went on a scouting run today... (pics)

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:12 AM

Picked up a doe tag for Colorado GMU 6 (and surrounding units) so I headed up to Walden, Colorado to do a little scouting and explore around Colorado State Forest, which is where I will likely hunt.

I love Colorado... In 1 day's worth of scouting I saw elk, deer, antelope, moose, badger, coyote, and too many other small animals to list.

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:14 AM

Here is a picture of the continental divide that I pass over on the way to North Park...

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:15 AM

My ultimate destination: The mountains in the background have aspen stands between 9,000-10,500 ft, which is where I focused my scouting.

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:16 AM

bumped into this young buck on the way through some BLM land on the way to the hills in the previous pic:

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:17 AM

.........and he had some buddies:

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:19 AM

These 3 mulies were in sagebrush country and a ways from the nearest cover, EXCEPT for 1 lone patch of aspens about 2 acres in size. I passed by the stand 3 more times while scouting and these deer were in the aspens or around them each time. I may pick up a buck tag and see if the bigger buck in the back sticks around for Sept.

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:21 AM

These elk were about 2 miles past the mule deer:

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:22 AM

Another shot of the elk, so you can see the sage bush/aspen habitat:

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:23 AM

Finally getting into the REAL elk and deer habitat where I will find the animals this fall:

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:25 AM

This little guy wasn't too afraid. He was bedded down at 9,800 ft, and stood up when he saw me coming.

In addition to this and a few other bucks, I probably saw 30 or so does, and dozens of antelope... I also caught a glimpse of a bull moose from the road south of Walden.

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 12:26 AM

All in all, a great day scouting, especially since I played hookie from work to make it happen

chemist308 · July 1, 2006, 02:36 AM

Awesome! I like where I live, but that just makes me want to move there.

Seriously though I'm a bit curious. Is it difficult to get tags? How about if you're a resident, and how expensive to hunt up there? Is it anything like other states where $50 and you hunt most seasons--some I'd imagine not like that?

Rangefinder · July 1, 2006, 02:43 AM

Beautiful...Looks a lot like where I am now. I couldn't live happily without that around me. Thanks so much for sharing.

jonutarr · July 1, 2006, 06:08 AM

amazing country (and deer) mate, thanks for sharing

FirstFreedom · July 1, 2006, 08:33 AM

Absolutely beautiful. I've always loved Colo, espec those aspen groves. I too would like to move up there. Thanks for sharing. What is the nearest town to this area? Is this where plains meet mountains?

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 10:49 AM

Chesmist,

tags are pretty easy to get in these areas. There are a lot of over the counter and leftover tags for both deer and elk a guy can pick up. You'll be trying a while for moose though, because North Park is probably the #1 moose area in the state...and you may have to build up a preferenace point or two for antelope.

But for the average hunter looking to lob sticks or hunt with a rifle, you can plan on hunting something in this general area every year.

duck911 · July 1, 2006, 10:57 AM

FirstFreedom,

North Park is one of Colorado's three "parks" (high alpine valley). North Park is roughly 45 minutes southwest of Laramie, Wyoming, and the little town of Walden, CO sits in the middle of the park.

The park floor sits at about 8,100 feet up, so this is not the plains! The headwaters for the North Platte RIver start there too, which I've always though was unique. Because it's an alpine basin it's always very wet and because of that they grow a fair amount of ducks each summer.,

The park is surrounded by the Rawah wilderness and Colorado State Forest (to the east), the Never Summer Range (to the south), the Medicine Bows (to the north) and the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness (to the west). Just about any direction you look from down on the valley floor, there are mountains with snow above timberline, aspen forests, alpine lakes, etc.

Because of the scenery and diversity, It's my favorite place in Colorado to play

Desertfox · July 1, 2006, 01:52 PM

All I can say is, Dang I am Jealous. Absolutely beautiful pics.

youp · July 1, 2006, 08:04 PM

Thanks for the cool pics. I have an elk tag for gmu 55. I have never been there. My son lives there and we are hoping for a good time.

VeT|Us · July 12, 2006, 07:03 AM

Dang, great pics.
Im jealous

Clayfish · July 12, 2006, 08:51 AM

That just makes me want to pack up and head to Colorado. Great pics!

Dirty_Harry · July 12, 2006, 10:35 AM

Nice pics, thanks for sharing......alot better than Indiana...

FrontSight · July 12, 2006, 01:06 PM

Niiiceeeee

smooks75 · July 12, 2006, 01:16 PM

Thanks for the momentary escape!

Charles S · July 12, 2006, 01:25 PM

Great pics, thank you for sharing. It certainly looks like you have the potential for a great season.

