Colorado elk hunters....question.

[Arctic Hunter]

I just got back from my first DIY Colorado elk hunt. Had a great time and hunted public land. Hiked almost 50 miles, had a couple close calls (moment of hesitation cost me a nice bull), and learned a lot.

Anyway, here is my question.

I went up for the second week of September the first time, came home during the smoke pole season, then went back again for the last week of the season. I saw a few rubs the first time and one good wallow. I heard a couple bugles during the last couple days I was there during the second week, but not much at all. When I went back, I still heard very little bugling (probably less than earlier if you don't count what was likely other people). Everybody says the last week is a good time to go, however I saw more elk the second week.

This led me to believe that the first week of the season hunting trails and water holes might be the best option on public land. I had envisioned hearing bulls and calling them in during the last week, but they just didn't seem to be very vocal. And i know they were there.

So now I'm planning next years trip. For all you public land guys out there, what week do you prefer?

[The Night Stalker]

Message sent

[ChuckC]

Early season it is hot, the bulls are not necessarily "with" cows and it is what it is.  A bit later makes a difference in temperature and the bulls looking for cows. In the area I hunt, the bulls used to be very vocal,,,, back around 2001.  Since then, they have gotten less and less vocal.

Wallows seem to work, but finding one that doesn't have a number machine ( take a number and wait your turn) might be an issue.

I tend to stay up on the ridges ( not the top, but maybe 20 yards down).  
ChuckC

[Bill Kissner]

IMO the first week is the best because the elk have yet to be disturbed. Bugling in my unit is somewhat limited to quiet squeals and grunts instead of full blown bugles for most of the season. This all started several years ago when calling became popular and most are very call shy. I was watching a very good bull with 15 cows and calves during this season. A bull across the canyon gave out a weak squeal. The bull I was watching swelled up as if to really let out a big answer. He was only 40 yards away and what came out of his mouth was barely audible. It was obvious he was not interested in a fight or maybe he was just call shy.

My point being is, if waiting until later in the season to go because bugling is be perceived to be better, then a hunter might be disappointed.

[Arctic Hunter]

Bill,
I actually saw almost the same thing this year. I called in a cow that had a bull chasing her around. He got excited and made a chuckle/squeak sound similar to a dog waiting on a treat or something.

[Steve Chappell]

I have been elk hunting on public land in north central CO since I was in high school but about every 3 to 5 years due to the cost of using an outfitter. Six year ago I started DIY so I could hunt every year and have  focused on as many days as I can swing the last two weeks of bow season....which is usually the last 7 to 9 days.  One day I hope to be able to hunt the entire season to get a better feel for exactly what you are asking. Living in MI and working I can pull off 2 weeks at best. What I have found since I started DIY...based on the area I hunt and the time (end of bow season) I hunt is every year is different.  in 2014 the bulls turned on for several days in a row and I had all sorts of action and missed my one and only opportunity at a really nice bull at 15  yards....a shot I could have made with my eyes closed under normal circumstances.  It was incredibly exciting and what keep me going back year after year!!!  In 2013 there was about 1 day of action; same in 2012.  This year we got out just after the start of muzzle loader season and planned to hunt through the end of the season with high hopes we'd experience what I did the prior year.  What we got was unusually hot weather, high swirling winds and an incredibly high number of hunters...new hunters to this area from many eastern states.  The only really good bugging we experienced was in the middle of one night when the bulls were going nuts all around; it was so loud it woke us up.  But during the day I got a only a couple responses but they were all very Leary; far to Leary for a Trad hunter but well within range for a muzzleloader.  Most of the time the bulls came in silent and hung up well out of range.  I did manage to call in other hunters well within bow range; a first in the 6 years I have DIY hunted this area..there were that many hunters!  Where I did get decent responses was from elk at or near timberline.  We left a few days early due to the shear number of hunters and lack of action. In some years there is little to no action.  I absolutely love Elk hunting in the mountains where one has to work their butt off (left 10 lbs out there on those mountains) and will continue going every year in hopes of hitting in right like I did in 2014.  In six years I have let one arrow fly andmultiple other encounters that have been thrilling. That is elk hunting as I have come to know it.

