Walden, CO Elk Hunt

gtk · Sep 6, 2013

Seems like there are people from everywhere on this forum, so I may get some feedback about Walden.

I'm going to Walden, CO with a few friends, on my first ever elk hunt here in just a few short weeks. It's a non-guided rifle hunt on private land (that borders Public land). Its located in Big Game Unit 16.

I'm just a little bit excited! I have never seen the rocky mountains. Big hills where I live, are 400' above sea level.

I have no idea what to expect. I've been told to pack for extremes either way, and to expect to do a lot of walking. I figure I better get a good backpack to carry with me.

Any suggestions as to "Must Takes" ? Besides obvious stuff like rifle/ammo

While an Elk would be nice, I am really just as excited about seeing the "real" mountains, and enjoying the scenery.

thx

Nico Testosteros · Sep 6, 2013

Drink lots of water. Take raingear. Get in shape.

Wyo · Sep 6, 2013

I live about 60 miles from Walden and travel through there often. If you haven't been in the Rocky Mountains before, you'll be impressed! I've also been hunting elk for about 50 years and I would suggest you bring:

- comfortable footwear, including boots you can use in the snow. Weather in Oct/Nov can range from 80 degrees to 0 degrees with 2 feet of snow. Be prepared for either/both. If your feet are cold, wet or blistered, you'll be miserable and nothing you can do will make things better.

- not sure if you're camping but, if so, good sleeping bag and cot. Again, if you don't sleep well you'll be miserable. If you sleep well and your feet are good, you can put up with just about anything else.

- good binoculars and spotting scope. You'll spend way more time glassing than walking. Bad optics will make your head hurt!

- again, clothing to meet any condition. You might see either or you might see both extremes in a week's time.

Not going to get into rifles/cartridges here. I have my preferences and others have theirs and usually we're all right. Personally, I'd say about anything in the .270 Win./.30-06 class or above will work fine if you can shoot.

Enjoy your trip. You'll love the mountains and the adventure! Good luck with the hunt!

BearBio · Sep 6, 2013

I have found that VERY large game bags are a must. My wife makes them from COTTON sheets.

A good whetstone. I've never gotten through an elk without re-sharpening and I use GOOD knives (Randalls). A bone saw, also or small hatchet.

Shoot 1/2 or more of your bullets at the range. My elk have been from less than 100 yards to over 400. You'll be good at whatever range you can hit a paper plate at.

GOOD boots, well broken in. Gore-tex gear that's layerable.

It's addicting!

ps: a REALLY good camera, set to the best settings (re: pixels) with extra batteries and memory card.

gtk · Sep 6, 2013

thx.

I'm in pretty decent shape for a 46 year old... 6' and 190lbs... I can walk miles of flat land w/out getting too tired.. I'll see how I do in the mountains, will probably be different story.

Wyo, we are staying in a hotel in Walden. They guys I'm going with did the tent camping thing for a few years out there, and they have decided a nice motel & bed are much better than tents !

Will definitely pack waterproof coat/bibs or pants..

I had a decent spotting scope, but the other day my son borrowed it, and it just so happened to fall off the 4wheeler & broke it

Weapon of choice will be .300 wsm, shooting 165 grain barnse tsx, pushed by 66.5 grains imr 4350.

Iggy · Sep 6, 2013

WYO gave you good information.
Weather in Oct/Nov can range from 80 degrees to 0 degrees with 2 feet of snow.

The changes can be quick and deadly if you aren't properly prepared. Look back to see where you've been for landmarks to look for to show you the way home.

You'll find you have half the wind you have down there on the flat lands.
It's a whole 'nother world at 8000 ft.

Good luck.

manyguns · Sep 6, 2013

Good binos are a must. Your rifle sounds fine. Rangefinders can be very important. I shot over a lot of animals before I got a rangefinder. Shooting sticks & knowing how to use them. With you back up against something they are close to a bench for accuracy. I like the 36" type that fold up & carry on the belt. Find some stairs & start climbing. Wear your pack when you do. Welcome to Co. & have a good hunt!

steveno · Sep 6, 2013

go a few days early so you have some time to adjust to the altitude. I went deer hunting up in the Old Roach area which is fairly close to where you will be. one year it was almost 80 degrees when we left Ft. Collins and 4:00 the next morning there was close to 2 feet of snow and getting deeper. it took us most of the day to get out and we would have been there until spring if we didn't.

gtk · Sep 6, 2013

steveno said:
go a few days early so you have some time to adjust to the altitude.

unfortunately, work will only allow me to get there a day in advance. Its been suggested to drink lots of water & take plenty of alleve with me ..

Its' also been suggested to take two pair of boots.. if one pair get wet, it can dry out while I use the other ..

gtk · Sep 6, 2013

Iggy said:
You'll find you have half the wind you have down there on the flat lands.
It's a whole 'nother world at 8000 ft.

Good luck.

thx, I'll need the luck !

Do you mean it's "not" as windy up in the mountains? Or vice-versa?

