Virtual Elk Hunt

Week Number Two

September 1-3, 2007

Unit 38, Colorado

I got skunked. I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t have a great weekend. Even though conditions were hopeful I just didn’t get the results I was hoping for – to see elk. Friday night it rained really well in Unit 38 near Rollinsville, CO. It made for perfect stalking conditions and fresh prints would be easy to find. The bad news were the people. There would be wave upon wave of humans heading for the high country for the day and for camping on this long holiday weekend. Statistically when more humans are in the woods the elk are much harder to find. This was one of those weekends. By the way that is Mount Audobon in the background next to Niwot Ridge in the middle. That area is in unit 29 but a very good place to hike and look for elk in general.

My destination was Jumbo mountain since I’ve had success there in the past and the nearby private lands on both sides of the mountain give refuge to elk while people assault the high country. However, it seems too early in the season still. I found zero, none, nada elk evidence. Not even a fresh print in the wet soil. Nothing. I also didn’t walk as far as I should. I brought the kid along who didn’t have the energy for this type of activity. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Archery season is a good time to introduce kids to elk hunting because it is a long season and the weather is usually mild. It almost always means we won’t see an elk but you never know and the exercise is good for both of us. Everything was very fresh after a hard rain the day before.

Enough whining. Here are the photos I did get. We did drive to nearly to the top of Rollins Pass. THE ROAD IS CLOSED AT NEEDLE’S EYE TUNNEL. If you go up there remember there is no way to drive up and over the divide. There are many places to hike, 4WD and bike once you get past the 3.8 miles of private lands on both sides of the road. The road is tricky in one spot and there are a LOT of potholes on the bottom portion. But after that it is a good road. I doubt there are any elk up that way because of all the human traffic. We did see a hunter or two up that way wasting their time in camp.

I love the dark timber in the Jumbo Mountain area. The habitat is drier than I prefer but with creeks running through the nearby valleys (near private land) the area offers elk safety, food and water all within a five mile radius.

Evidence did show elk had been here. But it’s not where they live. It’s a transition area. And this was within a mile from Rollins Pass Road. You have to walk further back in to find more elk. Three miles at least.

An elk had summered here at one point. But all the evidence was this old or older.

Here’s where it got good. This is near the top of Rollins Pass road. See the stretch of trees in the background? That is where I would be if I were an elk. A good hike from any road and up high. That valley had a lot of promise. I wish I could have gotten back in there. That’s actually Nebraska Hill and is accessible from the East Portal parking lot. Hike back into the James Peak Wilderness area and head up the steep slope. You can also access it from the Mammoth Gulch Road. It’s a good place to hunt thanks to the steep slope that scares most people away. The human traffic in the valleys surrounding Nebraska Hill are enough to keep the elk out of that area most of the summer.

Here’s a photo of the Needle’s Eye tunnel which is closed for some reason. There is a sign about 1.5 miles before you get to the tunnel. It’s too bad the NFS didn’t post the sign AT THE BEGINNING OF ROLLINS PASS ROAD SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR JUST TO REALIZE YOU CAN’T GO OVER THE DIVIDE. Wouldn’t it be nice if the NFS did just a LITTLE more work posting helpful signs?

As you can see the area has great potential around Jenny Creek but there are enough roads and a lot of people traveling those roads on the weekends to significantly alter where elk live. If the private lands spoil chance to get close to elk then the roads will.

More Jenny Creek area and views to the East. But be careful that’s unit 29 and it requires you to draw a tag. Unit 38 is an over the counter area.

Views looking toward Nebraska Hill with James Peak in the background. I like that area every time I’m in the neighborhood. It’s big enough and difficult enough to be a good place for elk.

This is the north slope and the steepest part of Nebraska Hill. Certainly a good place for elk to hide when the pressure is on. I’ve thought about attacking the slope from this side but haven’t gotten around to doing that just yet. Private land covers the valley to the left of this photo and I’ve always thought the border of that private land might be a good place to catch elk moving back and forth.

Looking west towards the great divide. That’s James Peak on the left and in the deep valley below that is Jenny Lind gulch. If I had more time I would have liked to hike all the way south to the highest point, Dakota Hill. I’m certain there are elk back in there. There are many springs, nice stands of aspen and pine. It has roads that run through it but they are private for the most part.

It’s still early in the season and the peak of the rut is going to fall after archery season any how. That doesn’t mean the elk aren’t active. I just like to hit the peak of the rut just right to get the most out of the season. I make a lot of mistakes and need every advantage in finding elk and getting close to them. I’ve been very reliant on the lunar cycle this year and that has paid off very well. This weekend had nothing to offer in the lunar cycle which is a disadvantage as far as I’m concerned. I like the new moon cycles the best. If the weather were cool or the new moon was upon us that would have helped a whole lot. September 11^th is a new moon and I fully expect that day to be very productive across the entire state. It’s a Tuesday. I’m going to see if I can get the day off of work for a day of play in elk country.

Thanks for reading!