So I struck out in Wyoming, and am now looking at Colorado. I've got 3 points in Colorado and could probably draw a muzzy hunt. I see the muzzy hunts are in mid September which I would think is prime time. So my question is, why are the success rates so low in most of the units. I find a couple that are around 20% or so and that's about as high as they get. I know success rates don't mean everything, but i was surprised they were not higher with being able to use a black powder.
colorado muzzy
- Thread starter hunttrap
- Start date
BKC
Very Active Member
Some of it is that otc archers have been bumping them for almost 3 weeks. The success hasn't been much better for quite some time. Usually by this time, the bulls and cows have grouped and its tough to get that close with all those eyes and noses.
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
swampokie
Veteran member
I also think along with beer and hoochie mommas that the open sights and no sabots hinder success. Most people that get into muzz hunting now days shoot scopes and sabots out of the box to 200 yds. Not possible in Colorado. There are compound bows now that are more accurate at 100 yards than my old hawken or my newer wolf
During the muzzy season I assume the elk are still up high starting to group up to breed? I was looking at a wilderness area in northern Colorado and figured a good game plan this time of year would be to get above tree line or right at tree line and glass and look for sign. Am I on the right track. Looking at doing a backpack hunt.
NDHunter
Veteran member
I've wondered the EXACT same thing man. I don't know if a ton of the resident guys just lie on their surveys or what but I don't see how the success rates can be so low. I mean come on, you're using a gun during the rut. Sure it's open sights but still, it's a gun. Obviously it still isn't an easy hunt, but I would expect success rates to be higher. I think ColoradoV is right in that most guys are just lazy.
And just in general, I don't know how accurate those CO success rates are. I was watching a deer muzzy unit for a few years that was consistently 0-5% success rates. I talked with a few guys who had hunted it and they said there was absolutely no way that was correct.
FWIW, I had a 2 point muzzy elk tag last year and shot a good 5x5 the first day. I was very fortunate and was just in the right spot at the right time and wouldn't consider that to be normal at all. Shot it at 140 yards. If I were you, I would try and burn your points as you don't gain much by having more than 3 points.
And just in general, I don't know how accurate those CO success rates are. I was watching a deer muzzy unit for a few years that was consistently 0-5% success rates. I talked with a few guys who had hunted it and they said there was absolutely no way that was correct.
FWIW, I had a 2 point muzzy elk tag last year and shot a good 5x5 the first day. I was very fortunate and was just in the right spot at the right time and wouldn't consider that to be normal at all. Shot it at 140 yards. If I were you, I would try and burn your points as you don't gain much by having more than 3 points.
dirtytough
Member
I had a muzzy deer tag last year in Colorado. First time using a muzzy in a long time and I was impressed with how accurate they are. Work up a load with a scope so you know it’s shooting good then throw on a good peep sight. I could shoot about a 3” group at 200 yards with the peep.
Also I saw 5-6 bulls. I talked to some archery hunters that were hunting elk and they hadn’t seen any. 3 of the bulls were 800 yards above their camp. I would rather hunt mule deer than elk. But if I wasn’t muley hunting I would hunt Colorado muzzy elk in a heart beat.
Also I saw 5-6 bulls. I talked to some archery hunters that were hunting elk and they hadn’t seen any. 3 of the bulls were 800 yards above their camp. I would rather hunt mule deer than elk. But if I wasn’t muley hunting I would hunt Colorado muzzy elk in a heart beat.
ColoradoV
Very Active Member
- Oct 4, 2011
- 820
- 941
Yea pry pretty on par for rifle guys but seems archery guys are all BROs hopped up on hushin super mtn opps pre workout super extended time release steroid cream or something.. Sad deal but I saw one in matching gear with both a kifaru and stone glacier pack on run circles around a elk track blowing a bugle that was bigger than a tuba for like 30 min.
Should have shot viedo..
Slugz
Veteran member
No mandatory reporting of kills
Open sights
Lazy
Hunts off the quad or truck
Takes shots over 100 yards on alert animals
No wind awareness
Doesn't understand the elk language and does a location bugle, challenge bugle, lost calf and cow estrus call in one sequence.
That's what I've seen in my home GMU the past 7 years. Now take an archery guy and give him a modern open sight, peep sight muzzle loader with a good load......and more times than not the tag is filled opening morning.
Just my 2 sense
Open sights
Lazy
Hunts off the quad or truck
Takes shots over 100 yards on alert animals
No wind awareness
Doesn't understand the elk language and does a location bugle, challenge bugle, lost calf and cow estrus call in one sequence.
That's what I've seen in my home GMU the past 7 years. Now take an archery guy and give him a modern open sight, peep sight muzzle loader with a good load......and more times than not the tag is filled opening morning.
Just my 2 sense
Slugz
Veteran member
Muzzy season this year they will be cowed up, breeding, hiding in the cool north facing timber. If unpressured they may feed out but I would bet not above tree line.
