Colorado opening week, bugling?

[Bails-UK]

Hi Guys, I'm in the process of planning next year's Archery Elk hunt, just curious, but has anybody used bugling/call tactics on opening week for success or have you had more success spotting stalking them?

Dave

 

[Mighty Mouse]

I've found early archery bugling activity to be highly variable year-to-year. Case in point, my 2016 hunt began on the Friday of opening week (Sep 2), and I bugled in and killed a satellite bull that evening. The very next morning, I bugled in a larger bull for my brother. Both bulls had been bugling before I began calling to them. In 2018 I hiked into the same canyon on opening day (Aug 25), heard maybe a half dozen bugles all week, and killed a cow late in the week.

 

[RojoGrande]

Was out scouting in NF this past weekend and heard a mid-day bugle. Weak bedded location bugle. Last year they weren't bugling regularly in my area until mid-September.

 

[trophyhill]

I agree it changes from one year to the next. Works both ways. I wouldn't be afraid to call that's for sure.

 

[[email protected]]

I heard 42 bugles opening day last year, year before didn’t hear my first until muzzleloader and they were screaming in first rifle....

 

[Moldrupj]

elk bugle...but I’m guessing you’ll likely hear more hunters than elk bugling opening week.

 

[BigPine]

My son has heard bugles northwest of Colorado Springs.

 

[Jqualls10]

Seems to vary year to year. You can get some bugles but we dont seem to get a ton up until a week or two into September. Start of muzzleloader is where they seem to start bugle a lot and not just right up to shooting light. Last year they didn't start much in our area until the second weekend of muzzleloader.