but was advised by locals that was normal. I was told the elk were currently several miles to the west and recent snows would push them east into this area in a few days. With that info I decided to hunt a drainage to the west of our cabin. I didn't see a thing for 3 days, but 4 other hunters staying in nearby cabins had elk in the campground by Monday and I decided to change plans. I moved into another area a few miles to the east to hunt on day 4.
Within 1/2 mile of the road it looked like a barn yard. Elk tracks and droppings everywhere. I hunted that area for the last few days with no success. The elk by then had already moved on farther east. Had I hunted that spot the 1st few days I would have likely at least had an opportunity.
I plan to return to the same area next year and for as long as I can still get up the mountains. Or until I kill an elk. I knew that going in blind and completely inexperienced the 1st year would probably just be a learning experience. I know the area much better now and have learned from mistakes on this trip.
I don't consider myself an expert by any means, but after doing this once I feel like there were many things I did right. Many that I'll do differently next time. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer them if I can.
