Units 521 and 53 Co

[Barrett]

Anyone hunted up there near Paonia area? My family has some land near the reservoir in between both units. One side runs into BLM and the other National Forest. Wondering if anyone has had much experience around there. Planning an elk/mule hunt in September using the property as a base camp.

[MadHatter]

Anyone hunted up there near Paonia area? My family has some land near the reservoir in between both units. One side runs into BLM and the other National Forest. Wondering if anyone has had much experience around there. Planning an elk/mule hunt in September using the property as a base camp.

I've been in there a lot, including last yr to pack a bull and a bear out.
Haven't hunted it in about 4 yrs though, as we have more favorable conditions just west of you.
Steep terrain, elevation about as high as you can get in CO, and shots as far as you want to make em across those canyons.
Some big groups up in there last yr, which I hadn't seen before, but no shortage of animals.
Some of the worst areas you could ever imagine for packing animals out too .
Friends may slit your throat and leave you and your animal on the Mt, before your halfway out.
Guaranteed they'll at least be thinking about it.
Stay in the NF, and avoid the BLM like the plague.
What Reservoir, LC?

[Barrett]

I've been in there a lot, including last yr to pack a bull and a bear out.
Haven't hunted it in about 4 yrs though, as we have more favorable conditions just west of you.
Steep terrain, elevation about as high as you can get in CO, and shots as far as you want to make em across those canyons.
Some big groups up in there last yr, which I hadn't seen before, but no shortage of animals.
Some of the worst areas you could ever imagine for packing animals out too .
Friends may slit your throat and leave you and your animal on the Mt, before your halfway out.
Guaranteed they'll at least be thinking about it.
Stay in the NF, and avoid the BLM like the plague.
What Reservoir, LC?

Paonia Reservoir
Did you get the add on bear tag?
Been studying the topo with “Stoof” trying to make a game plan. Feel like we should try it out since family’s land never gets used.
Why avoid BLM, sorry for elementary questions but never done this kind of hunt

[MadHatter]

Paonia Reservoir
Did you get the add on bear tag?
Been studying the topo with “Stoof” trying to make a game plan. Feel like we should try it out since family’s land never gets used.
Why avoid BLM, sorry for elementary questions but never done this kind of hunt

No on the tag.
I have no interest in a bear personally.
They are overun with em though.
I saw 9 last yr without even looking.
Ran into GWs on 2 separate occasions, and both times they encouraged us to go buy bear tags.
BLM is like Rednecks With Paychecks, NF is the opposite, 95% of the time.
But if you're the type that's more interested in driving a side by side over every square inch of huntable terrain, than actually hunting it, BLM just might be a dream come true

[Barrett]

Much appreciated

[easeup]

they got elk in there

[Hooverfb]

they got elk in there

Nope they killed em all last year. Bullets laced with covid. Not an elk left. Pinky promise.