Early or Late for archery?

[lowpressure]

I have a couple weeks for hunting september so im trying to decide if i want to hunt early or late. If i hunt early and its been dry and hot then water will be a premium. BUT there most likely wont be much rut activity before i have to leave...........BUT............there wont be a bunch of cow eyes to get past if i find a bull to go after........and then again......there wont be a bunch of bugling hysteria to listen to and man i want to get into a bunch of buglin bulls.........

seems like each hunt has its pros and cons.

what time do yall like to hunt?

 

[Barrelkhunter]

My experience I’d rather hunt after the 13th for better bugling. The sounds of September get me every year even if it is more eye balls to get around it’s still worth it all to be where I camp and listen to them bugle in the meadow 150 yards from me in the middle of the night.

 

[jmez]

I prefer late. One thing that will shut the elk down more than pressure is heat. They don't like it and neither do I. If it is hot they will be heading back into the trees before sun up and won't come out until right at dark. In my experience it really cuts down their daytime movement. I won't go early again.

 

[cnelk]

I don’t need to hear bugling. I’m going opening 10 days.

 

[Catahoula]

I generally plan the whole month of September.

 

[lowpressure]

wish i had the whole month...........id put in for late season in nm and hunt colorado otc the first two weeks before the muzzleloader guys get there.

 

[lowpressure]

then again...............i am retiring in 23 months.....................woot woot

 

[cnelk]

then again...............i am retiring in 23 months.....................woot woot

 

[jmez]

Another consideration if going solo. You better have a plan in place to get it out quick early season. Doesn't take a critter long to spoil when it is 80 degrees.

 

[HeadHunter7x8]

I think this depends a lot on your hunting style. If you're a good caller and willing to put in the work every year with a reed and can put yourself in situations where calling is effective then I would definitely try for the last half of the season. Early season you'll be able to pattern bulls if that's your thing and they act much more consistently in my experience (weather depending). I much prefer late season. Nothing like screaming bulls.

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[trophyhill]

Easy if you have a couple weeks. From the 8th or 10th until hunt over. You can thank me later

 

[Sled]

i prefer the wet season just for the ability to move more quietly. don't care for the rut for hunting since i'm usually after cows. i do appreciate having a chat with bulls though.

 

[Marble]

I like a little bit of when they cowing up and when they are bugling so I plan accordingly.

 

[lowpressure]

View attachment 162379

Jealous!!! Well maybe two retired guys can get together for a hunt sometime!! What career field? I’m retiring from firefighter/paramedic

 

[johnw]

Assuming a month or so archery season, I like the early part and trying to pattern them. If I cant get it done in the opening 7-10 days Ill be back for the last week of the season. If I lived close, Id hunt them all September.

 

[Whiskey_Fish]

Short solo trip early (4 days or so) to get a feel for where the damn sheep are, maybe snag one on a summer water pattern. Main hunt with the two man team week-3-ish. Traffic seems to pick up a bit on last week so I only go out if it's last ditch.

 

[Deadfall]

You want bugling...go late

 

[OFFHNTN]

To me, a lot depends on hunting pressure. If it's an OTC area that gets hammered, I like to go early, like opening week. If it's an area that takes several points, or is hard to get to, then no doubt I'd go late when they are bugling.........there is nothing like it.

 

[nmuhs]

Less pressure early. In my experience I've had more encounters early too. Smoke poles and extra pressure throughout the month push elk in harder to find areas later in season.

 

[TradLife406]

I'm newer to this but I've found that in Montana in the mountian range that I hunt I want to hunt the last week of August. But since we can't the first two weeks of Sept. By the third week it will probably snow and that in the past has had negative effects on day time activity. And with zero ability to glass for elk and water and walloes everywhere I need the elk to be in the mood to either bugle or come to cold calling.

Then too where I go a lot of the elk move off the public to rut on private as the rut progresses.

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