best week for CO. elk archery hunt?

ks8674 · 03-28-2006, 04:29 AM

This year I am hopefully going to be archery elkhunting in CO. unit 12. I have always hunted opening week of archery season. The elk are talking a little then but I would like to hunt when they are really in the rut. Is the last week of the season a better week for this? How does the muzzleloader season effect hunting? I would really appreciated any help or experiences anyone has had in the different weeks!! Thanks

game4lunch · 03-28-2006, 01:10 PM

My favorite September dates are from about the 10th toabout the 17th or 18th. I hunt all month long, but it seems these dates are usually when the Elk are getting all steamed up and just before they actually have their harems assembled. They are active before, but more hesitant. And certainly very active after, but much harder to get them away from their cows. So for me anyway, the perfect time in the woods is 10th to 18th. That certainly can vary depending on climactic conditions like drought and/or early snows. Don't know about muzzle season. But it would stand to reason that by that time, more activity in the woods means more bashfull critters. Harder to find.

iloveto4x4innc · 03-30-2006, 01:37 PM

Any weeks that I'm not there! It seems like the elk disappear whenever I go to CO to hunt.

Elkfreak · 04-22-2006, 10:04 PM

I hunt unit 441 almost every year and I can defenitely tell you that the first few days are good. The elk are a little off guard due to not being chased by hunters in awhile. Once they wise up, they quiet up until they really start rutting hard. We hunt for the first 11 days and then let the orange army come in and screw it all up. We wait until the puffers leave and then get back in the day after their season ends. The elk are very quiet until about the last 4 days of the season. Then just depending where you are and if you are into the elk. Hold on, it will get nutty.

huntingdiva1 · 04-29-2006, 08:29 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: game4lunch

My favorite September dates are from about the 10th toabout the 17th or 18th. I hunt all month long, but it seems these dates are usually when the Elk are getting all steamed up and just before they actually have their harems assembled. They are active before, but more hesitant. And certainly very active after, but much harder to get them away from their cows. So for me anyway, the perfect time in the woods is 10th to 18th. That certainly can vary depending on climactic conditions like drought and/or early snows. Don't know about muzzle season. But it would stand to reason that by that time, more activity in the woods means more bashfull critters. Harder to find.

We hunted through these dates last September(10-20?). The Elk were still very high up. 1200 elevation. It was still very warm. We were in the San Juan mountains outside of Durango. Good luck.