Elk hunting early Sept before M/L or late Sept closer to the rut??

[rackpack]

Hello all,

Just wondering what opinions everyone has about archery season in Colorado. Is it better to hunt the 2nd week of Sept just before Muzzle loader season when the elk haven't been pushed or to hunt after when its the last week of Sept and closer to the rut?

Also, wondering how full moon affects elk activities in September? Do they have little movement during the day and mostly at night or it doesn't matter?

Thanks for your tips.
Rackpack

 

[cnalder]

I can't weigh in on hunting Colorado but I can definitely say that in Idaho and Oregon moon phases are becoming a very determining factor on activity before and during the rut. My thought is it is mostly hunting pressure that is making the elk very active at night with any kind of moon. In the last few years I've camped in several basins that have lots of elk and do get some pressure. I can listen to them bugle and run around all night but then 1/2 to an hour before shooting light its like a light switch turned off. With a moon and at peak rut, mid-day can be excellent. 3 of 6 bulls I've harvested in the last 7 years has been at noon, even when hot. Anymore, I can predict what hunting the rut is like by looking at the moon phases and I plan accordingly. The 2nd half of September the year is looking good for active animals during shooting light.

 

[Cobbhunts]

Awesome response!

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

 

[Topgun 30-06]

It depends on what you want for a hunt. If you go earlier in September you have a good chance at calling in a good bull while he's still rounding up cows for the rut. After they get into the rut and are with cows and if there has been a muzzleloading season with pressure it will just compound getting close to a good bull. If you can't hunt before and after the ML season, I'd go early to do some scouting and then hunt the first part of the month before they're pressured and while they're still very receptive to cow calls.

 

[Timberstalker]

I second what cnalder has stated! Sometimes mid day is better than first light in one of the areas I hunt in Oregon. Where I usually hunt, bugling bulls are hard to find till mid September, I don't expect much action this fall till after the 15th. With the full moon the week prior, personally I wouldn't be taking that week off to hunt elk. I think the first week of September would be better than the second, the first week I would be trying to call in the big guy before he has his girls rounded up This is my experience in Oregon, Colorado could be different?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I think all you bow hunters should stay at home until AFTER the M/L season is over. Give all of us M/L hunters a chance!!! LOL LOL LOL

(actually I'm falling over I'm laughing so hard!)

 

[Timberstalker]

We don't have a Muzzle loader season here in Oregon CC. Archery season usually starts late Aug and ends late Sept here. I guess I don't have good input for Colorado.

 

[CoHiCntry]

Something else to think about is... archery tags are over the counter, muzzleloader tags are not. They are draw only. The reason I bring this up is I think everyone assumes there's way more "pressure" during muzzleloader season. IMO, that's not always the case. In some places there are just as many and more archery camps before, during, and after muzzleloading season. Something to take into consideration.

I should add... I'm assuming your talking about an OTC unit...

 

[CoHiCntry]

We don't have a Muzzle loader season here in Oregon CC.

What a shame... LOL!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Something else to think about is... archery tags are over the counter, muzzleloader tags are not. They are draw only. The reason I bring this up is I think everyone assumes there's way more "pressure" during muzzleloader season. IMO, that's not always the case. In some places there are just as many and more archery camps before, during, and after muzzleloading season. Something to take into consideration.

I should add... I'm assuming your talking about an OTC unit...

I agree with you 100%. The reason I hunt M/L after hunting almost my whole life with a rifle, is I don't have to deal with nearly as many hunters. ( I almost said the Orange Army then I realized we still have to wear orange, I guess so we don't shoot each other) That in addition to being able to hunt as close to the rut as we are able to.

 

[Musket Man]

I think all you bow hunters should stay at home until AFTER the M/L season is over. Give all of us M/L hunters a chance!!! LOL LOL LOL

(actually I'm falling over I'm laughing so hard!)

Easy there CC!! If you fall on that ankle before its healed up you might miss ML season all together this year.

 

[Timberstalker]

Something else to think about is... archery tags are over the counter, muzzleloader tags are not. They are draw only. The reason I bring this up is I think everyone assumes there's way more "pressure" during muzzleloader season. IMO, that's not always the case. In some places there are just as many and more archery camps before, during, and after muzzleloading season. Something to take into consideration.

I should add... I'm assuming your talking about an OTC unit...

With that being said, I would be bow hunting during the smoke pole season. I wish we had a muzzy season in September! That would be a lot of fun.

 

[Musket Man]

CoHiCntry brings up a good point. Many OTC archery hunters will probably avoid hunting during the ML season thinking there will be more pressure but with the ML season being LE during it might be the least pressure of the whole archery hunt.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have a question for all you bow hunters. Colorado makes all gun hunters wear orange, while you guys wear camo. I am assuming the reasoning is gun hunters need to see each other to keep us from shooting each other (again LOL..LOL) If this is the rational...how come M/L hunters don't shoot camo wearing bow hunters?

I hunted almost all my life in California where any dress is allowed during hunting season and I never saw a hunter shot due to another hunters fault...seen several who shot themselves due to their own stupidity!

It just bugs me that we M/L hunters have to wear orange while hunting with bow hunters who wear camo. Doesn't really sound like it makes a lot of sense .

 

[BKC]

The reason I bring this up is I think everyone assumes there's way more "pressure" during muzzleloader season. IMO, that's not always the case. In some places there are just as many and more archery camps before, during, and after muzzleloading season.

Hi Country, In the future can you refrain from letting the cat out of the bag!

I agree totally

 

[CoHiCntry]

Hi Country, In the future can you refrain from letting the cat out of the bag!

I agree totally

Oops!... sorry guy's.

 

[CoHiCntry]

I have a question for all you bow hunters. Colorado makes all gun hunters wear orange, while you guys wear camo. I am assuming the reasoning is gun hunters need to see each other to keep us from shooting each other (again LOL..LOL) If this is the rational...how come M/L hunters don't shoot camo wearing bow hunters?

I hunted almost all my life in California where any dress is allowed during hunting season and I never saw a hunter shot due to another hunters fault...seen several who shot themselves due to their own stupidity!

It just bugs me that we M/L hunters have to wear orange while hunting with bow hunters who wear camo. Doesn't really sound like it makes a lot of sense .

I think it's kinda silly too. I sure wish they'd do away with the blaze requirement for muzzleloaders.

 

[Musket Man]

I dont think orange should be required anywhere on any hunt. There should not be any seat belt laws anywhere either. Not that I am against either of them I just think it should be your decision to use them or not.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I dont think orange should be required anywhere on any hunt. There should not be any seat belt laws anywhere either. Not that I am against either of them I just think it should be your decision to use them or not.

Those are two completely different things! Orange is designed to keep all the idiots out there, and there are many, from making mistakes. In a perfect world where everyone was 100% sure of their target the color orange wouldn't be necessary. Seatbelt laws, on the other hand, are not only designed to protect you in an accident, but are also to keep insurance rates down. If a person didn't have one on and was severely injured, the medical costs are astronomical, especially if it requires lifelong care. Seatbelt laws cut that cost way down by preventing many major injuries or death every year.

 

[Eberle]

In southern CO we bowhunt the last week of September until it closes.