Co activity?

[TheHardWay]

I was able to seal the deal this evening. It wasn't the one I had set out after, but still a good bull none the less. The one I was after was in the group, but he wouldn't come out of the thick stuff. A couple of cows busted me and started barking, so I made it happen before they all high tailed it outta there.

 

[HunterHawk]

Congrats!

 

[danarnold]

We just got back this morning from nine days of hunting Colorado south of silt, Owens Creek area. Talk to a couple guys that her bugles until a week ago Sunday night. I got a shot at a good 6 x 6 that I stalked while he was in his bed from 90 to 30 yards, Thought I had A wide-open rib cage but clipped a pine branch at the very last second of arrow flight. I heard no bugles at all and found the elk down low in the Black timber near the creeks mostly early in the week, we hunted high around 10 K later in the week and I witnessed a cow with a bull and a calf, while the bull was mounting a calf repeatedly at 90 yards. Made me think it was an early rut and this bull was tending to a calf that had come into season
We hunted Archery, when muzzleloader season open it look like a parking lot at the trailhead which thinned out later in the week as did the elk

 

[COlineman78]

Well, struck out this year. Ended up walking into the same herd as the earlier post again this morning in the dark and the bull barked at my dad 3 or 4 times from thick brush at under 50 yards. Had the entire herd talking as they moved down the valley on the wrong side of the fence again after the sun came up with one cow just eating 50 yards beyond the fence for like 10 minutes ignoring every call I threw at her. They are still a little quiet. Had a herd of 20 (at least 2 bulls) move in behind us last night without making a sound and found them eating in the middle of the field silhouetted at dark on the way back (there were 2 bulls in front bugling). So I decided to see how close I could get in the wide-open field and was under 100 yards before the bull spotted my dad and again sat there barking at him several times. The pattern was certainly different and less consistent this year due to the majority not quite being completely herded up yet. Lots of calves though.

If anyone knows of a good 2nd season meat hunt let me know. Haven't ever been out on second rifle, but would be nice to be able to drop a cow or two and fill the freezer.

 

[Huntingfanatic]

Just got back from central colorado. All was quiet for the first 5 days. Last two days we finally got some bugles from four different bulls tucked away in some dark timber in the late afternoon. Put the moves on the closest one in the evening but got busted by some swirling wind. Came back next morning not a peep. Strange year. Lots of green grass and water still up at 10,500 or so. Usually more vocal in past years

 

[husky390]

Not a peep during the day but will hear bugles just before dark. We were chased off the mountain by what we think was a satellite that came into my cow calls. It was too dark to shoot by the time he got to us so we took off in the hopes he wouldn't bust us. His last bugle sounded pretty pissed off when he realized the "cows" were gone.

 

[Laelkhunter]

husky 390, What GMU area where you hunting? What altitude, and how warm was it during the day? Weather channel shows pretty warm temps around Denver with no cool fronts in sight.

 

[husky390]

husky 390, What GMU area where you hunting? What altitude, and how warm was it during the day? Weather channel shows pretty warm temps around Denver with no cool fronts in sight.

I'm in central CO, 9500-10000', and it's freaking hot. Sunday was 65 according to the thermometer in my truck but it felt like low 80's in the sun. Nights are cold with temps almost down to freezing. This weather sucks.

 

[Jarrod Renaud]

Hiked in at 2am this past thursday and had two bulls bugling 100 yards from the road haha. For the hell of it we shut off our lights and shot out a few cow calls, those bulls came running in, kind of freaked us out cause we were on a steep slope and couldnt see crap, could only hear them tearing through the side hill. Anyhow, we high tailed it up the mountain and for the next few days were hearing constant bugles around 1am-3am and then around 4am. The occasional bugle during shooting hours but just couldnt get anything riled up which is very unusual for this spot. It was a frustrating few days. Taking a last crack at it late this week.

