Last year in Southern Colorado Archery season was similar and the number of bowhunters were insane. A lot of pressure. We had half the hunters this year early in the Archery season and the elk were more vocal earlier this year. Weather can add to the chaos but we were hotter and drier this year than last year. Hunting pressure has begun to set the mode on elk in our area especially in the early parts of the season. By the end of the week I know you could call in a lot elk beings the elk know the hunters are no longer in the woods. Moon, weather, predators, or man? It's man that dictates how elk act going into the rut. Our elk have moved rut from mid September to last week and the two and half weeks before the first rifle. It's been a constant now for about 10 years. Man changes animal habits a lot more than one thinks. How many whitetails do you think went through the woods looking up in trees back in the 50's. Not as many as do today.

We had elk laying above timber line out in the sun all day to stay away from hunters. I found that fascinating. And it wasn't just an occasional sighting it was happening everywhere I went. Laying up in the rocks just like and ole mulie buck. I rather enjoyed spot and stalking this year. Sure got to watch a lot more herds out in the open compared to the previous ten years. They keep that up for rifle season and it should be a lot of fun.