does anyone have any thoughts on how the harvest of bull elk from a migrating herd in the fall rifle season effects the quantity/ quality of that same bull elk population the next season. We are planning a muzzleloader hunt for sept.2012 and the outfitter had hunters for the 2011 rifle season in the area we are hunting. Those hunters ( 2011 rifle ) took some really good bulls. This is an antler restriction area in southwest Colorado.

It's kind of a crap shoot. Mature bulls will probably move into the area with some of the competition gone, but that's no guarantee.

Probably won't make a lick of difference.

Elk have been migrating thru the area for 150 or so years of hunting seasons. Doubtful last year was much different than a whole lot of those. They perpetually re-stock year after year.....at least we hope so.