Colorado Elk, 2nd season (Oct 22): general questions

[Richard.Howe]

I just bought my tag for a bull elk in the second CO season, which starts on Oct 22. I am hoping to do my hunt up around Meeker and surrounding areas.

I will be packing all my gear in and camp-hunting the entire week.

I'm looking to avoid as many other hunters as possible, and have decided to look at the foot-traffic only areas in this region.

Do any of you THR'ers know anything about Jensen and Oak Ridge SWAs, and/or Flat Top wilderness?

Long shot, I know!

Have a great night,
Rich

 

[Art Eatman]

Have you hunted before at those elevations? Coming out of sea-level country, you gotta remember there's no air in the air, up there.

I was talking yesterday with Jim Wilson, who does singing gigs in high Colorado. A doctor told him a way to help acclimatization: On the way up, take SudaFed per the directions. Dunno why, but it helps.

Go high on carbohydrates in your food supply...

I got into 4-degree F temperatures up above Gunnison, one year, camped at 10,500. We had to heat the generator of the Coleman stove in a wood fire before we could light the stove. Had to melt snow, since all the water jugs froze up. Had to boil the eggs for a while, and also the canned stuff, before we could prepare any sort of meal. "Are we having fun, yet?" "No." "Let's practice being elsewhere."

Sorry I ccouldn't answer your questions, but thought I'd offer some points to ponder...

, Art

 

[Richard.Howe]

Hmm...there's something appealing about trying to "tough it out," but not if it's just for fun. If I'm shiverin', I want to be shootin'!

I believe we might try to stay down in the "low" elevations, i.e. 8000ft and minus.

 

[killzone]

good luck

I have never been there but I ' ve just look it up and it really looks high and as Art said low Ox levels.
I have been in high country before and one thing I always do I take an Ox tube with me because when camping at night time your body doesn't get a lot rest because of the air quality. there are really easy to cary tubes out there, about a 6 pound tube should help I think.

 

[PaulDaisy]

Good luck! Concerns about altitude seem legitimate, but not showstoppers. I would recommend getting in a day early and taking a good hike, just to get used to it. Having a partner is a good idea, I think.
Regarding the location, high up is thought to be better this early. They do stay up in the wilderness areas until the snow falls and pushes them out. Last two years were warm and they never showed up at low elevations, so the only elk shot that I heard of were locals, who bail out as soon as the first round is squeezed onto private lands.
I am not personally familiar with the location you plan to hunt, but it was my experience that SWAs are too busy to be pleasant, unless you find a large one and hike far in. This is what I do, but still a lot of orange everywhere.
Wilderness, my friend, and good luck! Bring a cell phone or a friend, it does get rough at those elevations and one gets exhausted faster that at 3000 ft.
-P

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Three days is what it takes to get used to altitude, and as the above poster said, taking a good hike helps.

Take it easy!, when the heart starts thumping, stop and rest.

I don't know anything about your particular area, but this is Colorado, rest assured it will be steep and high.