Colorado hunt timing?

[Bill_in_MI]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-16-11 AT 08:33AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-16-11 AT 08:32?AM (MST)

I've narrowed my search to 2 CO Elk archery drop camp options, one in the Gunnison area the other near Delores.

1)The southern unit- I have the option of going any time during the archery season as the dates are mostly open across the 3-4 available camps. The setup camp option is more expensive than the other but doable.

2-Northern unit (which I am slightly leaning towards)- The camps are available during and after the muzzleloader season only.

When it comes to finding elk in unfamiliar country, hearing them is obviously critical. Neither area supposedly lend themselves to glassing as a locating method. With this in mind, I want to go when the most bugling occurs even if the "herd bull" is harder to kill.

Hearing them is a major part of the enjoyment for me and what I consider necessary for getting to the right place on the mountain to make an oppurtunity happen.

When would you go? Keep in mind that the muzzy dates this year should be 9/10-9/18. Can you bow hunt during that time if you wear orange? Is that following week truely the best bugling time period?

Full moon is on 9/12. 3rd quarter is 9/20.

Even though we would be utilizing a drop camp, it's Colorado and the elk will have some presure around us, hopefuly just not as much...

Thx!

Bill in MI

 

[Arrow1]

If you archery hunt during a muzzy season you do not need to wear hunter orange (take a look at the regs). That requirement is only for the muzzy hunter. Lots of folks hunt archery during the muzzy season, myself included at times. I typically hunt first week of archery just due to family schedules. Kids are just getting back to school so I can usually get away still. My favorite spot has a fair amount of pressure so the elk can get a little more jumpy late in the season, plus the bulls start picking up their cows and more more eyes to see you with. Usually during first week you still see a lot more bachelor groups. That being said, it is usally pretty quiet at that time too, though it can depend on the year. Usually seems like things are kicked up a notch by muzzy season and the last week of archery.

 

[ckvnuk]

In my experience the end of first week of archery is usually the start of the bugeling. The area we hunt it is still the morning and evening that most of the activity occurs.

Good Luck