Going to U53 in Colorado this year, 1st rifle season. Any feedback would be appreciated.

you sound pretty sure of that ?, the draw isn't till June, and it doesn't mean you will draw.
but good luck if you do.


Kevin

True, need to get drawn first, lol. Kevin, any feedback on 53? Thanks.

Sorry i have never hunted 53, but i am sure someone will help you.
do you have any preference points built up ?.

Kevin

No, we did speak to the DOW guy out there, he thinks we should be able to draw a tag for that unit. Got 6 of us going as a group.

2009 had 100% "draw" with zero points first rifle season, so yes, I would agree with the game warden you talked to. Unit 53 right out of Crawford. Gets pounded with hunters. Decent hunting if you pack way in with horses or by foot.

Winch is right, I guarantee you will draw. I have been hunting 53 for the past 3 years. We have done very well in there, but we do it the hard way. Backpack in and don't come out til the seasons over or we shoot a bull. Last year was tough, lots of elk sign that looked to be a few weeks old but nothing fresh. Almost like the elk had been pushed out by archery/muzzleloader hunters. We were there in first rifle also. Also there was ZERO cattle in the high country that led us to believe there may have recently been a major round up that also could have pushed the elk out. In previos years in bow season there was tons of cattle up to 10,000ft. We did kill the only bull we saw last year on the 4th day, a nice 280 bull. I would rather not say what area of 53 we hunt.

With the new MZ tags being unit specific this year we are hoping to draw mz tags. It should be very good during the rut!

Thanks for the replies so far, keep them coming. I'm not looking for peoples spots to hunt just some feedback on the unit and other helpful insight. Thanks again.

I have hunted unit 53 for many many years since I grew up in Crawford. The elk hunting is good and 1st rifle is a good choice since the elk are still rutting hard. A lot of the elk have migrated towards their wintering grounds by this time and actually hunting some of the lower foothills of the west elks can be the best at this time. The acorns are ripe in the oak brush and the elk will stack up in the pinyon, cedar, and oak elevations as long as their is adequate water. The herds are usually pretty big by then unlike early season where they are still scattered in smaller buches. Be prepared to see alot of bear also in 53. We have an awesome population of them in that unit. I archery hunt so I hunt the higher elevations (7000-10000). Rifle season we usually drop down to the cedar and oak level (6000-7500) for bulls.

Not to hijack his post, but I should draw a 3rd season deer for 53. Anyone have an opinion? Any insight would be appreciated. As a non-resident, this will be a once a decade event. Thanks guys.

The best advise I could give you is spend all summer scouting this area. If you have access to horses use them!

Thanks darktimber, are you hunting 53 again this year?

We got our tags! Pumped up, now the real work starts...