Colorado 1st vs 4th Rifle

[Gorp2007]

My family had booked a drop in hunt for the Flat Tops Wilderness during first rifle season. Now, they're debating switching to a fully guided 4th season hunt in the same area. I'm in favor of sticking with first season because I figure the weather will probably be better and the elk won't have been pressured for a month straight. The rest of the party think that the benefits of having guides in camp outweigh my concerns.

Does anyone else have any factors that we should be considering? Assume that we're all novices to elk hunting and only one of us is in good shape. Three members of the group have hunted elk successfully before, but two were in Oregon and the other was on a fully guided hunt.

 

[Bonedalien]

1st season elk have already been through a month of archery and a week of muzzloaders. But yes, the weather "should " be better.

 

[Gorp2007]

1st season elk have already been through a month of archery and a week of muzzloaders. But yes, the weather "should " be better.

I assumed that pressure would spike during rifle season in a unit with OTC tags available. As for the weather, they're trying to convince me that it's been too warm during first season the past few years. That sounds like questionable logic at best to me, since trying to predict year-to-year weather is impossible, so why ignore historical trends.

 

[DEHusker]

Are you after a bull? First season is far better for bulls since you won't be dealing with deer hunters or cow hunters at all. Plus, rut is prob still winding down giving you the chance of hearing some bugling. Downside is that it is only a 5 day hunt (ridiculous in my opinion). 4th season big bulls are usually hung up in deep dark timber. Smaller bulls will be herding up with the cows and coming down out of the high areas if it snows. Private land guided hunts will be a bit better regardless of season. Still only a 5 day season. Good luck and have fun. Forget weather. Can't predict one year to the next.

 

[Jimss]

Would you be hunting the same wilderness during the 4th season? Most elk tend to move dramatically down to lower elevations during the 3rd and 4th rifle seasons. Some elk may even get pressured off public to private land during the archery and muzzy seasons. If the outfitter has private land that would definitely pull things in your favor during any season. If I was going to pay for a guided OTC hunt in Colo I would definitely search for one that is on private land. There is an incredible amount of hunting pressure from archery through the rifle seasons in most OTC public land areas in Colo. I would also talk to as many of the outfitter's references as possible (both successful and unsuccessful hunters from several years).

 

[ChasinBugles]

Bulls will be sounding off still during first season and much easier to locate just by listening for bugles.

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

1st rifle.

 

[Gorp2007]

1st rifle.

I agree, but the rest of the group has spoken and we'll be going during the 4th season. Guess it's time to buy a few more layers...

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[elkduds]

Flat TOPS wilderness. Apply for some cow tags in the drawing. You can draw a cow tag and buy a bull tag in some of those units. Having a cow tag or 2 for your group will increase the odds of filling tags.

 

[Gorp2007]

Flat TOPS wilderness. Apply for some cow tags in the drawing. You can draw a cow tag and buy a bull tag in some of those units. Having a cow tag or 2 for your group will increase the odds of filling tags.

Thanks for the advice and the edit. We've all agreed that we shouldn't all chase trophies, but no one has volunteered to draw a cow only tag.

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[530Chukar]

Just look at the harvest statistics in those couple of zones that make up the flat tops. Far more bulls killed during the first season than any other.


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[Gorp2007]

Just look at the harvest statistics in those couple of zones that make up the flat tops. Far more bulls killed during the first season than any other.


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Preaching to the choir, but the rest of the family voted for guides and horses. Considering I don't have any idea what the hell I'm doing, it was hard to make a convincing case against going with guides.

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[Hayguide]

I like the first season for a couple of reasons.
There is a 3 week rest from the bow/ML season which ends on Sept 25th. That really helps this season.

The bulls are still bugling and if you find a herd you may see some mature bulls in it or close by.

The weather can make the season, so if conditions are cool and you get that 1st snow- it can be great
There is less pressure in that season-less than archery,2nd Rifle- not sure about 3rd or 4th. I know the locals take the 3rd and 4th because the elk leave the high country---that's an issue depending on the outfitter. If its not private land in that 8000 ft range- it could be void of elk. The outfitter I use to use-Lost Solar only packed in on 1,2,and 3rd- never 4th.

 

[elkduds]

Thanks for the advice and the edit. We've all agreed that we shouldn't all chase trophies, but no one has volunteered to draw a cow only tag.

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A hunter can buy a bull tag and draw a cow tag for the same season, same unit. Good luck, bring your woolies.

 

[BH107]

Make sure you check references for the guide that have hunted with them 4th season. I agree with the others, 1st would be better and 4th will be a gamble. If there has been early snow they might have moved down already, or if its warm the bulls will still be holding up tight.

 

[Curvebow]

On Hunt Talk forums, Randy Newberg hunted CO in the 3rd season this past year. It was 70 degrees every day! Elk were still high and in hell holes. Normally, there is snow, but none this past year.

 

[Hayguide]

I hunted the first season last year. It was really disappointing with the full moon and 70 degree weather-I got very lucky on the 2nd day and found a small herd using a high park by a water spring. I was able to kill a good 6-5 at dusk--- but the reality was with that drop camp operator- 3 camps- 9 guys- 1 elk-mine. Weather was a huge factor. had someone had a cow tag- and been with me-we could have filled that. You cant group hunt in Colorado so the guy or gal with the cow tag has to kill it. That's a good rule and at least with that said-the person with the tag is going to be the one shooting.

 

[Gorp2007]

On Hunt Talk forums, Randy Newberg hunted CO in the 3rd season this past year. It was 70 degrees every day! Elk were still high and in hell holes. Normally, there is snow, but none this past year.

Yeah, the weather over the past couple of years is part of what's driving the group to a 4th season hunt. I guess we'll either look like geniuses or idiots, just depends on whether it works.

 

[Gorp2007]

I hunted the first season last year. It was really disappointing with the full moon and 70 degree weather-I got very lucky on the 2nd day and found a small herd using a high park by a water spring. I was able to kill a good 6-5 at dusk--- but the reality was with that drop camp operator- 3 camps- 9 guys- 1 elk-mine. Weather was a huge factor. had someone had a cow tag- and been with me-we could have filled that. You cant group hunt in Colorado so the guy or gal with the cow tag has to kill it. That's a good rule and at least with that said-the person with the tag is going to be the one shooting.

Copy, we weren't planning to share tags, but at least four of our group are going to be paired up father/son, so having one with each could make sense.

 

[njdoxie]

On Hunt Talk forums, Randy Newberg hunted CO in the 3rd season this past year. It was 70 degrees every day! Elk were still high and in hell holes. Normally, there is snow, but none this past year.

I hunted 2nd rifle last year, as I do every year, it didn't even get below 32 most nights, got a bull though. I bought a -20 degree bag 4 years ago, so I'd finally be warm, and it's been warm ever since, but I'm not complaining, makes camping easier.