I made a post a few months back questioning if my buddy and I should return to unit 15 (Colorado). We backpacked into the Sarvis Creek Wilderness area but unfortunately could not get into the elk. The general consensus in that post was that we should return since we are somewhat familiar with that unit/area.
I know some don't put a lot of stock into the stats that CO puts out each year but it's about the only thing I have to go by in starting to find a place to hunt. Since that post, the 2016 stats were posted and unit 15 had a 5% success rate during the archery season. Do you guys normally ignore that fact when determining a place to hunt? I know this can change from year to year but 5% is a little disheartening, right? I also think I read that the Sarvis Creek wilderness is the only wilderness that is all below tree line. We were the highest we could be in that area (10,400'). Should we be looking somewhere else that has higher ground?
One other question. I was looking around on the hunting atlas and units 12 & 24 caught my eye and both are part of the Flat Tops Wilderness (24 is majority wilderness). The only kicker is that these units aren't OTC. The unit map says they are "Valid, private land only" units. I guess I'm curious as to why these are private land only when they have a lot of wilderness area land in them?
I know some don't put a lot of stock into the stats that CO puts out each year but it's about the only thing I have to go by in starting to find a place to hunt. Since that post, the 2016 stats were posted and unit 15 had a 5% success rate during the archery season. Do you guys normally ignore that fact when determining a place to hunt? I know this can change from year to year but 5% is a little disheartening, right? I also think I read that the Sarvis Creek wilderness is the only wilderness that is all below tree line. We were the highest we could be in that area (10,400'). Should we be looking somewhere else that has higher ground?
One other question. I was looking around on the hunting atlas and units 12 & 24 caught my eye and both are part of the Flat Tops Wilderness (24 is majority wilderness). The only kicker is that these units aren't OTC. The unit map says they are "Valid, private land only" units. I guess I'm curious as to why these are private land only when they have a lot of wilderness area land in them?
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