NW Colorado 1st Season Report

[Slugz]

I'm heading back to camp in 48 hours to glass for 4-5 days before the opener. Son has a tag this year. Will post a daily report of what I'm seeing to try and help out inbound hunters on overall feel of the animals and their activities.

Of note: Initial reports I'm getting are bulls are starting to break from the herds and small bachelor groups are being formed. I've seen that also the past two days with my own eyes.

Travel safe.

 

[Slugz]

Oct 12th looks like some weather but nothing major (will probably change a few more times) Oct 15th full moon. Hard freezing every night above 8k is to be expected from here on out.

Big moon + relatively nice weather = in the woods a few hours before sunrise to listen for em + not coming back to camp for lunch as the pressure will have them moving.

Mentality: Its 1150 and the bar is closing. Be nice to the girls and chances are a guy will swing by to see whats going on. No loud yelling or causing a ruckus (contact bugles by a human for the hell of it)........whisper sweet nothings ( assembly mews, lost cow, lost calf)

I'm pulling out the lucky Jetboil/instant chicken soup combo!!!! Lots of animals shot during lunch time 1st rifle!

 

[Alaskabound2016]

Haha great post! Good luck bud!

 

[Mountain10mm]

Appreciate the updates! Don't get those ladies too riled up. We need the boys relaxed when we get there next week. Enjoy the chicken soup.

 

[ElkTrout]

Thanks for the update!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Slugz]

Headed up the mountain after breakfast this am. 2 tracks are slimy but will most probably continue to dry out this week. No major weather fronts appear to be projected this week. Sunny appears to be the soup de jour. Good news, all the animals I've seen low are feeding hard with the colder weather. I'm expecting to see the same up high in pockets.

 

[SunnyInCO]

With the heat returning to the front range this week and close to 80 on Saturday, looks like I'll be bringing my sunscreen with me. Looks like it is going to be a warm 1st season.

 

[Slugz]

Patchy snow above 9500. Herds still had a few bulls mixed in. They were out feeding early tonight. Seems like they are intent to put the feed bag on regardless of the full moon coming. They were out at 1600 today.

 

[Slugz]

Hail, snow, rain combo above 9000 last night

 

[SunnyInCO]

Mother-In-Law was driving on 40 yesterday morning. 21 in Tabernash/Fraser and 34 on top of Berthoud. Tabernash is always cold but that is warm for Berthoud Pass.

 

[Slugz]

Putting on the feedbag. That's it in a nutshell. Definitely a transition period this week as this am glassing one bachelor herd feeding below a spring (green grass) , one small bachelor herd of 4 animals feeding with two of them sparring/mock fighting and to my surprise a lone bull out trolling in a bowl below me ( bugled three times). Seems that the afternoon, like right now hail storm, is becoming very consistent!

Im beginning to think the big herd I saw last night was all cows.
Winds blowing up at 9500, thundersnow/hail last night and looks like now a few small fronts coming through to change up the weather.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

Sounds like a fun time! Wish I was there! Good luck man!

 

[Ringo2holliday]

Is your average elevation 9500 or your top?

 

[Slugz]

Is your average elevation 9500 or your top?

Camp is at 9500, glassing from 10,400 to 11,200. Animals are where I would expect them to be. Hidey holes with feed/south facing and water close. Herds are split also, my gut feeling is most of the second estrus cows are bred. Could be wrong, but animal behavior and my glass is making me lean that way. Should be a good one with the every other day weather pattern that's setting up.

 

[Slugz]

Cold temps and 2 inches of snow produced some rutting activity this am.

 

[Slugz]

2nd day of am rutting activity. 2nd estrus cows are definitely coming into heat. Watched a herd this am feed hi to low, dominant bull was clearly pushing a few select cows, satellites were in trail, a few contact/location bugles and a few frustrated bugles as bulls were trying to keep the girls together while lead cows (probably already bred) were wanting to go one way while the bull is wanting to push some cows into the timber. Other bulls are being sneaky coming out of timber to see what's going on then retreating back to where they came from due to them probably having a few cows hidden away.

 

[Slugz]

Some general comments for the novice crowd. Might be a nugget or two someone can use.

If I'm using horses to get into my hunting area....I don't go in 48 hours prior to the hunt to check out the trail. I just don't like throwing my stink around. I feel the elk also know the clippety clop of metal shoes. They know what comes with that sound.

When I do use horses I like to stay on ridgelines a little down so as not to skyline to drainage check/glass as needed.

I usually always hunt high to low and will only take the equines down when meat is hanging to recover.

I see this horse mistake year after year and adjust my plan to account for trail traffic/scent to let the pressure push animals to me.

Lastly, I always have in my back pocket 2 hidey holes/drainages that they will move to post Sat/Sun shots fired.

Just my 2 sense there and what works for me . You gotta account for the pleasure trail riders/testing out the horses prior to any opener.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

Good point Slugz!

 

[Slugz]

Warm South winds are gonna make it tough Sat/Sun. Looks like that will change Monday night with a front coming through. Glassing the past 24 hours has them still in their hidey holes. Pressure and this weather will change that quickly.

 

[SwanSlayer]

Thanks for the reports/updates. Always great to have an idea how weather and pressure are already influencing the herds. Regardless of season. Can develop a better game plan as the season draws near!