2017 Elk Hunt

[rcfireninja]

Ok guys i'm starting to plan out my elk hunt for next year. I am going to study the mrs and tags for Wyoming first and apply there with my 4 points, my back ups are Colorado for muzzleloader with 4 points, then Colorado for OTC archery or possibly Montana.

With my work schedule I have to pick my shifts off for next year coming up the first of December. I have first picked September 7-20 to have roughly two weeks off to try and get the tag done with my bow or muzzy. If i draw in Wyoming I am not able to find what dates the tag is still good for on a normal basis to pick a few dates in October to go back with a rifle if need be. I do like to be in places for opening day.

With this said. Would the following days work well for October in Wyoming or Montana.

Oct 1-8
Oct 13-20

I can take a couple shifts off to make each of those weeks work. Just trying to see what everyone thinks. Thanks.

Chris

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Colorado archery dates for 2017 will open the last Saturday in August and run for 30 days, so August 27 - September 25. Colorado muzzleloader dates will run concurrently from the second Saturday of September and run for 9 days, so September 10-18. Therefore the dates you have chosen (Sept 7-20) fall right in the middle of the muzzy dates. With the muzzy hunters showing up a couple days before to scout, and the elk only having a couple days after the muzzy hunt to settle down you kind of lose any advantage there with the dates you've picked. If it were me, I would probably want to hunt the week of muzzy season plus the full week before or after. The week before seems kind of early (arriving Sept 3), so I'd likely lean to the week after so something like Sept 10-25.

From a moon phase standpoint, the moon is dark on September 20, so I would likely favor something more like Sept 10-25 and take full advantage of the dark moon.

From Wyoming archery standpoint the archery hunt is typically the full month of September (depending on the tag). I want to be done with archery 1 week before if there is an October 1 rifle season opening, so again like something like Sept 10-25. You often get an influx of rifle hunters "scouting" with a bow in hand right before the opener.

When hunting out of state I try to minimize the weekends I am in they field, and maximize the weekdays, as a result avoiding some of the pressure from locals.

I can't comment on Montana.

Then after the best laid plans the elk rut two weeks earlier or later then they should of....ha ha.

Please verify the Colorado dates on your own before making your plan!!

 

[dirtytough]

Colorado 2017 dates. Archery 8/26-9/24. Muzzy 9/9-9/17.

 

[Againstthewind]

The Big Horns (Areas 38-41 roughly) had some early cow elk rifle seasons, this year Oct. 1-10th I think. I wish I would have looked at those closer. I am not sure about points required or if cows were appealing. Oct. 15th is the regular start for those areas.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Colorado 2017 dates. Archery 8/26-9/24. Muzzy 9/9-9/17.

I believe you are correct dirtytough. I must have been looking at the 2016 calendar.

Fortunately I looked at the right year for the moon phase

 

[dirtytough]

Yea I had a tag that started the tenth this year so I looked it up. I wasn't sure what they were either.

 

[Slugz]

UH hits all the high points I think you should consider. When I have the ability to schedule my elk hunts I prioritize (when bull hunting)
1) Peak rut (most cows in estrus) 22/23 Sept fall equinox
2) 2nd estrus cows that didn't get bred as they cycle back in 17-28 days later roughly Oct 10 to 20th

Obviously weather ( cold fronts/precipitation)will come into play most years that produce spikes in action.

 

[rcfireninja]

Thanks guys. A lot of good info there. I will lean towards the 10-25 of September off and if need be will try to get some stand ins before that to go early. Currently en route to some fires in Virginia, way too warm to hunt in South Dakota anyway right now.


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[rcfireninja]

I ended up getting September 7-20 off for archery elk. Still waiting to try and get some time in October now.

 

[wy-tex]

Most general elk rifle seasons open the 15th of Oct, at least in our neck of the woods. Most Oct. 1 openers are probably mostly private land and limited quota. Look at some addition cow tags for your areas too.Dark moon phase has been hard to hunt for us. Full moon means all day hunting especially mid day and evening.You may not find elk in the same places archery and rifle season, depending on the unit. Rifle season really moves them around. Practice those cow calls, bugling means hunters to most public land elk.