Planning your first DIY Colorado public land elk hunt can seem overwhelming at first. From knowing where and when to purchase your OTC elk tag, to what gear for high elevation hunting, to how to pick your unit, if it’s your first DIY Colorado public land elk hunt it can seem like a daunting task. I’m sharing six resources that I highly recommend that will help you start planning your first DIY Colorado elk hunt.
Elk101
Elk101 is Corey Jacobsen’s online course available to purchase through Elk101.com. This course was my first investment in learning how to DIY my first Colorado public land elk hunt. The course has fifteen learning modules and covers topics from planning, to scouting, to calling & locating, to packing your elk out.
I liked the fact that I could go through the course at my own pace and on my own schedule. I found the information on elk calling to be extremely useful, especially since I had never attempted elk calling prior. The planning your hunt module also provided helpful information around the different hunting seasons and is one of the reasons why I changed my path and decided to choose the OTC archery elk season for my first Colorado public land hunt.
onX Hunt App & Google Earth
Scouting your unit ahead of time is crucial to having a successful hunt. the
I also recommend using Google Earth in combination with onX maps. After I identified my unit inside onX maps, I then used Google Earth to dive deeper into the topography of my selected unit. The 3D feature of Google Earth allowed me to look for roads, meadows, water holes, wallows, and other aspects of the terrain.
Here’s an example of how I used the
Randy Newberg’s E-scouting Video Series
Everything I just previously mentioned about E-scouting with the
Some of the topics covered include:
- What to expect
- Edges and disruptions
- Burn areas
- Hunting pressure
- The 4 primary needs of elk
- Elk hunting season
- Planning and executing your hunting plan
Podcasts
If you’re like me, and you’re busy working during the off-season, podcasts are a way to take in information while you’re on the job, driving, or working out. Some of the elk hunting podcasts I recommend when planning your first DIY Colorado public land elk hunt are:
- Hunt Talk Radio with Randy Newberg
- MeatEater Podcast
- Elk Talk Podcast
I found podcasts helpful and picked up several real-world tips and strategies from experienced public land elk hunters.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife Big Game Brochure
Heading into another state to hunt means familiarizing yourself with the required rules and hunting regulations. You can download all of Colorado’s hunting regulation brochures online and print out a PDF copy. These brochures will have maps of the various hunting units, tag fees, OTC tag purchase windows, and the hunting rules & regulations of the state.
Born and Raised YouTube Series
While there are a ton of elk hunting YouTube series available, I found the Born and Raised Land of the Free series to be not only helpful but motivating. Watching the guys of Born and Raised as they hunted five states in fifty days left me motivated and excited to start planning my first DIY Colorado public land elk hunt. I also picked up extra tips and strategies by watching their video series.
Products to help you get started:
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Primal Pioneer is a food blog and public land hunting resource by Mike and Jennifer Shreckengost. We’re a husband and wife team who combined their two passions – a love of the outdoors and food – into a joint effort with Primal Pioneer! You’ll find resources on planning and executing your own DIY over-the-counter public land big game hunt, along with wild game recipes featuring mostly venison and elk.
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