Colorado archery elk 2020

[Farmingdale's Finest]

So my son and I got to do our first archery elk hunt this year for the first week of the season. It was ridiculously warm with high temps as much as 91 degrees. We got there the Thursday evening before the opener and had elk bugling on the next ridge within minutes of getting to camp. The next day we scouted and had elk respond to my bugles. The opener we had elk respond but got cliffed out following the sound and not going in the direction we originally planned based upon the calls we heard the previous two days. As we were preparing the steep climb back up the drainage to our camp we met another hunter who was successful coming from where we originally planned on going. We were able to have a cow within 80 yards on day three but the wind swireldd and she took off. Unfortunately our trip was cut short due to my son getting altitude sickness.

My question is should we go back the opener this year since it’s a week later or would there be a better week to go typically? This year we can go at anytime since he is out of college by then vs last year having to go based upon class schedule.

Thanks in advance!


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[elkduds]

If I were archery hunting CO in 2020, it would be the last week of season.

 

[Gapmaster]

I’ve hunted every week of CO’s archery season over the years and my favorite is the last week. Yes the elk are a little more pressured, but if you don’t mind hunting the nasty stuff, it can be dynamite.

 

[spike camp]

My vote is for the opener.
It’ll start on a Monday in 2020 I believe, which will hopefully keep the crowds subdued.
You had action in your spot, limited pressure, which all seems to change(area dependent) as the season progresses.
First week, Elk are still in summer patterns, lazy and in general, far less pressured.
I wouldn’t miss the opener, unless I had no choice.

 

[WyattTN]

Have any of you hunted a few different areas during these time or is everyone pretty much hunting one unit every time?

 

[wildwilderness]

When I lived in CO I would hunt all over- up to 4 different units any given weekend. For OTC Archery the 2nd week is good for less pressure and better activity. If you have a limited tag or private I would go the 3 and 4th week.

 

[cnelk]

2020 archery elk starts on a Wednesday - Sept 2.
Labor Day weekend is on the 7th - 3 days later.
ML season starts on the 12th.

It all depends on when you go.
If I hunt early season, the elk are in different places than later season and vice versa.

My typical 10 days in OTC elk hunts, Ill cover 3-4 units and drive over 800 miles

YMMV

 

[Newtosavage]

2020 archery elk starts on a Wednesday - Sept 2.
Labor Day weekend is on the 7th - 3 days later.
ML season starts on the 12th.

It all depends on when you go.
If I hunt early season, the elk are in different places than later season and vice versa.

My typical 10 days in OTC elk hunts, Ill cover 3-4 units and drive over 800 miles

YMMV

I wish I could find a way to cut down on the driving, but so far I haven't. Too much country to cover and usually, enough other hunters that I'm always trying to get away from people.

cnelk, have you seen the elk lower at the first week of archery season, then move up higher with all the disturbance that comes from labor day and ML season? I feel like that's what I've seen a few years - elk that I was glassing on lower meadows around 8-9K later moved up to 10K range after the busy weekend and ML season started.

 

[WyattTN]

I've only hunted rifle so bugles are limited, this year i dont think I heard any. How long will you stay in a unit or what makes you pack and move to another one?

 

[elkdozer]

Be there the day muzzleloader closes and stay until the end.

 

[Jbehredt]

Not much help but I’m still debating the week before and the week after muzzle. We’re it not for muzzle I’d hunt that week. As usual it covers my favorite and statistically most productive dates.

 

[Kperricone]

Are you suggesting being there for the opener before muzzleloader because of hunting pressure?

 

[Coveyleader]

Hunting quiet elk can be hard. If you know the units, or can at least see, first week is good. If you don’t know the unit, going in blind, never would I pick those dates.


The good thing about the last weeks is if you don’t hear them, keep walking.


There are a fazillion posts on this by the way, search them, draw up a plan kill an elk.