Muzzleloader or 1st rifle tag

[timekiller13]

I’m burning my Colorado elk points.

I can pretty much guarantee a muzzleloader tag or a 1st rifle tag in a limited unit. I have one point more than what guaranteed a tag last year.

I’m trying to decide which one I go for. First rifle has less tags, higher overall success. But it also has a shorter season. And due to the dates I can only hunt 4 of the 5 days of 1st rifle. I can arrive 2 days early and scout. I can’t shift these days at all to be able to hunt more.

Muzzleloader has more pressure (archery and ML hunters) but also I would be able to hunt 7 days but no scouting at all. I would show up and hunt. the elk should be bugling/rutting that time of year.

So. Which hunt do you go with? September is a magical time in the elk woods. But an open sighted ML limits me to 100-125 yds. First rifle isn’t a bad hunt either, and I can shoot 400-450 with my rifle.

What say you rokslide?

 

[D_wit22]

Muzzle loader only because the weather will be a little nicer. I’m a sis when it comes to camping in cold weather

 

[timekiller13]

I’ll add that I’ve hunted Colorado 5x but never a limited unit/tag. 3 OTC archery and 2 OTC rifle.

I’ll never hunt OTC rifle again. What a cluster

 

[Bugger]

Are you hunting solo or with friends to help pack? Cuz if you HAVE to leave that last day then it really limits you on the second to last day too.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

First rifle season dates have pushed back this year for Colorado are you sure you can hunt it at all?



In the 2025-2029 Big Game Structure Colorado 1st rifle now opens on Wednesday versus Saturday. In 2025, that date is October 15th.

That said bulls can still be talking and responding to bugles during first rifle. They might not come to your calls but they might give courtesy bugles

 

[timekiller13]

The dates being changed is why I can only hunt 4 out of 5 days. Last day of the season is pack out day if needed. I’m solo. I cannot fudge my vacation days to allow me to hunt the entire season and allow me a pack out day or two.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Depending on the unit I might still opt for the 4 day season with two scouting days. Your scouting days might put you on them opening morning and tagged out.

 

[Bugger]

4x more lethal range > 2x more days, IMO.

 

[cnelk]

For the first time in a long time I used my PPs last year on a ML elk hunt instead of archery or rifle.

I really enjoyed it

My choice would be ML

 

[Mighty Mouse]

I would choose ML…likely better weather and more bugling. But it’s an elk hunt either way so you can’t really go wrong.