Colorado Elk

[7mmfan]

So I posted a while back asking for any advice anyone was willing to give up for Colorado Elk. Didn't get much of a response, no big deal though. I did a lot of research in the last few weeks and we've narrowed it down to OTC tags for 3rd season in the NW corner. There are a handful of units that seem to dominate the harvests, and obviously have the most hunters. From anyone that has been there before, I'm curious as to the crowds, and can you get away from them if you are willing to walk a ways? We are used to walking miles in the dark here in WA to get to where we hunt, so no biggy. Also, was curious if anyone had any specific units they have hunted and what their thoughts were on them. Thanks guys   

[romaknows]

I bow hunted out of Rangley in unit 21 and didnt see many others, lots of gasline roads through the area.

[norsepeak]

Used to live in Grand Lake, tons of elk, and some nice bulls too.  Good access, but also lots of roadless, hike in type stuff too.  A little snow really makes the hunting in that area fantastic.

[Branden]

Colorado is an elk hunters dream. Tons of elk and good bulls if you get off the road and hunt. Send me a pm for more info

[carver52]

Hunted the Flattops Wilderness area 3 season in archery.  Elk all over, but when on the edges of the wilderness, at sundown from high points you'd see many headlights of atvs heading out for the night.  Not a lot of deer in Sept. but some really good bucks.  Get used to altitude, we were at 13K+ on the last hunt.  We hunted both sides of the South Fork of the White river.  The area out of Budges resort had tons of elk, good trails for hiking.
Good luck.

[bolsen]

The routte national forest has a ton of elk but a ton of hunters too. If it snows quite a bit they will be on the move down to the lowlands.  If not, they will be all over up top. I've seen herds of 300 elk coming out of the routte.

[Holg3107]

I grew up in Rifle Colorado and hunted it until 2002 when I graduated. Primarily hunted unit 32 and 33. There are a lot of elk as well as a ton of people. Lots of good ground in the Book Cliffs as well as the White River ntl forest. Again access is easy and if you hunt a ways from the roads you may not see many people but 3rd season is popular and roads can be treacherous if you don't know what you are doing or where you are going. Lots of public land and lots of elk but no where near a gimme without spending tons of scouting time.

[LiveandLearn]

Elk hunting Colorado is on my bucket list