Colorado 2nd/3rd season elk

[PA farmboy]

What season do you guys prefer in Colorado? Buddy and I are planning on Montana next fall but am thinking of buying an over the counter tag in Colorado to get some elk hunting in this fall as well. Leaning towards 3rd season, am guessing you could be running into a good bit of snow depending on the year? What sort of country do you typically hunt that time of year, old burns?

I know last year we hunted Montana first week of November and it was crazy warm out still and all our tags got punched around 7-8k elevation. Would the elk still be high at that time of year in Colorado as well? I’m planning on either camping at the truck or spiking out, whatever seems most logical with what I may be seeing.

Thanks for any help!

 

[WeiserBucks]

Later season hunts can be very weather dependant and it pays to be flexible. Have a plan to hunt everywhere between the winter range and the highest elevation.

I've seen everything between -20 with a ton of snow and 70 degree tee shirt weather in 2nd and 3rd.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Coin flip really

 

[PA farmboy]

I kinda figured as much. Does it seem like one season gets less pressure than the other? Or are both fairly pressured regardless?

 

[Hnthrdr]

Maybe 3rd, but really it’s a coin flip year to year. You might find a spot one year that is pretty unpressured and the next year it is crawling with hunters. But that’s the way it is when my state is generous enough to issue unlimited elk tags, I would just make a plan and then stick with it, analysis paralysis won’t help you kill a bull just come out pick a unit and an area and go hunt it hard

 

[Poser]

If you are going one or the other with no other data points about a specific area and gambling on weather (all things being equal scenario), then 3rd rifle is the better choice.

 

[cnelk]

Id try to get a Leftover tag [bull or cow] for 1st season or 4th season before Id hunt the OTC Rifle seasons

 

[LaFever]

Supposedly the phase of the moon effects elk movement which has some people sold on 2nd season. There's a good chance there will be snow and cold for 3rd season
The Denver area has an urban legend of a wicked " little " snow storm for Halloween. If you want to see elk go for 3rd season or cold weather. Old timers say to go elk hunting after election day. Some people believe 2nd season is " magic time "
You pays your money and you take your chances

 

[blackhawk219]

Last year I saw elk at 10k during 3rd, but I was hiking in a t shirt. They could be anywhere.

 

[yo_vinny]

Two years ago my 2nd rifle hunt got about a foot of snow for the last half of it. This past season it was shorts and t shirt weather. 3rd rifle is just as variable.

I'd pick whichever season works best for your schedule and plan on hunting a unit that contains both summer and winter elk range

 

[PA farmboy]

I appreciate you guys giving me some food for thought, all have great points. Do know I need to get chains for my pickup before heading out. Just excited to spend some more time chasing elk without having to wait till next fall to do it.

 

[justinspicher]

I don’t think it really matters, the elk don’t care when you try to find them. The season that works best for you, works best for you and your schedule.

 

[TheBaileyForest]

I've always hunted 3rd(22x since 1998) weather is extremely unpredictable we've hunted in t-shirts getting sunburnt to knee deep snow all in the same week I'd rather hunt 1st but can't get away then maybe 4th to be more likely to have snow that makes all the difference

 

[Cohunter22]

For elk not much different from what I’ve seen. Gonna be crowded either way, and the weather is gonna be your biggest factor. If you get heavy snows the elk are gonna push down the mountain further. Better chance of snow in 3rd season I’d say, but elk have also been bumped/shot at for 2 months at that point essentially. I’d say if it were me coming from out of state you’d probably have money better spent getting a point or two and going 1st rifle. That all being said, can still have good hunts in otc rifle, just takes a bit more effort typically.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SloppyJ]

Shot mine 2nd season last year around 11k feet waaaaay back in there. Weather seemed mild. 20s for the lows and up to the high 50s for the highs. I think you're going to find that it's going to be extremely weather dependent as others have pointed out.