4th Season Colorado Questions

[Throwin Darts]

Hi. I am hunting a private parcel in Colorado’s 4th season this upcoming year. It’s DIY

I’ve done two September archery elk hunts in Wyoming. Weather was nice. How cold should I expect 4th season to be at elevation in Colorado? I have a Kodiak canvas tent but it’s not set up for a stove. Am I going to freeze in it?

Also at that time of year is the play still to bugle and cow call? That’s what we’ve done on our early season hunts but with this being late season are they responding to bugles? What’s the play at that time of year?

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

What do you mean “at elevation”? 6500’ 10,000’?

If you don’t have a stove run a buddy heater, cot good pad and a sleeping bag with an extra blanket if your truck camping should be just fine.

4th season bugling and cow calls no


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[Throwin Darts]

What do you mean “at elevation”? 6500’ 10,000’?

If you don’t have a stove run a buddy heater, cot good pad and a sleeping bag with an extra blanket if your truck camping should be just fine.

4th season bugling and cow calls no


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Elevation of the property is 9,000 - 9,500 feet

I’ve got a big Buddy heater that I can use.

 

[LongWayAround]

It could easily be 0° or 40°.

 

[sndmn11]

Diesel heater and bugle the effffff out of those elks.

 

[Cyril]

4 years ago in 3rd season I had overnight lows of minus 11 at similar elevation. This past season some nights weren't below freezing.

 

[MountainMan83]

Living in Colorado I’ve seen it between -15 to 60 degrees at 4th rifle. You could be freezing or sweating depending on the year. Most common temps are probably closer to 15-40 range. You can survive without heat if you have a good layering system and warm sleeves with pad, but a wood stove is sure nice for a comfortable hunt and to dry your gear. Buddy heaters work for warmth but wont dry your gear. I would not recommend calling after first rifle.

 

[Cohunter22]

Diesel heater and leave the bugle at home. As others have said, if you’re that high on the mtn plan for everything from negatives to 60’s. As far as bugling…they’d be done with what for a month or better by 4th rifle. You’re gonna wanna find food or be in a migration corridor, that time of year they are typically starting to head to their winter range, usually lower on the mtn towards sage or some other winter food source depending on the unit and snow.


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[Laelkhunter]

Definitely plan on acquiring a heater. If weather is cold/wet you can at least try to dry yourself out and dry some wet clothes. Might be the difference between a cold miserable hunting experience bordering on hypothermia and a great experience you will enjoy. Hypothermia can happen in 50 degrees if you're wet and you have no way to get warm.

 

[Wizzum]

Nights are going to be cold; very cold. Plan for it, maybe they will just be tolerable.

 

[bluesage3]

Diesel heater and leave the bugle at home. As others have said, if you’re that high on the mtn plan for everything from negatives to 60’s. As far as bugling…they’d be done with what for a month or better by 4th rifle. You’re gonna wanna find food or be in a migration corridor, that time of year they are typically starting to head to their winter range, usually lower on the mtn towards sage or some other winter food source depending on the unit and snow.


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Hi. I am hunting a private parcel in Colorado’s 4th season this upcoming year. It’s DIY

I’ve done two September archery elk hunts in Wyoming. Weather was nice. How cold should I expect 4th season to be at elevation in Colorado? I have a Kodiak canvas tent but it’s not set up for a stove. Am I going to freeze in it?

Also at that time of year is the play still to bugle and cow call? That’s what we’ve done on our early season hunts but with this being late season are they responding to bugles? What’s the play at that time of year?

As other have said. it can be warm during the 4th or it can be extremely cold. The Kodiak tent may keep you dry, but it could be an ice box. Highly recommend some type of reliable safe stove. You've got to stay dry and warm, the early morning hours will be well below zero. Of course, it depends on your altitute and what part of the state you'll be hunting. Always remember, a happy, warm & rested camper is a happy hunter.

No bugles, maybe a couple different cow/calf calls. If wx is cold with lots of snow look toward the sage/timber transition zones. Some elk herds in CO migrate 40-50 miles other herds may only migrate a few miles; so, it all depends on where you are planning to go.

 

[Cedarthicket]

Paying attention to this thread for 2027 season as a newbie…

 

[Calcoyote]

I am a little late arriving at this thread but here is my advice:

I live in Wyoming and have hunted in NW Colorado. You would need a crystal ball and a good psychic to know what the temps would be. Last year was mild and warm well into December, but it could be down to zero in October. Some of your best hunting can be had in nasty weather and that is when MANY hunters pack up and leave because they are not prepared for the cold.

I would advise you to SELL your Kodiak tent this Spring/Summer at the beginning of the camping season. You will get pretty good money for it due to the good reputation of the company. Then take that money and add another $300 with it and purchase Kodiak's 10x10 wall tent that has a stove jack ($849). It has 4 ft walls and a 7.5 ft ridge height. Due to its compact size it is easier to heat than the larger tents.

Next I would go over to the website for Kni Co stoves. You can purchase the Alaskan Jr standard package for around $270. I would also HIGHLY recommend paying an extra $30 and getting the false bottom and I would also recommend and extra joint of 4" pipe. I protect the floor from getting too hot by using a piece of plywood that I cut down to the size I wanted. I used 3/4" and cut it long enough to extend about 8-10 inches longer than your stove. That way if any sparks come out when you open the door they will hit the plywood not damage the flooring. I also have it about 3-4 inches wider on each side. I also own a heavier duty stove made by Four Dog that is better than the Kni Co, but I like this light weight option and it will heat a 10x10 up warmer than you will want it to be. I usually do not run the stove all night. I have a Marmot down bag rated to -20 that I have to unzip most of the time because it gets to warm for me. They are very expensive to buy new, but I got mine on Ebay for a fraction of the new price and it had never been used.

I would also recommend buying poly tarp for the roof. You can put the tent up and take some measurements of the roof and find a good quality tarp for around $25 and cut out the stove jack hole yourself. I would also by 2 10x10 tarps. I use one as a floor protector between the floor and the ground and the other one as an interior floor protector.

I realize this option costs money, but you will then have the equipment for the next 30 years and not being prepared for the cold can RUIN a hunt and elk season only comes around once a year.

Edit to Add: I also use a lantern in the tent rather than LED lighting. The lantern also gives off heat. I also take along my Buddy heater but ONLY use it in the morning for about 10 min to knock the chill off before I get out of my sleeping bag.

 

[eidsvolling]

We had 14” of snow overnight at that elevation on a 4th season hunt in the Maroon Bells. A chainsaw was necessary to clear the road on the way out. YMMV, as others have noted.

 

[fulldraw1972]

I am late to the conversation as well.
This info could be valuable for any sportsman that does ice fishing and wants to go elk hunting in the late season.

If you are truck camping you can use a Hub portable ice fishing tent. They are insulated and if you put down the foam pads for a gym floor they will insulate the ground for you. Take your buddy heater and add battery operated fan or two. Now you have a way to dry out your wet clothes.
I use my set up like this for my rainy river fishing trips in the spring up on the Mn/Canada border.

 

[WISGUY]

leave the bugle home. just follow their bugles to locate. They won't come into your bugles. Never hunted 4th, but they can still bugle like crazy in 3rd.