Worth drawing CO archery if you can’t hunt the first few days?

[RC_]

Hey all,

As I plan my draw strategy, I’m heavily considering burning a handful of points in Colorado for an archery tag (high country unit in western half of state). I’m hoping some
of you can tell me whether the season dates and my work schedule make it worth it.

To maximize hunting time, I need to take off Mon-Fri, as that would get me 7-8 hunting days with the weekends on either side. This would mean I pack in and start hunting on 9/5. Is missing those first few days of season tough? Worried to some degree deer will start getting pushed around by other deer & elk hunters but more that I’ll be too late and they’ve shed velvet and moved to timber.

Other option is go in a week early and scout for a few days but then I only have 4 days to actually hunt which I don’t like but would be there for the seemingly critical first couple days of season. Thoughts?

 

[LFC911]

Can you work remotely? I ask because i have done it the last couple of years in ID and NM. I drive out two weekends before season, M-F i work remotely and scout in the evenings. I'm already there, so I'm not traveling opening weekend or taking Thurs/Friday off to get there opening day. Just a thought.

 

[robby denning]

Hey,
it's a long season so unless you're sitting on a pre-scouted big buck, I wouldn't worry about missing the first few days. Those are typically when the most pressure is in Colorado. Might even be better to let 5 days pass and and a bunch of those guys will be outta the hills. IMO.

 

[wildwilderness]

IMO Colorado archery season is set up for Elk! I really like Utahs archery dates for deer- summer patterns and velvet bucks!


That said I would prefer the pre- scout and killing early. When do you have to decided? Can you wait and see what you find scouting? How well do you know the area?

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Can't kill one from the couch. I'd definitely go before they strip their velvet. Once the velvet comes off those high country big bucks change their schedules.

 

[Shadowbuck]

I would stick with your plan and hunt as many days as you can, missing opening weekend. Opening weekend is a zoo and most archers are elk hunting and will be gone Monday. With the later season dates for deer in CO I think the first couple of days are less critical than they used to be.

Unless you have a buck found are are going to be sitting on him, if you find one scouting then things change. I would be there opening morning.
Depending on the weather and food I have seen bucks shift down still in velvet that time of year.

Plus the hills will be a lot more quite during the week.

 

[LongWayAround]

The season opens 9/2. I wouldn't worry about starting 9/5. You probably get Labor Day Monday off anyway, so you only need four vacation days for that week. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[wildwilderness]

With Labor Day 9/7 if you get that off too, you could go earlier scout, be there for opener and come home on Labor Day and get 5 days to actually hunt.

 

[RC_]

Thanks for the thoughts. I completely forgot about Labor Day so that does give me some more flexibility. 4 days to find some deer and 5 to try and get it done might be the ticket.

 

[nm_nomad]

I was in a similar situation as you for this past September. I decided to pack in 3 days early and really scout hard before the opener on September 2nd. I found a few target bucks and was ready to roll for the opener. I killed my buck on September 5th which was the last day I could hunt and it was the day prior to highcountry rifle hunters coming in. I would check and see if your unit will have the early rifle hunts because that can pressure the deer even more.

 

[RC_]

I was in a similar situation as you for this past September. I decided to pack in 3 days early and really scout hard before the opener on September 2nd. I found a few target bucks and was ready to roll for the opener. I killed my buck on September 5th which was the last day I could hunt and it was the day prior to highcountry rifle hunters coming in. I would check and see if your unit will have the early rifle hunts because that can pressure the deer even more.

Thanks. I had considered rifle/muzzy seasons when looking at units - should only be other bowhunters on the mountain when I would be there. But good to hear the scout early strategy worked out for you!

 

[nm_nomad]

Thanks. I had considered rifle/muzzy seasons when looking at units - should only be other bowhunters on the mountain when I would be there. But good to hear the scout early strategy worked out for you!

Yeah I think the scout early strategy is the way to go!

 

[ColoradoV]

Its not going to help..

In the past 10 or so years and well after the CBA pushed to have the seasons moved back for the elk types a week into the first week of September = if ya miss the first days its a crap shoot for a couple reasons..

Hunters are getting better and many arrive before the season to pre scout a buck. Most basins will be blown up by day 3. Many if not all hunt the entire first week putting extreme pressure on most basins for the first 8-9 days... My experience is it takes about 4-5 days after this for any bumped buck to return.. With the way the seasons are run together now that is just in time for the muzzy guys to show up set camp and start bumping bucks again..

If the unit you are looking at has a high country rifle tag in it this will only make things 10x worse..

The extreme pressure change in the high country over the past 10 years due to the season change and better hunters is beyond noticeable and has a real effect on archery deer. As with many changes that have been made it does have a real as well as negative effect on pressure the first week and beyond....