The rut, on the average, peaks around the 18th of September - according to the Division of Wildlife terrestrial biologist for the Monte Vista district. So the latter dates would potentially be better. Only possible issue is that the muzzleloader hunters are in the woods the week before, and that tends to be the "game on" signal for the elk. They are much more in their summer pattern right up until the opener of muzzleloading season.

Weather in Colorado is always an extremely variable element. In the 19 years we have hunted southwest of Alamosa, we have encountered everything from shirt sleeve weather to drenching downpours to heavy snow. Sometimes all in the same day!!