Colorado Rut Timing This year?

[Hnthrdr]

In what felt like a fitting end to a weirdly quiet season for me, the elk here flipped a switch for the final 2 days of the month; multiple herds with all bulls bugling throughout each day. Wasn't able to seal the deal, but was grateful to be chasing bugling elk during the final seconds of the season.

Yep every year is its own thing, lots of guys who wait for the last week might not have had the rut fest they hoped for, the bulls were rocking Sept 1&2 by me but super quiet during muzzy and then my neighbor told me they turned back on for 20-24 and then quiet for the seasons close, it is what it is. Every time when I think I know how the season will go they will flip the script

 

[patagonialuke]

Every time when I think I know how the season will go they will flip the script

100%. This season reinforced that I just need to keep getting out there as much as possible, and then adapt to whatever they happen to be doing on a given day. I can always attempt to rationalize their behavior after the fact, but predicting it in advance is a whole different story.

 

[Hnthrdr]

100%. This season reinforced that I just need to keep getting out there as much as possible, and then adapt to whatever they happen to be doing on a given day. I can always attempt to rationalize their behavior after the fact, but predicting it in advance is a whole different story.

Yep and like clockwork there will be 5 posts every June-August on the best week to target them, answer is no one knows the elk don’t even know yet haha this was one of the wettest/ coolest Septembers I can remember in recent years for sure and I thought the conditions would have them going wild, yet I got a total of one bugle, I mean I killed the bull that made it but not what I’m used to. It is what it is

 

[taskswap]

I went out in muzzleloader and without sharing my GMU (let's say central-south-ish) it was "late". Muzzleloader is one of those lottery-ticket timing things. In the first half of the week I heard nothing at all. In the second half they started bugling a lot, but it was all at night. The season ended Sunday the 21st which was around the new moon so before then they were just very active at night. On the last day, they were becoming active in the morning, and shut up around 10am. I ate tag soup this year, but it was a great zone and trip so no regrets.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I texted someone I will be hunting with for 2nd rifle OTC. He said he hasn't heard much and didn't think the rut had started full blast yet. This was Monday Sept 29. Maybe things will heat up (when it gets cold).