CO 3rd Rifle Thread

[lak2004]

I was out for the last 3 days in the 11k elevation range hunting elk. Didn't see anything except for 2 elk crossing the highway at 11k, but fresh tracks and sign still up high. Even a few deer tracks still at that elevation. Haven't heard a single gunshot either, which is odd for 3rd rifle. Seems as if the animals are pocketed up and locked down hard. Of course, the deer in town are still out and about doing their thing, but no sign of rutting.

About what I've heard from everyone around here. I've been hearing shots down low, but there are about 10 million people running around the low country.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

GF shot her first buck on Sunday morning. She made a 450 yard shot off her pack and was able to hump the hind, front, head, and backstrap in one trip.



I got this weird 4x"1" on Monday morning. This packout kicked my ass. Really hard to be picky with how many tags they gave out this year.

 

[hunthikecamp]

I was out in NW CO for opening weekend and was able to connect on this guy Sunday night!



I started out lower ~8700 but with the weather and lack of snow saw very few deer, 2 bucks and a handful of does, still on opposite sides of the basin and not really interested in each other. Decided to go high up to ~10k and the bucks up there were still bachelored up, not really interested in does either. By Sunday I was starting to see some signs, maybe a hot doe came into the area but one buck was trailing her and sniffing/chasing. This guy was solo, but it looked like he was marking some fence posts or something, he was a bit preoccupied and gave me the chance to hustle closer for a shot.

The weather was definitely an interesting factor this year, I've seen nastier weather in some 1st rifle hunts. Check those earlier season spots! lol.

Also an interesting dynamic, which makes sense given the rut progression, but opening weekend was fairly slow. Not many hunters and almost no shooting but pulling out on Monday AM and it was noticeably busier. Things are heating up! Good luck out there!

 

[BigLou]

Zero signs of rut in south central CO. Seeing bachelor groups of bucks. Saw 40 does in a hay field at first light, not a single buck…

 

[307_timberstalker]

Zero signs of rut in south central CO. Seeing bachelor groups of bucks. Saw 40 does in a hay field at first light, not a single buck…

Hunting south also. 0 rut action at all. Little forked don’t even care. Killed 1 nice buck the second day and we haven’t seen a branch buck since. Tons of does tho. Killed him at 10,500’ since everyone asks