[kadbow]

It is different every year but if I had to choose one week it would be the last, this year I had bulls bugling from day one everyday to the last in north central CO. Luckily I don't have to choose just one week.

[old_goat2]

This year was really really weird in my unit, hunted it in 2012 for the first time and one drainage I found was like being in Rocky Mountain National Park, this year it was empty! I heard more bugles in one day than I had heard in the previous four seasons combined and I could see the elk doing it, four heard bulls and harems all in sight at the same time with some good satellites running around too! This year in the same area I saw a grand total of two herd bulls with harems, one the first week and one the last. Hot weather and constantly shifting winds are what I suspect! If you are hunting an OTC area, forget about the bugling bulls thing unless you are in real remote wilderness and concentrate on cow calling is my experience!!!!

[Arctic Hunter]

Well, next year it's looking like the first couple weeks of the season for me if I hunt the same public land. If I'm going to have to find them either way, I'd rather do it before they start getting pushed around too much. Thanks for all the info.

[widow sax]

I only hunted the first week once and I swore it would be the last time. I like the second and the third week the best. I always hunt the moon phase if it is full moon on second week I hunt the third if it is full moon the third week I hunt the second week. This year on the end of the third week called in a 6x6 and a 5x5 together I got a shot at both of them and well I messed up and shot just over both of them. The next morning I called in a 5x5 and passed up the shot because of my missing the evening before. Later that morning called in another bull and my partner hit him but he was not mortally wounded and we did not find him. Four bulls in that short of a time frame then they went quiet. You just never know but I still like the second and the third week best.     Widow

[Matty]

This year was strange. Week 1 saw lots of elk and not very vocal. Week 2 more elk. More vocal but still not a lot. Week three same but less vocal again. Last week. Nothing. NO ELK. NO BUGLES. I MEAN NOTHING! guess you can blame the moon phase. But I really don't know. Typically the best week is when the muzzle loaders are out. But one shot from them and the elk are gone typically.

[jleidy]

Smoke Pole season is the best time to be in the woods where I hunt. The terrain is rough and it's wilderness, so they can't drive their quads and side by sides many places. I was woken up by bulls screaming 4 nights in a row. Animals everywhere. It was an awesome season even tho I never let a single arrow fly.

[joe ashton]

It has been my experience that archery hunting public land is best done pre-black powder.  In my area they run up and down the hills blowing on elk calls like a marching band.

[PistolPete]

Early season stands and waterholes are productive, but not my idea of elk hunting. I like mid-late season, provided the elk have been pressured enough to concentrate them in my areas. Too early and they are still spread out enough and quiet, but too late and they are herded up too tightly and the herd bulls are difficult to get to make a mistake. Muzzleloader season is usually about right. And I'm not sure I can remember the last day I spent hunting the CO mountains without hearing bugles and/or getting on bulls.

[Arctic Hunter]

The answers on this are pretty much all over the place. Maybe I should just take the whole month off.

[old_goat2]

That's the day I await when I can go all season and hopefully I'm still in good shape to do it!  Because just because it's a good time one season, the next season it's different, weather, forage quality, number of hunters, etc etc etc!

[Overspined]

Public land just isn't like the videos and tv shows. Trying different tactics is a good plan. Try calling, sitting, stalking, etc.  I've had success with all methods and learning how and when is always evolving.  I missed a cow on the move due to hitting a branch this year while sitting, called in a nice bull, and thought the season was excellent. One week is never enough.

[monterey]

Originally posted by Arctic Hunter:
The answers on this are pretty much all over the place. Maybe I should just take the whole month off.

"ALL over the place" pretty much describes the possibilities any given year.  The key is to adapt to what is happening now and be ready for changes as they come.

The mistake often made by new elk hunters is to rely on the bulls to vocalize.  Often they conclude the silence means they are not there when in fact they are.

[beyondmyken]

Just like turkey hunting.  When they are gobbling, it is very exciting.  But I have had far too many silent "gobblers" sneak up to my calling through the years.   IMO, calling works best when there is a lot of competition for breeding.