2023 Archery Elk Season Recap
As always seems to be the case, archery elk season came and went too quickly…
Up at Dark Timber Lodge, we had a great group of (mostly) brand new archery elk hunters. Opening week was pretty consistent with everyone seeing and hearing elk throughout the week. Close calls, in your face encounters and important lessons learned were abundant. The second week was a different story with the elk seeming to shut down except for in a few tough-to-reach spots where the bulls were consistently bugling. Hunter pressure was a factor in pushing elk down into the oak brush and canyon walls which can make for very challenging hunting.
Accordingly, we changed our tactics a bit and hunted the elk that were talking. We also employed a bit of a hybrid hunt by combining a Dark Timber Lodge-based hunt with a drop camp style hunt. It worked great and our hunter killed a big cow on his second day and had bulls bugling nearby. This will likely be something we begin offering more often in the mid to late part of archery season going forward in the future.
Speaking of future archery seasons, this may be the last over-the-counter archery season unit 62 experiences for nonresidents. While nothing has been finalized by the CPW Commission, I think it’s probable that nonresidents (and possibly residents as well) will see a state-wide limited archery season starting in 2024 or 2025. This will require hunters to apply in the early spring and go through the draw process for a license as opposed to just picking up an OTC license at their leisure in August. Again, these changes are purely speculation at this time. But the overwhelming numbers of OTC archery hunters that Colorado has been dealing with statewide over the last 5-10 years will probably force CPW to make some changes to benefit elk herds as well as hunter experience.
Early Rifle Elk Hunt in Unit 61
In the vein of hunter experience, we had the wonderful opportunity to guide one hunter on a very limited hunt in unit 61 for the early rifle season. Only a small number of licenses are available for this early rifle hunt which takes place in the first week of October. Hunter pressure is non-existent and the elk are in peak rut. It is one of the best hunts you’ll find in the state. Combine that with fall colors putting on an incredible display of gold, orange and red along with the San Juan Mountains getting a really good dusting of early snow and you’ve got an epic hunt on your hands.
This particular hunter had accumulated a pile of preference points to draw this license and the action did not disappoint. We saw a ton of elk, some fantastic bulls and probably heard over 300 bugles in the span of a few days before he killed a beautiful bull in windy, cold conditions amidst a downpour of rain and booming, rolling thunder. Enduring three hours of cold rain with minimal cover while holding tight within a herd of a dozen elk bedded in the open at 150 yards is a memorable experience! Coincidentally, the early rifle hunter we guided last year in 2022 killed his bull on the same day (October 2nd) and in extremely similar conditions of heavy rain and crazy thunder.
Other News From Colorado
Now we’re gearing up for our regular rifle hunts and are excited to have the opportunity to guide some great hunts with some great hunters and make a whole new collection of lifelong memories.
In CPW Commission news, it appears Colorado has located a source for obtaining wolves for the initial reintroduction which is slated for the end of this year. Oregon has agreed to provide 10 wolves to Colorado. Additionally, CPW is in discussions with the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho for obtaining wolves for future Colorado releases.
Lastly, a recent proposal to ban hunting, trapping or the use of dogs for mountain lion, bobcat and lynx has been brought to the commission for review. This same proposal was brought forth a few years ago and was unanimously thrown out. But the anti-hunting groups will not stop in their efforts to thwart hunting opportunities. And this requires consistent engagement from us as hunters to show up and speak out. Please attend a commissioner meeting if you can. Send an email to the commissioners. It doesn’t matter if you live in Wisconson, Alabama, Oregon or Colorado. Everyone can and should participate in defending our privilege to hunt.
For an excellent resource that’s unbiased and provides access to accurate, factual information for a multitude of wildlife and conservation-based decisions, please check out the Howl for Wildlife website: www.howlforwildlife.org
This is a great site providing an education on very relevant issues and giving hunters a platform to do what we have to keep doing…SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT.
Thank you for reading, please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to all of you in your upcoming hunts. We hope you stay safe, have the best of luck and are able to put some of the best meat on the planet in your freezers to share with friends and family!
