Colorado hunting 2021

[Hunt4lyf]

So I had 2 days to hunt elk this year, I didn’t draw anything and never saw a tag pop up on the reissue list that I was interested in and could hunt so I grabbed an OTC and hunted a local area, it’s a tough unit to find a legal bull and it reminds me of hunting D19/16, success rate was 11% last year.

Opening day I did 10 miles just moving quick looking for sign, I found a bit but nothing very exciting. I ran into one old guy that jumped an elk but never saw it, he pointed out the direction it was headed which was where I was going so when I cut its tracks I stayed on them. After 1/4 mile the dang thing jumped up from behind a blow down and took off running at 50 yards, all I could see was it’s legal rack and the top of its head, it never showed itself and I never had a shot. That was the only elk I saw.



Sunday I did 8 miles and left a bit early to get home to take my kid trick or treating. I’m still looking for my first OTC bull, it’s humbling to hunt these local units to say the least.



And now I’m headed to THE 16 on Wednesday for 4 days of hunting with my dad.

 

[Hunt4lyf]

I just got back from 4 days hunting D16, it was the worst I've seen in years due to the lack of water and more lion/coyote tracks than I've ever seen, 1 guy saw a lion and another got growled and hissed at from about 30 yards away by a lion. Saw a total of 8 deer, 6 of which were does, 1 tiny spike and 1 nice forky that I couldn't get a shot at. 3rd rifle buck in Colorado starts this saturday so hopefully I'll fill that tag because so far I've only filled 1 tag out of 4 different hunts.

 

[ilovesprig]

Talked to a biologist friend yesterday...He said the number of cats and sightings is getting ridiculous...These pix are from a friend on MCC Saturday...Mom with 2 cubs.

ps...Pix were taken with his cell....Close!

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[Hunt4lyf]

Talked to a biologist friend yesterday...He said the number of cats and sightings is getting ridiculous...These pix are from a friend on MCC Saturday...Mom with 2 cubs.

ps...Pix were taken with his cell....Close!

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It’s the worst I’ve seen, every road had fresh lion tracks on top of our tracks every morning, one walked through our camp on Friday while we were out hunting, it’s a wonder there’s any deer left. Those are some good pictures for a cell phone, they must’ve been super close.

 

[Hunt4lyf]

3rd rifle was kind of a let down as far as decent bucks went, I passed up a long shot at a decent 150” 4x4 opening morning hoping for a bigger buck and closer shot that never materialized. After that I was as lucky to turn up small forks and a couple tiny 4x4’s. Everyone else had pretty much the same experience and I ended up eating tag soup, again, 4 out of 5 tags so far have gone infilled. My cousin though got his biggest buck so far




I did thump a coyote that was harassing some does with fawns




That’s about it for big game this year, I do have a whitetail doe tag in December but my luck on those things is pretty dismal and I’ll grab a plains elk tag just because I’m there looking for a doe.

 

[baboltin]

That’s a bummer about third season, I have had the same luck 1 tag filled out of four for the year and ate my Colorado third season tag as well. Passed on a number of bucks but oh well I guess that’s the name of the game when your looking for something specific.

 

[Hunt4lyf]

Final tag of the season was filled yesterday evening in the last minute of shooting light on the last day. I still have a plains elk tag but have almost zero expectations of filling it after the farmer plowed under the only place I’ve found elk sign at out there.

My first whitetail doe.