I just got back from a two week archery trip in Colorado and had some success in an over-the-counter unit again. It was really tough hunting this year. Between our group of 10 and another nearby camp of 5, we killed one cow and one 5x5 bull. There were only a handful of sightings. One close encounter with a 4x4 at 35 yards but couldn't get a good shot. Very few cows, or recent sign of cows. I mainly hunted between 10k' to 11.2k'. The cow was shot at a wallow around 9.4k'. Talked to a local agent who said they are considering making our unit and some others a draw in the next few years due to a dwindling herd. Another local hunter told me that local poachers have really put a dent on the herd. I was there for two weeks and shot my elk on the 6th day, which was 9/11. I had just sent my wife a text telling her how lucky I felt to have the freedom to hunt because of the sacrifices our military and first responders have made. Two minutes later, at 7.04 a.m., this 5x5 came into a cow call and it was a done deal.







I also had a close encounter, 8 yards, with a large black bear, and also watched a large bull moose from 100 yards away one evening. Even had I not lucked out and killed an elk, the trip was still a blast!

I'm pretty excited to say the least! This was my second archery trip out there. I also killed a 5x5 in 2019. Happy to answer any questions but out of respect for other hunters in my group and in the unit, I won't give out the location.

Thanks for looking!

ol'dad

Awesome, cool story.

Nice

Very nice!!

Well done ! How far did you have to pack it ?

Nice

Well done,congrats on a sucessful hunt.

I wouldn’t give out the location either. May keep people from going there lol

Congrats

well done!

Nice looking bull congrats! I have been to Colorado twice with no success, your doin good..

Great story, well done. Congratulations on some of the finest wild game meat there is.

sounds like a great hunt

Congratulations on the Bull

Thanks. This one was actually not too bad. I was about 2.5 miles from the nearest trail. The unit I was hunting allows you to take an ATV off road one time to retrieve downed game. I was able to drive within 3/4 of a mile from where it laid.

Keep at it backroadsarcher. It's 85% luck and 15% effort. Try to hunt the highest elevation you can and in the least pressured areas. If it seems like a pain in the a$$ to hunt there that is where you need to be. Good luck!

Ol dad

Very Nice, You were Blessed!

Heck yeah! Congrats!!
I think NM herd dwindled years ago and they went to a draw. Apparently they’ve rebounded because my Uncle had to put a high fence around his pastures to keep the elk out. Every landowner along that stretch uses their landowner tags and makes sure they are filled. Got to see one close up and personal turkey hunting out there this past Spring.
If it had been elk season and I had a tag and was successful, I’d still be out there packing out meat. I’d be tempted to hire a helo to come in, lol!!

I'm thankful that Colorado still has some otc units but to be honest with you they probably do need to go back to a draw. I'm not even sure how they get a realistic harvest rate since they do not require you to call in your kill. They are supposed to send random surveys after the season but everyone I know that has harvested an elk there the past couple years has not received one. I'm assuming they do head counts in the spring when they come down off the mountain and are out in grasslands areas.

Ol dad

I have been selected to take the survey every single year that they have been doing them. I generally only go after cows though, not sure if that makes a difference.