bow hunting Elk in colorado after muzzleloader season.

[Schleppy]

Looking at the season dates along with moon phases and considering that the peak of the elk rut is the 23rd of sept(Autumnal equinox) and the new moon on the 24th of sept. I'm thinking about the 20th thru the 28th for my elk hunt. I'm going otc in CO and wasnt sure about going after the muzzy season and 3 weeks of bow hunting pressure. It looks like the muzzleloader guys have about the best week sandwiched in between the full and new moon. I know that the bow hunt runs at the same time as the muzzie season and that is a possibility. I was considering the 2nd week also but kind of wanted to avoid that full moon.

I can go at anytime and I just dont want to cut my own throat choosing the wrong dates. Do the muzzleloaders make much difference?

 

[Bonedalien]

i would skip the muzzy crowds. the elk seem to calm down pretty fast after they all leave and that last week is usualy really good.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

I hunted Co in the second week a couple years back. Where I hunted there was a road system fairly close by. I think that's what made it so busy ! I will avoid muzzy season on my next trip to Co.

 

[azpredator]

My hunts in Co have usually begin the week before muzzy season and ends shortly after. Where I go in there are usually close to a dozen camps with multiple hunters and the road system is all over the place. With all that being said I have yet to run into a muzzy hunter unless it was when I was walking down a quad trail packing my elk out. The elk don't change their patterns in the area I hunt due to the absence of hunting pressure - not matter the season. Good luck to you....

 

[cadahl]

Unless you have a secret honey hole away from anyone else, I suggest avoiding muzzy season. I try to avoid Labor Day weekend when it coincides with the opener as well. I didn't make it out the last week of archery last season, but they were plenty calmed down by mid-October first rifle season. The last week is on my calendar for this season. Good luck.

 

[Evan Williams]

One benefit of hunting in the smoke pole season is that they will certainly keep animals moving. Most boom stickers at that time aren't putting the miles on. They are utilizing a camper and quad on a VERY regular basis. A lot of it will come down to the area you plan to hunt and terrain. I killed my buck last year on the second day of muzzleloader season and talked a buddy into taking a stab at a herd of elk i had seen the night before. He walked RIGHT in to where I said they'd be and filled his tag in 40 minutes after his hike. They have their pockets where they know MOST guys won't go. In my area I just happened to find a few of those pockets and better ways to access them.

 

[Bar]

I'm a muzzleloader hunter. I never see any hunters. Not sure why you guys see so many?

 

[MAT]

The number of ML hunters depends on the # of cow tags. Some years the trailheads will be full of ML hunters. The real problem with the ML season in OTC areas is guys can draw tags every 3 years, if not they bowhunt in support of those that do in big groups (8-10 hunters). Those numbers really drive the elk all over the place. The secret to hunting the last week is finding the elk, if so you are in for some fun as they bugle like crazy. But the elk are leery of calls, so they are not so easy to hunt. Don't forget overlooked areas, often a few 100 yards off roads that might not look elky enough to a road hunter. I've been into lots of bulls within 300 yards of my truck during and after the ML season.

It sucks the ML should be after the bow season, not in it!

 

[Bar]

The ML season should not be with bow hunters, but the date is fine. Bow hunters don't need a month to kill an elk.

 

[krueger]

I personally hunt or help family during both muzzleloader and bow every year in Colorado. We rarely see muzzleloader hunters unless it is on a trail or road or in camp. Not sure why everyone thinks muzzy guys screw the elk up so bad. In my experience muzzleloader guys either give up or tag out after the first 2-4 days. I would not shy away from muzzleloader week at all if i was bowhunting.

 

[justin davis]

From muzzy season on until the end is the best time to hunt elk in Colorado.

Get away from roads and you will avoid most hunters.

 

[lostbackpacker]

From muzzy season on until the end is the best time to hunt elk in Colorado.

Get away from roads and you will avoid most hunters.

I thought WA State was the only place that had road hunters!!

 

[cuerro viejo]

Southern CO peak ruts been 16-19 last three years.

 

[Foldem]

I'm a muzzleloader hunter. I never see any hunters. Not sure why you guys see so many?

Same here.

 

[Schleppy]

Southern CO peak ruts been 16-19 last three years.

Did you hunt after those dates or how exactly do you know this. Not being a smart ass, seriously interested in what you saw to come to this conclusion.

 

[ChadS]

Southern CO peak ruts been 16-19 last three years.

I would say thats fairly accurate in my experience.

 

[Rucker61]

Southern CO peak ruts been 16-19 last three years.

Figures. I have one mandatory trip to Taiwan each year. It's that week.