What week in Sept should I hunt in NM

[matt1glenn]

If it was you , what week (7-10 days) would you hunt in sept for elk ?
I was thinking the 3rd week would be the peak but most of my hunting will be over water source , would it be better then to go pre rut ?

Thanks guys

 

[BruinPoint]

I think if my plan was to sit water I would scout bulls in August and kill one opening day. If hunting the rut is important, conventional wisdom says later is better. It seems like in western Colorado the real freakshow rut has been trending late, like first of October.

 

[NDHunter]

I hunted there the first rifle season a few years ago starting October 12 and the bulls were bugling their heads off.

Are you planning archery?

 

[matt1glenn]

yes with a bow , can go from sept 1st - 27 th . If went on the 1st would be 1st on the ranch that year hunting them.

 

[Hilltop]

Hands down, go early if your main strategy is to hunt water. Get trail cameras up on any available water sources as early as possible. Like Bruin said- You stand a good chance to shoot your bull opening day if you scout properly. If you wont have time to scout, I would still bring a couple trail cameras so you can cover a few water holes at once. Review pictures at night and adjust as necessary. Really put thought into your blind/stand as well as how you will approach.

If you want rut activity, I would look at the last week of September that far south. One thing to consider though is that you will have a full moon on September 27th. Depending on the area, this may limit some day time activity.

 

[dan maule]

Hands down, go early if your main strategy is to hunt water. Get trail cameras up on any available water sources as early as possible. Like Bruin said- You stand a good chance to shoot your bull opening day if you scout properly. If you wont have time to scout, I would still bring a couple trail cameras so you can cover a few water holes at once. Review pictures at night and adjust as necessary. Really put thought into your blind/stand as well as how you will approach.

If you want rut activity, I would look at the last week of September that far south. One thing to consider though is that you will have a full moon on September 27th. Depending on the area, this may limit some day time activity.

I don't mean to hijack this post but what if you were hunting in Wyoming?

 

[Hilltop]

I don't mean to hijack this post but what if you were hunting in Wyoming?

It would depend on where I was hunting, my goals & strategy. The moon will be pretty dark early in the month. If I could hunt any dates for a big bull, I would likely hunt the 5th - 13th in my traditional areas in southern Wyoming. These dates are a little early for full blown rutting but I like that. Once a herd bull has all of his cows, he is much harder to approach/call in. If your goal is to shoot any bull, satellite bulls are usually much easier to call in later in the month.

 

[dan maule]

It would depend on where I was hunting, my goals & strategy. The moon will be pretty dark early in the month. If I could hunt any dates for a big bull, I would likely hunt the 5th - 13th in my traditional areas in southern Wyoming. These dates are a little early for full blown rutting but I like that. Once a herd bull has all of his cows, he is much harder to approach/call in. If your goal is to shoot any bull, satellite bulls are usually much easier to call in later in the month.

Thanks Hilltop!!

 

[matt1glenn]

I'm thinking he same 5-13 thanks

 

[lang]

Keep in mind that even though there is more vocalization later once the big boys are herded they are that much tougher to call in. Elk Ecology and management says most breeding will take place (if I remember right) from about the 12th of September through about 28th. There's always rut action before and after, just depends on what kind of action you want. More bugles or the possibility of calling a herd bull before he's too preoccupied.