Solo Hunt: Archery or ML

[CoHntr82]

So I’m burning my pts this year (resident). Getting in no man’s land and don’t see any sense in continuing to stack up them up. It’s looking like my hunt will be solo and I’m torn between archery and ML. I’ve taken animals with my bow, have the ability to practice nearly everyday in my yard with a very nice range 5 mins away. I’ve only been on one ML hunt for high country deer which was unsuccessful but I felt good behind the gun. What’s everyone’s thought on solo hunts? Go with the bow, having less range but feel super solid out to 55-60 or go ML that has more range but a ton more work to go practice.

I’m leaning towards ML just bc the extra range, especially since I’ll be calling myself but man I love bow hunting and feel confident within my range.

I’d like to say I’m an average to decent caller and feel comfortable brining in animals, especially in a lower pressure unit. These hunts would be same unit and basically the same amount of time for hunting due to young kiddos at home. If I went archery I’d try to sneak in a very short hunt opening days and would most likely go during ML week anyway due to a hunt in another state early oct. thoughts????

 

[5MilesBack]

I would take the archery tag 100 out of 100 times. Length of season trumps effective range IMO, especially during the rut.

 

[CMF]

Last few critters I got with a gun just didn't feel as great as with the bow so I try to stick with it when I can.

 

[cnelk]

Last fall was the first time in 20+ years I didn’t archery hunt elk.

I had a few PPs and decided to get a ML bull tag in an entirely new unit several hours from home.

It had been 20+ years since I hunted elk with my ML.

Killed my bull the second evening of season and have no regrets and really enjoyed it.

Flip a coin if you want

 

[Gpw]

In my home state our muzzy season is the best time to have a bull tag in your pocket. Rut is in full swing. Archery your lucky just to catch the first little bit.

 

[wildwilderness]

It’s a toss up. If you want to kill an elk with a bow then the choice is easy. A draw unit will be easier than OTC


If killing an elk is more important than I would say MZL. Guns are easy once you have it figured out. Yea MZL can be finicky just learn the process, clean measure etc. and sight in. More practice is better but not as necessary like archery

 

[RagnCajn]

Being an out of stater who spends a fair bit of money and time on the annual Colorado elk trip, I would say muzzleloader. My goal is to kill the elk by whatever is the most lethal means. The only advantage to archery is the length of the season. I've had too many encounters with a bow that would have ended with a dead elk but didn't due to range or timing. Especially being solo and calling. Lot easier to raise a rifle and shoot in sight of an elk than draw a bow.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I would go with whatever gives you the most time. I would rather archery hunt, but if I’m on a time constraint I would rather muzzleloader hunt

 

[spike camp]

If you’re only able to hunt the opener and basically the week of ML, I’d just hunt ML.
If you have the month of September, I’d hunt archery.