So I have a tag for muzzleloader cow elk season in Unit 85/851/140.
I got it as a leftover tag. I had a bull tag for a different unit, but someone paid faster than I did I guess.

Wanted to get some advice.

I've never hunted or spent much time in Colorado in September. I'm not sure what the weather will be like. This will be down by Trinidad. I'll be backpacking and camping by myself, so wondering what I'm looking at as far as weather/temp goes.
I assume it's front driven, where it should be xxxx ... unless a front comes through.

I've elk hunted 85 quite a bit, but it's always been in November on private land.

The public land on 851 is off limits. the public land on 140 looks like mostly high mesas.
85 has the most. Around Spanish Peaks and a strip over on the west side of the unit. And a couple of areas south of the peaks

Any ideas on elevation to hunt? Where?

I've hunted that area a couple times.

Weather is a crap shoot- be ready for anything. Literally, Sept could bring 80's or almost freezing. This year in the San Juans (north west of your area) it has been very very wet. I don't know about Trinidad.

I've hunted around the Spanish Peaks, lots of good land around there. Hunt where you can watch funnels and transitions. Look for those elk to be low in the am's and heading higher during the days. Lots of pressure, so they might be pretty wary.

Down in 140, I hunted the ranch that surrounds the John's. The public hunters on top of the mesas were doing well. Unless those elk are pushed off the mesas by weather or pressure, that's where they seemed to like.

cupofjoe04 said:

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I've hunted that area a couple times.

Weather is a crap shoot- be ready for anything. Literally, Sept could bring 80's or almost freezing. This year in the San Juans (north west of your area) it has been very very wet. I don't know about Trinidad.

I've hunted around the Spanish Peaks, lots of good land around there. Hunt where you can watch funnels and transitions. Look for those elk to be low in the am's and heading higher during the days. Lots of pressure, so they might be pretty wary.

Down in 140, I hunted the ranch that surrounds the John's. The public hunters on top of the mesas were doing well. Unless those elk are pushed off the mesas by weather or pressure, that's where they seemed to like.

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That's what I thought on weather. I'm going to track the forecast but still more or less take all my clothes and pick what I need when I get there.

The John's ... what's that?

James M John State Wildlife Area.

I had access to hunt the ranch that surrounds it, and hunted the entire perimeter over 9 days. There are some fantastic animals there. Hunters on the top of the Mesa (where the Johns sits) we're pushing elk down on the ranch I was hunting, and vice Vera's was true I'm sure.

It is a SWA, so a I don't know if yuh have access or it is a special draw. Just saying there are some great elk in that area.

cupofjoe04 said:

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James M John State Wildlife Area.

I had access to hunt the ranch that surrounds it, and hunted the entire perimeter over 9 days. There are some fantastic animals there. Hunters on the top of the Mesa (where the Johns sits) we're pushing elk down on the ranch I was hunting, and vice Vera's was true I'm sure.

It is a SWA, so a I don't know if yuh have access or it is a special draw. Just saying there are some great elk in that area.

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Doh ... I have been looking all over it. And even have a big red x marker on it in onxmaps. Just had a brain cramp.

the public land in 140 comes with the tag. The public land in 851 is a special draw.

I'm just hoping it's not me and 500 other schmoes up there stumblin around.

Thanks for the info.

Access to it is fairly remote, and traffic is foot/hoof only I believe- so that will knock down a number of people. I think from the Raton side is the only way up there.

I've never personally been on top. I did peer into it at an awesome field full of elk, after scaling a butt kicking cliff to get up there (heard a bull, just didn't know he was deeper in across the fence). Apparently there is some prime habitat there. Definitely good elk in the area (or was several years ago). The ranch surrounding that place was grown up so bad, it's holding elk, but almost impossible to hunt. If you bump them off the John's they aren't likely to come back, Unless hunters on the private bump them back. Pay attention to the saddles leading into/out of private.

That's good info. I plan to backpack in so I should be able to get away from the day hunters.
Horse hunters? No. they'll beat me

I left a message for the biologist in Pueblo to give me a call. So he can answer the same question for the 50th time today.