Who gets to hunt first this year?

[D_wit22]

September is right around the corner. I’m looking forward to seeing some posts about harvests coming up in the near future! My hunt is planned for middle of September but was seeing who is getting the first shot at things….any August elk seasons? When r you guys hitting the mountain?

 

[wtrbrdm]

Wheels up on 28 August for CO in my clunker and my coffin box trailer...solo as usual. I still live in CO but am on the East Coast temporarily for work. I hunt the same area annually so I'll do 2 days of fresh scouting as I'm familiar with the basic layout.....then start hunting on the 2nd. I'll be on the mountain for at least 2 weeks...or all 4 if I need to be and work doesn't start crying after week 3.
I never made a post about last year's trip but I had a few heart breaks and should have tagged on bull and buck....but alas....seems the good lord was all about teaching lessons and learning last year. Fingers crossed I get chances this year like I had last.
Tips for newer guys (which I still am)
- Always check your equipment...daily and throughout the day.
- Hunt every day as if it's your first day...be on your Ps and Qs every second.
- Decide what you're willing to shoot beforehand...size wise.
- Expect the unexpected...always. Who knows...you could be hunting only to find a bull back at camp and you're already thinking about lunch as you approach.
- Have a great attitude every second you're out there....and don't be a bitch if you eat tag soup. Learn from your mistakes and take no moments you're out in the wild for granted.
Good luck everyone..stay safe.

 

[TradLife406]

My buddy has a chunk of private here in Montana where I drew my permit finally after 18 years. My daughter just hit 12 so I'm hoping to get her out Friday evening/Saturday morning for a cow.
Gunna be a beautiful 85 degrees. Haha going to have coolers loaded with ice ready to go. I'd much rather hunt in the heat though than when it's stupid cold and the wind is blowing.

I'm pretty sure my friend bought the steepest land that was for sale. Funny everyone says private is so easy. This 700 acres is steeper than the rest of the mountain range. There's a logging road that winds up to the top. But it's basically an ATV trail.

It's so steep I don't even know how to hunt it. Thinking risking the noise and zipping up to the top on the quad late Friday afternoon. Might even bring a spike camp if she can't kill one Friday night.

 

[MTN Humper]

I will be headed to camp August 29th and hunting the opener on the 30th. Will have to work Wednesdays and Thursdays all season but other than it’s 5 day weekends during the season for me . I am very thankful to be able to get that much time.

 

[CB4]

- Expect the unexpected...always. Who knows...you could be hunting only to find a bull back at camp and you're already thinking about lunch as you approach.

Couldnt agree more with this! Last year we bumped a really nice 6x6 about 600 yards from camp in an area we hadn't seen fresh sign in for 5 days. Two years ago we were sitting down for our mid day snack and neither me or hunting partner had our bow next to us and 20 minutes later we had 3 elk walk right up to 5 yards. You never know.

Im wheels up on the 10th!

 

[LFC911]

I have hunted a few early September's and they have been hot and quiet. I plan to hunt the second half of the month and let the early guys stir things up and shoot their wad. Hopefully the boys will be talking by then and the weather starts cooling down.

 

[VAHunter23322]

Hitting road early on the 30th for a solo haul from east coast. Basically 2100 miles. Arrive sometime on the 1st start hunt on 2nd. Staying for 4 weeks if required. Remainder of hunting group arrive 8 Sept for ten days. My third year. Hope this is my success year. Close but rookie mistakes cost me last year. Big lessons learned.

 

[dirt_nap]

heading up Aug 30 to set up for the Colorado opener. We have a few wallows that got hit hard last year that we are hoping will be productive for us again the first few days of the season. Also getting to hunt with my bother for the first time in a few years. Can't wait to pack up the truck and get going!

 

[Pafarm]

No tag in hand this year for elk. I'm excited to hear the stories and see the pictures. Hope everyone has a safe and successful season!

 

[hoosierhunter11]

Will be headed to CO on 9/11 for a muzzy elk hunt with my dad!

 

[3325]

I’ll be out with my bow on September 1 in Wyoming Area 70 because I want to get out and that’s what’s open. I’ll spend more time in Areas 67&68 but those don’t open until September 15.

For me, this early archery is going to be more of a scouting thing and an excuse to get out. I’ll move along slow and cow call occasionally and I may even carry a couple of field points and stump shoot a little. I hope don’t get those mixed up with broadheads if I get into elk.

 

[Scoot]

Jimmy John!

 

[IdahoBeav]

I have hunted a few early September's and they have been hot and quiet. I plan to hunt the second half of the month and let the early guys stir things up and shoot their wad. Hopefully the boys will be talking by then and the weather starts cooling down.

In 2017 I went for a 3-day trip somewhere around Sep 8-11, had a lot of action and almost made it happen. The weather was warm. I decided to wait 2 weeks to go back in hopes of cooler weather. It was definitely cooler, was Sep 22nd or 23rd and had a foot of snow and the elk were dead quiet, appeared to have been pushed down to lower elevations where access and pressure was much higher. The following year I killed a bull in the same spot Sep 29. The high that day was in the low 80s.

 

[KHNC]

THat 2017 year in Idaho really sucked! Arrived day before hunt and it was 70 degs. Snowed all night and then every other day for 7-8 days. Just wouldnt stop, more and more and more. Rough camping in that shit.

In 2017 I went for a 3-day trip somewhere around Sep 8-11, had a lot of action and almost made it happen. The weather was warm. I decided to wait 2 weeks to go back in hopes of cooler weather. It was definitely cooler, was Sep 22nd or 23rd and had a foot of snow and the elk were dead quiet, appeared to have been pushed down to lower elevations where access and pressure was much higher. The following year I killed a bull in the same spot Sep 29. The high that day was in the low 8

 

[wytx]

Sept 1 either archery elk or archery WT.
Heck we might get a cow elk down in mid Sept if the weather cooperates, rifle.