Western Hunting

With all of the issues surrounding the wonderful state of MN, our federal government, and our country in general, I have decided that I am going after elk in CO regardless of what the future might bring. Not to stray too far here, but what options do we have as residents of this country? Hide out in our homes and not spend a penny? Not enjoy the things that we love to do? That’s not American!
Anyway, I am driving out to NW Colorado to rifle hunt elk in mid-October with my dad and a good friend of mine. We have hunted the Routt NF “near” the Steamboat area, with decent success. We pack in minimal for several days (several miles in), no ATV’s, no horses, just our boots and some strappin’ packs! This year the plan is to explore a new area, and we are each doing our homework on different NF’s, topo, access, elk numbers, etc. Some friends in CO are helping us along, so it makes matters easier. Wilderness areas are the ticket (for me) in CO, because of the no motorized vehicle rule, which allows for a more pristine experience in the mountains and with the elk.
I have looked at GMU 47 east of Aspen (Hunter Fryingpan WA), and GMU 24 in the Flat Tops WA. My worry is that the further south we go, the more people we will encounter. Plus, I enjoy the northern region of CO more than the southern/central portion of it.
Does anyone have any other suggestions of areas where it may be possible to hike in a few miles and expect seclusion? I have a good feel for where the elk are at during that part of the year, but I am just looking for new places to explore. Trying to start some convo over in this forum!

If you are hunting first season rifle (mid-October) check to be sure 24 is OTC I don’t believe it is. It isn’t for archery, without looking I can’t be sure for first rifle. I believe 2nd and 3rd are OTC………

I bow hunt out of yampa near Sheriffs resivoir. The locals say its a zoo up there during rifle season. So I guess you can rule out archery unit 231(IDK what that translates to for rifle). Fun spot but busy for rifle.

Les- I am going 2nd rifle season, as I did last year. We just bought OTC tags in Unit 16 (east of the divide, east of Steamboat). We hiked in about 4 miles with everything on our backs to about 10,600′ and hunted from there. We found a spot that was above some private land and caught elk dropping down after the 2′ of snow we got. We saw two guys on quads the last day of the hunt, and heard two shots the entire trip. I hear the Flat Tops (unit 24) get snow pretty early? I think I am just going to get a cow tag this year, and bowhunt from here on out.