Interesting, so once they cow up they tend to stay below treeline. Would they be concentrating around open pockets along creeks or primarily in heavy timber? First time elk hunter so I'm trying to learn as much as I can about elk behavior and habits.
Slugz
Veteran member
Peak of the rut is Sep21/22. The most cows will be in heat and ready to breed. Most if not all herd bulls will be tending to the cows with satellite bulls following them around. Those herd bulls will keep the cows in the woods not in the open so as to hide his girls and make it easier to keep them together.
Dos Perros
Member
- Jul 1, 2015
- 128
- 0
I?ve hunted CO OTC archery three times and I think 40% of the days if I had a muzzy I could have taken a 5x5 or better.
Prerylyon
Veteran member
I pop in and out these elk muzzy threads and read them with interest. I've only hunted elk with a rifle; and have yet to tag one; so my inexperience messes with me and makes me think I shouldn't consider hunting with anything but a rifle until I get one down.
No WY tag for me either; and I really want to hunt elk this fall.
I have a TC .54 Thunderhawk 1st gen inline with open sights that I am confident in shooting out to 150 yards with full bore conicals like the Hornady Great Plains or the TC Maxi-Hunter.
Maybe this will be the year to try it. Beautiful country, probably good fishing, and grouse to chase if I fail epically with the smoke stick.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk
No WY tag for me either; and I really want to hunt elk this fall.
I have a TC .54 Thunderhawk 1st gen inline with open sights that I am confident in shooting out to 150 yards with full bore conicals like the Hornady Great Plains or the TC Maxi-Hunter.
Maybe this will be the year to try it. Beautiful country, probably good fishing, and grouse to chase if I fail epically with the smoke stick.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk
During rut are they moving throughout day more in the timber or is it a herd bull pushing them into thick timber and they bed down until last light? Is it likely to find satilte bulls out cruzing throughout the day?
Slugz
Veteran member
https://www.amazon.com/Elk-Hunting-West-revisited-Mike-Eastman/dp/B00KQV7QHS
Hunttrap,
First off, I'm trying to help and not being a smartass. Second just because I'm on Eastman forum I'm not being paid or endorsed to promote the book. That being said the above would help you out a ton and answer all the basic questions of whats going on in the elk woods from pre rut, rut and post rut periods. Lots of good info that I even read every year as review.
During rut are they moving throughout day more in the timber or is it a herd bull pushing them into thick timber and they bed down until last light?
I equate it to a bar scene. The dude has his girls, he has to hide them and keep them out of site. Some are good looking, some are ugly, some you don't want to be seen with. In the end, he has his chicks and is trying to breed them all. So keeping them in thick timber if he can is his goal. The cows though will pick and choose the mate so they also run the show. They have to eat, drink and sleep so they will do it where they are most comfortable. Most of the time in a summer concentration area until pressure pushes them.
Is it likely to find satellite bulls out cruising throughout the day?
They will be shadowing the main herd. Where ever the main herd is they will be in the outskirts. Kinda like the creep at the end of the bar all night staring down women and scaring them. They will come to a call usually pretty easy because the have no one.
Hunttrap,
First off, I'm trying to help and not being a smartass. Second just because I'm on Eastman forum I'm not being paid or endorsed to promote the book. That being said the above would help you out a ton and answer all the basic questions of whats going on in the elk woods from pre rut, rut and post rut periods. Lots of good info that I even read every year as review.
During rut are they moving throughout day more in the timber or is it a herd bull pushing them into thick timber and they bed down until last light?
I equate it to a bar scene. The dude has his girls, he has to hide them and keep them out of site. Some are good looking, some are ugly, some you don't want to be seen with. In the end, he has his chicks and is trying to breed them all. So keeping them in thick timber if he can is his goal. The cows though will pick and choose the mate so they also run the show. They have to eat, drink and sleep so they will do it where they are most comfortable. Most of the time in a summer concentration area until pressure pushes them.
Is it likely to find satellite bulls out cruising throughout the day?
They will be shadowing the main herd. Where ever the main herd is they will be in the outskirts. Kinda like the creep at the end of the bar all night staring down women and scaring them. They will come to a call usually pretty easy because the have no one.
JimP
Administrator
The last time that I actually sat and watched rutting bulls it was on a fairly clear hillside. The herd bull ran himself ragged going from the top of the hill to the bottom chasing other bulls off while his cows just fed. He must of ran off 20 lbs in the short while that I watched. I tried to lure one of the satellite bulls away from the herd but all I got to come into my calls was a raghorn 4x4 that we never seen. I managed to get him within 10 yards before he spooked out of there.
In other words elk do pretty much as they want, I don't think that there is anyway to actually predict what they will do when they are in that state of mind.
In other words elk do pretty much as they want, I don't think that there is anyway to actually predict what they will do when they are in that state of mind.
I will check out that book for sure. I've got a lot to learn in preparation in regards to habits, diet, vocalizations and locations of elk. Thanks for the advice!!
BKC
Very Active Member
I was not aware that they made the thunderhawk in .54 caliber. I have a .50 caliber thunderhawk. Does yours have the thumb hole stock?