I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot that Bull. Being a NR with 0 boots on the ground scouting is a major factor. The other major factor is the short trip with few days to be picky. I will enjoy the meat and remember the hunt by the horns hung in my garage!
Three years in a row I hunted the same OTC unit and found elk in the same nasty steep drainage each year. They may not be there one day but will be there in the following days is what I experienced.
I’ve always enjoyed RMNP. Several vacations out there and always stayed on the Grand Lake side. One of the trips we drove into the park at dusk and I stopped counting moose at 50 or so because we saw so many. One September I wasn’t elk hunting and we watched the elk rut there for several days...
CO OTC where I hunted 2019-21' I'd definitely consider busy. Typically a camp setup along the FS road anywhere that was ideal and atv/truck parked at every drainage or logging road. Ran into hunters several times a day usually. I was able to take advantage of the pressure to find the pockets of...
Homemade 30 or 50 gallon barrel with a gravity head bolted on. Legs to desired height and attached to side of barrel. Very difficult for coons to get what they are after.
Both elk I've shot with Magnus stinger 100gr. and haven't had good blood trails. Recovered both within 100-200 yards though. Switching to QAD Exodus 100gr. this year in hopes of better blood trail.