Iggy · Sep 6, 2013

gtk said:
thx, I'll need the luck !

Do you mean it's "not" as windy up in the mountains? Or vice-versa?

I mean the air is thinner and you'll run out of oxygen in your lungs twice as fast as at sea level. Not only that, the whole country stands on end. It's either uphill or downhill.

J. R. WEEMS · Sep 6, 2013

BE CAREFUL while dressing out your ELK. Was there in 1989, the found a guy that had been missing- seems his knife slipped and severed a artery in his leg. When found he was a straddle the ELK and deceased. This was WYO. Just a heads up. Have a good one, and GOOD LUCK!!

Hack · Sep 6, 2013

I went elk/mulie hunting in WY back in 1998. I was 48, was jogging 10 miles every other day, weighed around 190 pounds. I can tell you this, it kicked my tail. Especially if you have to drag your kill down the mountain. Where we hunted (northeast of Greybull) it was a three-four hour hike 'up the mountain' from the trail head/parking area, to get to the primo hunting areas. Elk like to run on the ridges, and in order to get to them, ya gotta scale a few mountains. Terrain was rugged where we were at, I wore Rocky boots, and they performed fine.

A number of things can be eliminated or added depending on how you plan on getting to your hunting area(s). If the prop owner allows vehicles, you can get away with a few things, and pack a bit more. If you have to hike in, it's a whole other story.

Post back whether you'll be hiking in, or riding in. This makes a big difference in what you can take. And what you need to take.

Rpg · Sep 6, 2013

Altitude can be an issue since you're going up 8,000 feet if you can, spend a week before your hunt in Denver (5,280 feet) or, better yet, higher elevation.

Take it easy! You'll do much better walking little and looking a lot.

Elk are big animals. If you're lucky enough to get one on the ground, you'll want help getting it out.

We used to tell people to only shoot an elk if its uphill. If its downhill from you, be sure you bring a frying pan - the only way to get it out could be to camp by it and eat it!

Enjoy your hunt!

Dashriprock · Sep 6, 2013

I hunt Unit 19, east over Cameron Pass from where you'll be.

Lots of good intel already posted. Since you can't acclimate for a few days, just be sure to take it easy as you'll likely feel oxygen deprived at first. Stay hydrated -- seriously well hydrated. The arid environment will suck it out of you. Hot or cold temps, the mountain doesn't care -- drink plenty water regularly.

Be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness. It is a real thing for some folks who come up here from the flatlands.

Keep in mind deer around there will often live in the same couple-square-mile area their whole lives. Elk will move 30 miles overnight just to get away from your scent. Hunt north slopes, dark timber, it's where they'll be bedded down during the day. Treed edges of meadows near water sources as dusk approaches can be optimal.

Elk are majestic, they are smart, they have 4x vision and a nose like a bloodhound. To my mind, it is the finest big game animal and the finest hunting experience we have in North America. Enjoy your trip to the Rockies and good luck baggin' a big 'un!

arjay · Sep 6, 2013

If you aren't a runner or a cyclist,I'd get going with one and get a start on aerobic conditioning.Even a few weeks worth will help with the altitude and climbing involved.The weather can be mild to wild this time of year and the winds can really howl.Good maps (I like the ones by national geographic),a compass and a GPS are very useful.Getting lost in the thick stuff is easy and if a blizzard blows in,you're screwed...Im a local yokel and complacency almost bit me a few years ago(my friends and family were floored that I got lost and spent the night ,in shorts,in 5' of snow and my ex laughed!)
This cutie posed at 30 yards yesterday.Couple miles from the end of the road and its archery season.I was armed with a fly rod

Dashriprock · Sep 6, 2013

As an illustrator of weather (and terrain.) These shots were taken about 18 hours apart. Snow shot was around 5 p.m. after kill. Clear shot was mid morning next day. Note truck at bottom of hill for scale.

30-30remchester · Sep 6, 2013

After being an elk hunter for 45 years, the one item you need to take is ME. Save a few for the rest of us.

Beruisis · Sep 6, 2013

In the early 1970s I roughnecked out of Walden. The town itself is on the flats but surrounded by mt ranges. Shot alot of prairie dogs there & sported a girl who worked at Old Baldy CC in Saratoga, Wyo.
I've hunted elk most of the years since & as previously stated the two most important items will be your boots & sleeping bag. Spare no expense there. Good hunting.....you'll prob keep going back.
Beruisis

RenoGuy · Sep 6, 2013

Rpg said:
Elk are big animals. If you're lucky enough to get one on the ground, you'll want help getting it out.

We used to tell people to only shoot an elk if its uphill. If its downhill from you, be sure you bring a frying pan - the only way to get it out could be to camp by it and eat it!

This ^^^^^^^^^^

My brother got his first elk in Colorado a few years ago. He said his biggest mistake was shooting one that was down in a valley.

Took my brother and two other guys more than six hours to pack that sucker out of there

Walden, CO Elk Hunt

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