2025 Archery 7 Day selection

[D_wit22]

All right guys so I need your opinions. If you have 7 days to spend in the Elk woods this coming September what 7 days are you picking? Was digging into moon phases and didn’t know if you guys follow those like I would pack east in the Whitetail woods or not. Looks like the new moon is the 21st

 

[Matt5266]

What state?

 

[IdahoBeav]

It really doesn't matter. People kill bulls throughout the season. The first week is usually hot weather, but there can be a ton of action. Later in the month as the rut typically picks up, the high country can get snowed out.

 

[D_wit22]

Idaho

 

[Legend]

Moon phase is for people who need an excuse.

Wait for a weather window that fits your style and go hunt.

 

[D_wit22]

Haha love it…I’m coming from 32 hours away and need to plan vacation days for work soooo I’m gonna have to take my best guess.

 

[ElkNut1]

If familiar with your area to hunt & have a good idea where elk frequent early season then I'd pick opening day. This would apply to open country elk (glassing) or elk hunting more timbered country.

If unfamiliar with the area & shooting from the hip, up your odds to locate elk vocally. The decent dates would be anytime from Sept. 8th on.

ElkNut

 

[Deerhunter6250]

I'd go Sept 18 to 25th

 

[Matt5266]

All of my archery idaho bulls were from sep 13th and on.

 

[bz_711]

Middle to late Sept.
I used to somewhat consider the moon and wanted new moon/dark nights...but I shot my biggest bull last year at 3:05pm on a full moon that was up all night...so not sure moon matters at all.

Good Luck!

 

[Indian Summer]

This year…. September 13-19

 

[D_wit22]

Thanks guys. This is all good information! I appreciate this site.

 

[Z Barebow]

If familiar with your area to hunt & have a good idea where elk frequent early season then I'd pick opening day. This would apply to open country elk (glassing) or elk hunting more timbered country.

If unfamiliar with the area & shooting from the hip, up your odds to locate elk vocally. The decent dates would be anytime from Sept. 8th on.

ElkNut

This is what I have found that works for me also.

If you know where the elk are on day 1, go get them.

If you don't know where the elk are, hunt the window when they are most likely to let you know where they are at. (IE Rutting/bugling)

 

[Will_m]

If familiar with your area to hunt & have a good idea where elk frequent early season then I'd pick opening day. This would apply to open country elk (glassing) or elk hunting more timbered country.

If unfamiliar with the area & shooting from the hip, up your odds to locate elk vocally. The decent dates would be anytime from Sept. 8th on.

ElkNut

This is a pretty logical approach. Solid input @ElkNut1!

 

[ElkArcher918]

Mid to late September is what I prefer but I've experienced bugling action shortly after Labor Day weekend. I don't put much credence on moonphase but do hope for cooler weather (which you can't control). Just go elk hunting whenever time and $ alllows and the let the chips fall where they may. Maximize your time in the field with good research, physical preparation, and decent functional gear.

 

[cnelk]

Hunting pressure is more concerning than the moon phase.
I like early season, that 'low hanging fruit' can be productive

 

[LongWayAround]

If I had to pick one week, I would go September 15-21.

I like the first week though. It might be hot, but later more bulls will have cows.

 

[elkocd]

There is no real answer to this question. Every phase of archery has pluses and minuses. I've killed mature bulls in August all the way into Oct with a bow. Each of the hunts were very different.

Concrete example: MY son and I had ID archery tags last year. I killed a 6 point 10 mins into my hunt on my 1st day Aug 31st. My son came out to hunt in the middle of Sept. We were into bugling bulls every day, but they were much more pressured and he had a very hard time getting a shot. He hunted 10 days and went home empty handed. So which one was better?

With that said, if it was a pure LE tag with lots of bulls and low pressure I'd start on the 17th if I only had 7 days to hunt.

Luckly I can hunt pretty much every day of archery season so I just go out every day and see what it holds.

 

[Jaker_cc]

I’ve killed all my bulls before Sept 13th. I prefer to find a solo bull gearing up for the rut and stalking in to kill him. One set of eyes and ears is easier to beat than say 20. I’ve had great rutting action that early also, but it depends on the year.

 

[spike camp]

Hunting pressure is more concerning than the moon phase.
I like early season, that 'low hanging fruit' can be productive

Agreed
Opening has always been good to us.

Pressure will crush typical movement, and if a bull is bugling there will likely be others moving in as well.