Early or Late Elk Hunt?

[Founder]

I ended up applying for a September elk hunt here in Utah, but in years past I've done the late hunt. I haven't done much elk hunting early or late. If you guys could hunt a good hunt early or a better hunt late, which would it be? Or is the muzzleloader the better option?

My issue is that I always have deer hunts that get in the way, so I end up returning the tag. Not sure I'll use it this year either. Maybe.

Hunting them during the rut does sound really fun.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
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[Deerlove]

Depends on your pts. If I had just a few I'd do late. I know you have 9/15 wy hunt every year and that not going to match well with the early hunt.

 

[txhunter58]

Early for sure, just love those bugling bulls!

Also, since there are so many bulls in Utah, by the late season it is hard to find a big bull without broken points.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[2lumpy]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-19-14 AT 09:02PM (MST)[p]I would suppose that each unit would be different so I can't speak to all units but I've hunted or helped others hunt the south central elk units on both early hunts and late hunts. From my experience, I would prefer the early hunt on all of these units.

I have a more difficult time locating elk when they aren't bugling.

There are more mature elk to hunt during the early hunt.

The bulls are still with the cows during the early hunt.

The bulls are in predictable locations, they are less predictable on the late hunt, or at least that has been my experience.

The broken antler issue is a problem on both the muzzleloader hunt and the late hunt. If a bull is going to be broke, he's likely to be broken by the time the muzzleloader hunt starts. Don't think there will be many more broken antler bulls on the late hunt that there will already be on the muzzy hunt.

DC

 

[littlebighorn]

My only real late hunt was a dismal experience. We saw tons of cows but the big bulls were no where near them.
Very tough to find a good bull that time of year unless you know were they go to lick their wounds from the rut.
They are either safe on private land or neatly tucked away. If you know a place like that then maybe it would be good, but otherwise, I'd stick to the magic sights and sounds of the early luv fest.

 

[nontypical]

If you've never hunted bugling bulls, you are missing out on one of the funnest, most exciting hunts there is!

 

[rmanwill]

I put in for the early elk hunt and hope to be telling you how awesome it ia this fall!!! My reasons for the early are as stated above (hopefully rut, hopefully no broken antlers, herded up and moving and chasing cows daily). Best of luck to you.

 

[Founder]

I'm just going to have to fit that early hunt into my schedule then. Hunting bugling bulls does sound like more fun, whether I can call or not.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
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