 

[Elkfitness]

I hunt a high pressure unit (maybe they all are!) and have been taking 3-4 day weekends the entire season. I've heard a random bugle in the evenings, but nothing real active. The elk I am seeing have a bull or two with a group of cows. The cows are talking but that's about it. Ive been within 60-70 yds numerous times but the shifty wind has caused me to back out each time. It seems to me that the early morning thermal shift is happening earlier due to the quick warm up in the mornings. I'm going back in Thursday night for one more 3 day push and will be a little bit more aggressive.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I hope it cools down some before Oct. 17 when I start my rifle hunt. I will be in Units 78 , 81.

 

[COlineman78]

I hope it cools down some before Oct. 17 when I start my rifle hunt. I will be in Units 78 , 81.

Well, I looked and it seems that the temps in Denver are going to continue in the 80s for at least the rest of the week so archery guys may be SOL. This bodes well for rifle guys though as it's pushing the rut out quite a ways. Now the temps in Denver don't always reflect the mountains as last week it dropped below freezing and was rainy for 3 days where I was hunting while the weather continued to be hot and dry on the front range. This doesn't look to be the case though as it's looking to be in the mid 70s in the mountains all week again.

 

[darcytribe]

Well, struck out this year. Ended up walking into the same herd as the earlier post again this morning in the dark and the bull barked at my dad 3 or 4 times from thick brush at under 50 yards. Had the entire herd talking as they moved down the valley on the wrong side of the fence again after the sun came up with one cow just eating 50 yards beyond the fence for like 10 minutes ignoring every call I threw at her. They are still a little quiet. Had a herd of 20 (at least 2 bulls) move in behind us last night without making a sound and found them eating in the middle of the field silhouetted at dark on the way back (there were 2 bulls in front bugling). So I decided to see how close I could get in the wide-open field and was under 100 yards before the bull spotted my dad and again sat there barking at him several times. The pattern was certainly different and less consistent this year due to the majority not quite being completely herded up yet. Lots of calves though.

If anyone knows of a good 2nd season meat hunt let me know. Haven't ever been out on second rifle, but would be nice to be able to drop a cow or two and fill the freezer.

hey, in Colorado can you use the same tag for archery AND rifle?

 

[JG358]

hey, in Colorado can you use the same tag for archery AND rifle?

nope

 

[cgippe]

Does anyone know if you can turn in your not filled OTC archery tag for an OTC rifle? Have had very bad luck this year.

 

[JG358]

Does anyone know if you can turn in your not filled OTC archery tag for an OTC rifle? Have had very bad luck this year.

No but you can still get a b or c list tag.

 

[COlineman78]

Does anyone know if you can turn in your not filled OTC archery tag for an OTC rifle? Have had very bad luck this year.

No you cannot as far as I know. If you had an either sex or bull archery or muzzleloader it is an A license and can get one B license (cow). If you has a cow archery or muzzleloader tag it was a B license (most likely) and can get either an A (bull) or B (cow) license for OTC Rifle. If that doesn't work you can also get C licenses for plains elk.

 

[cgippe]

No you cannot as far as I know. If you had an either sex or bull archery or muzzleloader it is an A license and can get one B license (cow). If you has a cow archery or muzzleloader tag it was a B license (most likely) and can get either an A (bull) or B (cow) license for OTC Rifle. If that doesn't work you can also get C licenses for plains elk.

Thanks Guys kind of a bummer, I am new to Colorado hunting so guess i messed up. Wish I would have done a cow archery B tag then A list otc rifle. All these units and season are tough to maneuver. Not to mention I only saw moose while hunting this year so far. Scouted some good areas for elk pre season and they all disappeared.

 

[husky390]

Thanks Guys kind of a bummer, I am new to Colorado hunting so guess i messed up. Wish I would have done a cow archery B tag then A list otc rifle. All these units and season are tough to maneuver. Not to mention I only saw moose while hunting this year so far. Scouted some good areas for elk pre season and they all disappeared.

If you have an A tag for archery, check to see if there are any Leftover B tags available for rifle.

 

[bikerdavet]

If you have an A tag for archery, check to see if there are any Leftover B tags available for rifle.

I just got a left over tag for 1st rifle. Slim pickings. I never saw an elk during muzzle loader and there wasn't much pressure where I was. Good thing I like to hunt.