CO Archery Cow Moose Hunt

[Murph8868]

Just found out I drew a Colorado Cow Moose Archery tag. Pretty pumped as it will likely be my only chance at a lower 48 moose. Any tips on Archery Cow hunting? If you stay down wind how close do they let you get before you're considered a threat in their eyes?

Season is Sept 6th-30th. Is earlier or later better? Does it matter other than more elk hunters in the woods?

I've moose hunted once before but that was for a Bull during the rut with a rifle in BC. Other than that I've only bumped then while elk hunting.

 

[atfrith]

Congrats! I drew an archery cow as well, second one! In my past experience, I was done the first morning, but I had scouted the area pretty heavy. If you want to PM me i'll help If I can. There's lots of info on CPWs site on places to start (even drainages where last years animals were harvested)

 

[khunter]

Congrats to both of you.

Archery hunted two cow and a bull and muzzleloader hunted one cow (overlaps Muzzle season in Colo) in Colo. And hunted archery/muzzle for 20+ days for Idaho bull moose once.

Have found moose including cow not terribly hard to get in bow range of. Although cows were a little dodgier than bulls it seems. Not an expert just my observation. On each of my cow moose hunts a bonus was enjoying seeing and photographing bulls.

I guess I would maybe suggest hunting the earlier part of season pre rut by a small? margin over later. But more important is hunting cooler versus hot weather see more moose out in the day instead of dawn/dusk as they shade up in hot weather in my experience. That said end of Sept is more rutty and Bulls will be pestering the cows causing more movement (and sightings) overall.

Have called bulls but not sure I every reeled in a cow by calling so cannot speak to that approach to get then closer.

If wish to DM your hunt units happy to provide whatever I know if they are units I have drawn and hunted.

Y'all are in for a great time as one of you already knows. and awesome table fair.

 

[Maverick1]

Just found out I drew a Colorado Cow Moose Archery tag. Pretty pumped as it will likely be my only chance at a lower 48 moose. Any tips on Archery Cow hunting? If you stay down wind how close do they let you get before you're considered a threat in their eyes?

Season is Sept 6th-30th. Is earlier or later better? Does it matter other than more elk hunters in the woods?

I've moose hunted once before but that was for a Bull during the rut with a rifle in BC. Other than that I've only bumped then while elk hunting.

Drive around the roads until you find moose. Park vehicle, get out, and make stalk. Pretty easy. The Colorado moose are conditioned to vehicles and not particularly leery.

Without any natural predators in Colorado (yet....) they are pretty easy to sneak up on, providing the wind is in your favor. If the wind is in your favor and they are unaware of your presence, not hard to sneak within bow range, either. If you spook them, they tend to just thunder off up the mountain - OR - trot out into the open marsh lands, river, or a pond. If they thunder off the mountain you are done. Relocate and find a different moose. If they trot out into the open marsh or pond, they are relatively easy to shoot with a firearm as they will just stand there and look at you like a dumb ox; with a bow it just becomes a longer distance shot at a spooked animal that is looking at you. Not advised.

Pretty easy hunt, once you find a moose.

Use the CDOW website - has drainages and coordinates for previous harvests. Very helpful, and very telling on where to hunt in any/all CO units.

If you manage to get an animal on the ground, be prepared. Depending on the size of the cow, they can be quite large. Get it deboned and quartered ASAP. I would suggest a pulley system to get the meat off the ground to help with cooling.

Keep the skull for a European, and do a tanned hide with the hair on. Both will turn out well and be good memories.

Good luck!

 

[Hnthrdr]

Generally you can walk to within bow range of them, I spend a lot of time in moose country in the frontrange. Now sure where your tag is at but honestly I think biggest challenge might be finding one without a calf. I have a bunch that summer around my cabin and it’s not uncommon for them to pop out behind a garage and walk within 10-15 yards.

 

[loopmtz]

That's awesome congratulations! I also found out I drew a Bull moose tag. I'm super stoked!

Good luck.

 

[Toom]

Just found out I drew a Colorado Cow Moose Archery tag. Pretty pumped as it will likely be my only chance at a lower 48 moose. Any tips on Archery Cow hunting? If you stay down wind how close do they let you get before you're considered a threat in their eyes?

Season is Sept 6th-30th. Is earlier or later better? Does it matter other than more elk hunters in the woods?

I've moose hunted once before but that was for a Bull during the rut with a rifle in BC. Other than that I've only bumped then while elk hunting. and Likewise, I drew an archery tag.

Congrats! I also drew a cow moose archery tag, pretty stoked. Heading out prior to the opener to scout, spending the first couple of weeks hunting. From my experience running into them deer/elk hunting, it seems comparatively pretty easy to close the distance. Let’s talk! Also Woobie if your out there, shoot me a message, I saw a prior post of yours on the subject. I havnt earned my DM privileges yet, FNG. Thanks!