Rifle or Archery?

cantgetdrawn · Jul 25, 2012

I am going to Colorado for an OTC hunt. I hunted CO for the first time last year during second rifle. A friend had talked me into an archery hunt this year, but now he will not be able to make it. That's ok with me I am planning on going regardless.

At this point in my hunting career I just want to kill a bull. I have killed cows early in my career but was not able to seal the deal with a bull. As my handle suggests the last decade and a half I have been unlucky in the draw here in NM which is why I'm finally starting to hunt CO.

I love to hear bulls scream and they get your heart beating. The rifle season however, has much better harvest rates.

Basically I am looking for people's opinion as to which hunt I should choose.

huntin50 · Jul 25, 2012

If you like elk meat do the rifle hunt. If you want the experience in the woods when elk are more vocal with less chance of killing a bull do archery. If you have the time and can sit a good water hole should do OK with a bow. It's fun hunting rutting bulls. Good luck.

woody622 · Jul 25, 2012

If you just want to kill a bull then I would say do rifle. You can still have a great experience with a rifle, but it is a lot more difficult to hunt with a bow than it is with a rifle. If it was me, I'd take archery all day long, but if your desperate to kill it bull I'd suggest rifle! Good luck!

sagebrush · Jul 25, 2012

If you have time, the archery season is much longer. I can never be in elk country with a tag in my pocket for too much time. Archery if you have the time, or join the crowd with your rifle for a week.

2tuna · Jul 25, 2012

NOTHING you can do outside with your clothes on is as much fun as chasing rutting bulls with your bow.

But as other's have said, if the meat is the most important thing....

TOPGUN · Jul 25, 2012

+1 There is nothing more fun than chasing bugling bulls during archery season. Come on September!

BigPig · Jul 25, 2012

Bugling bulls were meant to be killed with bows and arrows! Nothing like it!

shortmag · Jul 25, 2012

Both hunts are thrilling and challenging in their own way. Archery the bulls are looking for you (if you're calling) or water. Rifle you are looking for them and they're not as vocal and may be fuzzed up by others. Either way it's huntin' for a bull elk!

shooter21 · Jul 25, 2012

archery all the way best time of the year to chase elk !!!

tracker12 · Jul 25, 2012

I have to agree with archery. I was fortunate enough to draw a UT Muzzy tag a few years ago and hunted the rut. To be honest not sure I am interested in the gun season much any more. I had 20 NR PP in Co and was always planning on a gun hunt in a premium area. Well this year I'll be hunting a pretty good area but it will be with a bow in Unit 2.

mntman · Jul 26, 2012

Personally I think it is easeir to get a bull with archery while they are bugling versus hunting with a rifle in second season OTC. Plus it is great fun to be out there in the mountains when the leaves are changing and the bulls are bugling...

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"