Well, it is almost time again to apply for a preferance point for Colorado and plan for time off work. For those who have to drive several hours, who is planning on going and what weeks. Depending on the unit, the week you choose will determine how well you will do finding elk.
Do you try to go for the opener and hunt undisturbed animals or do you wait till they start to get more vocal.
Unless you can tell me what the weather is going to do on any given week, pick any one you want. I've had them vocalize in every week of the season and also had them totally silent in every week. We now go the first two weeks just because. It does seem though that the best is the 4-6 days before muzzle loader season starts.
I like the last 2 weeks best; not only are they more likely to be vocal, but I find the intense hunting pressure (I only hunt OTC) makes them much more concentrated in very predictable places--where other people don't go. Too late, though, and the big bulls all get harems and don't want to play.
Pete
Going the week before muzzle loader season for deer and elk. I hunt in the south San Juans and have the best luck early rather than late. Last year we went the last week of archery and had very few opportunities and heard hardly any bugles. Could of been the weather though it was beautiful blue bird skies and got real warm the whole time. Awesome vacation and camping trip but horrible hunting. Good luck to everyone on the mountain!
Gabe
I'm retired and if I have to go solo I will be there, in camp, on the mountain the day before season opens. I will stay until I tag out or when I lose my get up and go!
If I take anyone with me, I will hunt whatever weeks they want.
I prefer the week before ML although there are not many ML hunters in the area I hunt... at least not enough to bother my hunting.
Good luck all (got another 10 lbs. to lose)
the weather usually cools down the last couple of weeks of the season....so over the last 35 years of hunting here ; I prefer the latter part of the season...
Nuctech, Unit 71, 74 San juans?
It is strange how it changes from year to year. It seems the few days before muzzleloader are the best for me in certain units.
Wayne, remember the first year we hunted together. The weather was great and all the bugling. Years like that seem magical.
Normally we go the first week of archery. We hunt a OTC unit with high pressure especially the first week of the season but I have always had good success 3 elk out of 5 years. We rarely here any bugling, so last year we decided to go the week of muzzleloader. The elk where hard to find and few and far between. It depends on the area you are planning to hunt and the hunting pressure in you area. I would love to go where they are vocal but no one in our group wants to change units. Maybe next year I'll have to take off and go with you Tim
Jeff
Yeah Tim, I remember it well. After the evening we had calling and hearing them right up until it was too dark to shoot... then Barry and I went up top the next morning and I got my first bull that evening... about 100 yards from where you and I were set up the evening before.
I wish you could have been with me in 2012 when I called in a beast of a bull. Last year was good too with a nice 6X just out of range circling downwind.
I'm anxious to get back up to 10,500 feet!
Third week of season OTC in the white river area. First year in Colorado so I'm just up for hearing them bugle and the remote chance at a shot. The high country just calls.
Sapcut,
I have been hunting Units 80 and 81 the last couple of years. Had my best luck early on in the season. Seems to be pretty popular units with people from Texas. Everyone I have met while up in the mountains have been real pleasant so I don't mind seeing a few folks.
Gabe
I was in 81 two years ago around Conejos Peak and Timber lake. (I think that is 81) Lots of 10 day old elk sign but too many people. That was the last week.
Living here, if I was hunting OTC I'd hunt the early part before ML season, in draw units I like the later part because the weather is cooler and with as little pressure as the elk get from ML's in draw units, there isn't much difference early to late
We are planning on hunting unit 65 and will probably do it just before ML season. Anyone else hunt this unit???
Sapcut,
That is exactly where I was 2 years ago but during second week of the season. We had awful weather, rain like I have never seen in the mountains. It hardly ever let up for a week straight. The elk hunting though was awesome. got into elk everyday. Had multiple bulls going nuts with bugling. I hope to get a repeat of that this year. I am going to a different area within those units.
Gabe
Paul, I hunted unit 65 twice about 10 years ago. You can email me.
Night Stalker, Fsnhtr, check your PM's, let's go hunting!
I live in the White River valley. I have to say that there is a huge difference from start of season to end of season. Pressure, weather, and water all are huge factors. If I had to pick, it would be the first week. The Bulls are still in bachelor groups and not as jumpy as they will be later. I help a couple ranchers guide and they tell their paid hunters to wait until later. The elk have been pushed down to the private lands by all the over zealous buglers in our ranks. If anyone needs advice for NW Colorado, send a PM. Of course, this is just my opinion.
Concur with lazy J.
They don't have to be vocal to call them. Hot cow calls before the rut gets going when bulls are interested and cows not so much. They usually come in without making a sound. More like calling coyotes.
Last year we hunted unit 68 the last 2 week of the season and elk were hard to find although a few were called in and 1 taken. We're going to try the first 2 week this year.
Tim and Wayne. Rob & I will plan to hunt our old haunts to arrive around mid-Sept. Would be great to hook it up with yall.
We go opening week most years. Last year we got on them, but ATV pressure messed us up bad. My cousin and his buddy went 3rd week in our area using our intel and they both shot one within 48 hours! Gonna buy a preference point for 16 this year and try for another OTC area for 15.
I thought ATV's are limited after Labor Day.
QuoteOriginally posted by The Night Stalker:
I thought ATV's are limited after Labor Day.
Depends on where you are. It's not universal throughout the state. In recent years ATV trails have been cut back - again, only in certain areas. Contact the headquarters of the national forest you will be hunting and ask for an updated ATV map.
We hunted 79 and 80 for years until the ATV's just got to the point you couldn't stand it. (mostly Texans) Sorry just the facts. Not all hunters, a lot of rec. riders. The drop in elk population didn't help matters either. From about 08 on the elk sightings really went down hill. The last couple trips west we have went to NM and had good results.
Just talked to a long time game warden from here (now retired)...he told me the Division of Wildlife has been working on reducing the number of elk here for years....due to pressure from cattle ranchers and hay producers (crop damage) ...looks like they have done a good job from the elk numbers we are seeing now...seems way down to me but they are still selling A LOT of licenses ....just sayin'
I've hunted OTC units 16 and 42, I believe. I've almost always hunted the last two weeks of season, more to get away from other hunters than anything else.
Lots of folks go early, the first two weeks, and I believe ML season is the third week of the season, maybe the second. I've found the last week of season to be much more serene.
As Pistol Pete notes, the elk have been hunted hard and are more spooky and often holed up in some pretty isolated cover. But if you find them, can have a very good hunt.
Probably see more elk early though because there are so many folks chasing them around.
Past results have shown the last 2 weeks have generally been the best for us. Just gotta keep an eye on the weather. The over selling of tags is what the locals blamed the low elk populations on. Who knows? I just know the hunt quality went south in a hurry. I cant speak on the quality of other units, but 79 really suffered.