I am planning a hunting trip in Colorado this fall for Elk. The outfitter I am using is located in Salida, Colorado. My question is for anyone who has ever Elk hunted with bow in Colorado. 1) What is the best time to do it, early season, first or second week, or later, closer to muzzleloader season? 2) any other suggestions on this type of hunt. I am already preparing physically for this trip as it sounds like the terrain is quite trecherous!

jhunter, I' ve never used an outfitter in CO but have taken one cow Elk there in three hunts. I learned a lot on those hunts and wished I would have used an outfitter first as a learning tool then returned on my own.
I preferred the last 10 days of the bow season. You have a better chance of cooler weather the bugling should be in full swing. Im not sure what the dates are this year but it always seemed to overlape the muzzleloader season.
You are smart to get into shape as early as possible. Do a lot of climbing the stiars and hills. If you can, do it with a pack on your back. The air is thin and the mountians can be steep.
There are a lot of good videos out there on Elk hunting but a good one to watch is Point Blank Elk. It' s all bowhunting and there are some good tips on what to do and not do.
Practice shooting from the kneeling position and learn what you can about metering. Meter in this case is... using trees, brush and such as cover by keeping it between you and the Elk, but not tight up agianst it.
If you have acess to a good laser range finder take it with you. The mix of the size of the Elk, unlevel terrain and clear air will make range determination difficult the first time or two out there.
And you' re paying a guide, listen to him and do what he suggest.

send ILBowman an email he does archery elk in colo

Depending on if it' s on private or public ground you can run into more hunters during muzzeloader season. I' ve hunted the early part of the season and had good success, maybe not as much bugling, but less competition. Also the late part can be a little rougher weather.

I think it depends on where you go. Elliott Ridge 2 years ago was packed with hunters, too many. Down around pagosa though not many crowds. You' ll probably just have to learn as you go. Good Luck!

The elk will start bugling as early as late August and as late as mid October. About mid September the bulls are really starting to heard the cows together and will more readily come to an " intruding" bull to run him (you) off. The tend to be really pi$$y about this time and very vocal. The later in the season it gets the more cows the heard bulls have and will tend to heard their cows away from a rival bull instead of coming to fight it out. I would try to schedule my hunt about the second to third week in September. It should be a bit easier to get a big bull in close for a shot then.

Good Luck!