Re: Elk hunting suggestions anyone?
We normally do a two week trip to CO during the early rifle season for about $1,100 to $1,200 a piece if you have three guys. That includes everything, including a hotel for two weeks(one room), gas, tags, food, literally everything.
You can get across the counter tags in the early rifle season in most areas. We hunt in the Paonia-HotchKiss area on Electric Mountain. Lots of elk. Easy access. We go a week early and spend the whole first week scouting, and trout fishing. There is a fantastic river a stones throw from the hotel(slight exageration-it is actually across the street). You can go to Black Canyon for an afternoon. Or Grand Mesa. Just a really nice place.
Good hot meals, good beds, great hunting, reasonable prices. In the BlM lands you can even use a 4-wheeler if you choose. But there are plenty of places that are rugged enough that no one can get a 4-wheeler into if you don't like 4-wheelers.
There are also some great places to camp on the Mountain and save some money. And more than rugged enough places if you are a pack-in kind of guy. A little bit of everything really. And normally the weather in the early season is nice. However I did see it snow over 3 feet one year in the first two days of season!!
Get creative. Tom.