SW Colorado 1st Rifle vs 2nd Rifle Season

[traildust]

Welp, my hunting buddy injured his shoulder, can't draw his bow, so we've decided our yearly archery hunt is now moving to a rifle hunt. We've never hunted during rifle season, so we are unsure how much the weather will change and any effect on what elevation the elk will move to. It may be a non-factor, but looking for some advise.

1. We typically tried to plan our archery hunts right after muzzleloader season. The areas we hunt are from 9800ft down to 8700ft. Since we'll be hitting the trails roughly a month later, do we still hunt that elevation or will the elk have started moving lower?

2. Do you feel the 1st rifle is less crowded since it's a limited tag, or does it not really matter and just plan on getting a OTC tag for 2nd rifle without messing with the draw? I'm leaning towards the draw, my buddy likes the chance of being able to hunt in the snow for the 1st time, for both of us. So he's leaning towards 2nd rifle season. I have zero idea of when the snow starts.


Oh ya, new mountain rifle just showed up, Tikka T3x Superlight Roughtech .308, 20" barrel, Swaro Z3 3-10x42. Can't wait to get it set up!

TIA!

 

[profj]

In terms of hunter numbers, the CPW statistics show the relative numbers of tags in each code, except you can't figure OTC tags from that. My experience is that 1st Rifle has significantly less pressure than 2nd Rifle. Around here (SW Colorado) the old guys favor 2nd rifle, because they say it's longer (9 days vs 5 days) and the weather is more changeable, so the elk are moving around more, and there's more time to figure out what they're doing.

If the last couple seasons are anything to judge by, elk will still be high up, but starting to move down in 2nd rifle. But after this weird winter, who knows. Water may be very scarce in the heights, by September. There's a solid chance of at least one good snowfall before either rifle season, but it will likely melt off in a few days, so timing and luck are everything there.

 

[traildust]

In terms of hunter numbers, the CPW statistics show the relative numbers of tags in each code, except you can't figure OTC tags from that. My experience is that 1st Rifle has significantly less pressure than 2nd Rifle. Around here (SW Colorado) the old guys favor 2nd rifle, because they say it's longer (9 days vs 5 days) and the weather is more changeable, so the elk are moving around more, and there's more time to figure out what they're doing.

If the last couple seasons are anything to judge by, elk will still be high up, but starting to move down in 2nd rifle. But after this weird winter, who knows. Water may be very scarce in the heights, by September. There's a solid chance of at least one good snowfall before either rifle season, but it will likely melt off in a few days, so timing and luck are everything there.

Thank you!

 

[AM_Hunter]

Cant speak for 2nd season but pressure in a unit can vary depending on other available tags in that unit during 1st season. A lot of units have limited bull tags 1st season but may have List B cow tags as well that could increase the pressure in that unit.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Assuming you have the points to draw 1st rifle?

 

[profj]

FYI I walked to above 10000' last Sunday on a south slope, without getting my feet wet - in March! and there was already fresh elk sign up there, so I think this year is not going to follow any usual patterns. Which is good for new guys, experienced folks are going to find their tame elk herd has gone somewhere else.

 

[Kow]

If you already know where elk like to live in that 8,700 to 9,800 band, I would lean 1st rifle and treat it more like a less-bugly September hunt with guns. Second can absolutely give you weather help, but it also brings more people, more variability, and a real chance you spend the whole trip chasing where the elk moved after one storm instead of hunting where you already have confidence. Biggest mistake is planning 2nd rifle around the idea that snow will solve everything, because sometimes it does and sometimes it just makes the country messy without really relocating animals. Are you guys more worried about pressure, or more interested in the chance that weather gets elk on their feet?

 

[hiker270]

Unless I archery hunt I hunt the first season. Not that you can't be successful the 2nd season but a lot of elk have already been killed if not they have been educated that the orange crowd has invaded their mountain.

 

[justinspicher]

I would always take 1st rifle over either otc season.

 

[traildust]

If you already know where elk like to live in that 8,700 to 9,800 band, I would lean 1st rifle and treat it more like a less-bugly September hunt with guns. Second can absolutely give you weather help, but it also brings more people, more variability, and a real chance you spend the whole trip chasing where the elk moved after one storm instead of hunting where you already have confidence. Biggest mistake is planning 2nd rifle around the idea that snow will solve everything, because sometimes it does and sometimes it just makes the country messy without really relocating animals. Are you guys more worried about pressure, or more interested in the chance that weather gets elk on their feet?

I personally want less folks moving around me. I've only archery hunted there, so it just seems smarter to me to try and grab a tag for 1st rifle season

 

[Chris in TN]

First rifle is a zoo. But less of a zoo than 2nd/3rd.

ETA: Maybe it's more of a circus. Lots of people and horses and pretty colors.