Archery Elk Hunt Opening Day or Rut?

[JK9897]

What do you guys think? If hunting Colorado archery season, mix of public and private, is it better to be out there opening week or a mid September week when the rut may be at its peak?

 

[Ac338]

I'm in the process of figuring out the same thing. Some of the advice I've been given so far is that early you may have a chance at more relaxed and less pressured animals but later in september you have a better chance at hunting vocal bugling elk. They may be more aggressive and territorial late september which could help calling one into bow range as well.

 

[cnelk]

Well, this coming year archery season starts on Aug 31.

That is MUCH better than it was this past fall when it started on Aug 25.

I know that I wont be hunting elk very hard opening weekend in Colorado.

But do I know when I will be

 

[elkguide]

A bad day hunting, (whatever that is) is better than any day at work!

So any chance to be in the woods and most especially, elk hunting, is great. I can't explain it but from my experience and years of notes, for some reason, the peak of the rut seems to fall on September 19 - 20 & 21. That to me is the most exciting time so I like to plan my archery elk hunting around/to include those days.

 

[IdahoElk]

Rut no question

 

[JK9897]

Thanks for the info, I would like to be in the woods when there is a good chance of vocal bulls, but wasn’t sure if catching them early was more important. I know there are lots of unknown variables but I feel I have some control over this one.

 

[cnelk]

The peak of the rut can vary on location.

There are places in Colorado I know it takes place end of Sept and into Oct, other places its around Sept 10.

 

[jetsled]

Two things to consider. Vocal bulls are the best no question, but....look above... every dog and pony show in the west is hunting the 13ish-late month. The first week is less vocal but if you can find one making noise you probably have him all to yourself.

 

[5MilesBack]

It depends on what your end goals are, and how you want to hunt. You probably have a better chance at a bigger bull early before they herd up. And if you don't mind sitting, early can be a very successful time to hunt sitting over the right water. Every opening weekend I've hunted, I have gotten bulls to respond. Some very non-aggressively, and others that came screaming in wanting to pummel me. But that also depends on how you hunt. There is no doubt that later generally has a better chance of bugling action. Again, just depends on your goals.

 

[Jacack]

Two things to consider. Vocal bulls are the best no question, but....look above... every dog and pony show in the west is hunting the 13ish-late month. The first week is less vocal but if you can find one making noise you probably have him all to yourself.

Spot on

 

[Trial153]

For me it depends on how open a unit is. If it’s country that I can glass and put a stalk on a bull I would hunt earlier with less pressure. As much as I love calling elk, I think from a percentage stand point I have arrowed way more bulls that I spotted and got in on them.

 

[nphunter]

You can get a bull fired up easily anytime from late August to early October. I called a bull in and had several bulls bugling around us in late August this year. Bugled the bull I killed in on the 8th of Sept. I get to hunt the entire month being that I live where I hunt and have called more elk into bow range prior to the 10th. Way more bugling closer to the end of September but those elk are messed with and have cows so they are less likely to come all the way in. With all that said I am planning on heading to ID the last week of September next season after I kill my bull here in OR. I normally hear the most bugling during the last weekend here but the elk are normally cowed up which means you have to be a much more aggressive hunter to get into them.

I think a persons best odds are to get a bull talking early in the season and go in and kill him. Hunting late September is just more fun because it’s awesome to get into bugling matches with bulls and more are wound up during that time. I don’t just hunt because I want to harvest and elk, I enjoy the interaction more than anything else so more bugling elk means more interactions!!