Muzzleloader or 1st rifle tag

[timekiller13]

I’m glad I’ve got some time to chew on this.

I misspoke in my earlier post, I’ve actually done one 1st rifle hunt and one OTC 2nd rifle, plus 3 OTC archery.

The 1st rifle hunt was the best elk hunt I’ve ever had. I saw more elk on opening day than I’ve seen in my other 4 hunts combined. I should have tagged out 20 minutes into the hunt, but I was trying too hard to get my Dad on a bull.

Lots of good advice. Another thing I’ll have to consider for ML is I will have to start from scratch with that weapon. I have a ML, but it’s got a scope and I shoot a sabot load. No beuno for CO.

 

[resident vs nonresident]

For LE units ML in CO ‘usually’ takes a few more points than any other tag (rifle/archery) so I wonder if you would be maximizing your points use on ML and overspending on 1st rifle? (Unless you’re looking at diff units for ML vs 1stRfl)

 

[wildwilderness]

A lot depends on the unit- Is the unit OTC archery or limited archery? OTC 2,3 rifle?


In my experience I would always pick MZL over 1st rifle but I’m a bowhunter. Muzzy week is usually the best to kill a Bull imo. After that week they are definitely more pressured, pushed into private or nasty cover, and herded up and not as easy to call.

There will also be more Bulls then, with less in 1st rifle with regards to some being killed. So much easier to find a Bull when it’s bugling.

 

[Hnthrdr]

1st rifle hands down man. Two days of scouting is huge. Bulls will likely still be bugling. You have a rifle that can shoot 3-4x further than a muzzleloader. I was archery hunting last year and the bulls were pretty quiet all week not always a given that they will be going off, but both are good seasons. I think 1st rifle is a fantastic season

 

[35WhelenAI]

You said it in the opening post, rifle has higher success. I suspect most of that success is not in the last day if there were stats taken.

 

[timekiller13]

For LE units ML in CO ‘usually’ takes a few more points than any other tag (rifle/archery) so I wonder if you would be maximizing your points use on ML and overspending on 1st rifle? (Unless you’re looking at diff units for ML vs 1stRfl)

Different units. But both have similar terrain. Similar elk populations.

A lot depends on the unit- Is the unit OTC archery or limited archery? OTC 2,3 rifle?


In my experience I would always pick MZL over 1st rifle but I’m a bowhunter. Muzzy week is usually the best to kill a Bull imo. After that week they are definitely more pressured, pushed into private or nasty cover, and herded up and not as easy to call.

There will also be more Bulls then, with less in 1st rifle with regards to some being killed. So much easier to find a Bull when it’s bugling.

Both units have been LE for archery and all rifles hunts for at least 10 years, maybe longer.

 

[il_cop]

First rifle in my opinion.
Bulls are still bugling most years and you know how many tags/dudes are out there. Not the case with a mzldr tag unless you're hunting a limited archery unit.

 

[resident vs nonresident]

Different units. But both have similar terrain. Similar elk populations.


Both units have been LE for archery and all rifles hunts for at least 10 years, maybe longer.

Thought that would be the case.
Wout knowing units to me it sounds like there’s a reason why that 1st rifle tag takes same amount of PPs as Muzzy in other states. Must be a good rifle hunt.
*if you want send me a PM with GMUs and if I’m familiar at all with them I can reply with opinion. (Don’t share GMUs publicly). No worries if not.