Charles

July 1, 2006, 12:14 AM	#2
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	Here is a picture of the continental divide that I pass over on the way to North Park... __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:15 AM	#3
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	My ultimate destination: The mountains in the background have aspen stands between 9,000-10,500 ft, which is where I focused my scouting. __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:16 AM	#4
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	bumped into this young buck on the way through some BLM land on the way to the hills in the previous pic: __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:17 AM	#5
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	.........and he had some buddies: __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:19 AM	#6
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	These 3 mulies were in sagebrush country and a ways from the nearest cover, EXCEPT for 1 lone patch of aspens about 2 acres in size. I passed by the stand 3 more times while scouting and these deer were in the aspens or around them each time. I may pick up a buck tag and see if the bigger buck in the back sticks around for Sept. __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:12 AM	#1
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	went on a scouting run today... (pics) Picked up a doe tag for Colorado GMU 6 (and surrounding units) so I headed up to Walden, Colorado to do a little scouting and explore around Colorado State Forest, which is where I will likely hunt. I love Colorado... In 1 day's worth of scouting I saw elk, deer, antelope, moose, badger, coyote, and too many other small animals to list. __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:21 AM	#7
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	These elk were about 2 miles past the mule deer: __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:22 AM	#8
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	Another shot of the elk, so you can see the sage bush/aspen habitat: __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:23 AM	#9
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	Finally getting into the REAL elk and deer habitat where I will find the animals this fall: __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:25 AM	#10
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	This little guy wasn't too afraid. He was bedded down at 9,800 ft, and stood up when he saw me coming. In addition to this and a few other bucks, I probably saw 30 or so does, and dozens of antelope... I also caught a glimpse of a bull moose from the road south of Walden. __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 12:26 AM	#11
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	All in all, a great day scouting, especially since I played hookie from work to make it happen __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 02:36 AM	#12
chemist308 Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2005 Location: Pocono Mtns, PA Posts: 587	Awesome! I like where I live, but that just makes me want to move there. Seriously though I'm a bit curious. Is it difficult to get tags? How about if you're a resident, and how expensive to hunt up there? Is it anything like other states where $50 and you hunt most seasons--some I'd imagine not like that? __________________ critters: the other red meat Live in PA? PA Firearms Owners Association

July 1, 2006, 02:43 AM	#13
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	Beautiful...Looks a lot like where I am now. I couldn't live happily without that around me. Thanks so much for sharing. __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

July 1, 2006, 06:08 AM	#14
jonutarr Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2006 Location: QLD Australia Posts: 112	amazing country (and deer) mate, thanks for sharing __________________ Reloaded! http://www.youtube.com/user/ccc0mb0IIIIIIbReakeR

July 1, 2006, 08:33 AM	#15
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Absolutely beautiful. I've always loved Colo, espec those aspen groves. I too would like to move up there. Thanks for sharing. What is the nearest town to this area? Is this where plains meet mountains?

July 1, 2006, 10:49 AM	#16
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	Chesmist, tags are pretty easy to get in these areas. There are a lot of over the counter and leftover tags for both deer and elk a guy can pick up. You'll be trying a while for moose though, because North Park is probably the #1 moose area in the state...and you may have to build up a preferenace point or two for antelope. But for the average hunter looking to lob sticks or hunt with a rifle, you can plan on hunting something in this general area every year. __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 10:57 AM	#17
duck911 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 256	FirstFreedom, North Park is one of Colorado's three "parks" (high alpine valley). North Park is roughly 45 minutes southwest of Laramie, Wyoming, and the little town of Walden, CO sits in the middle of the park. The park floor sits at about 8,100 feet up, so this is not the plains! The headwaters for the North Platte RIver start there too, which I've always though was unique. Because it's an alpine basin it's always very wet and because of that they grow a fair amount of ducks each summer., The park is surrounded by the Rawah wilderness and Colorado State Forest (to the east), the Never Summer Range (to the south), the Medicine Bows (to the north) and the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness (to the west). Just about any direction you look from down on the valley floor, there are mountains with snow above timberline, aspen forests, alpine lakes, etc. Because of the scenery and diversity, It's my favorite place in Colorado to play __________________ --Duck911

July 1, 2006, 01:52 PM	#18
Desertfox Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2006 Location: Arkansas-Oklahoma Line Posts: 336	All I can say is, Dang I am Jealous. Absolutely beautiful pics. __________________ Teach a kid to respect wildlife, then teach a kid to hunt and fish.

July 1, 2006, 08:04 PM	#19
youp Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: south of Canada, eh? Posts: 438	Thanks for the cool pics. I have an elk tag for gmu 55. I have never been there. My son lives there and we are hoping for a good time. __________________ Use enough gun.

July 12, 2006, 07:03 AM	#20
VeT\|Us Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Posts: 44	Dang, great pics. Im jealous

July 12, 2006, 08:51 AM	#21
Clayfish Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2005 Location: Valdosta, GA Posts: 953	That just makes me want to pack up and head to Colorado. Great pics!

July 12, 2006, 10:35 AM	#22
Dirty_Harry Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2006 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 1,484	Nice pics, thanks for sharing......alot better than Indiana... __________________ "The only purpose for a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you never should have laid down." "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them." -John Wayne

July 12, 2006, 01:06 PM	#23
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	Niiiceeeee

July 12, 2006, 01:16 PM	#24
smooks75 Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2006 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 161	Thanks for the momentary escape!

July 12, 2006, 01:25 PM	#25
Charles S Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2002 Location: North East Texas Posts: 950	Great pics, thank you for sharing. It certainly looks like you have the potential for a great season. Charles __________________ "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell