Rifle vs. Archery Elk?

Wondering if I could get any input from people that have hunted or spent time in elk units 111-115, 221-223, or 231.

I've gotten into the double digits on pts as a NR and wanted to get a few opinions on which season people think usually produces the biggest bulls. I realize there's always gonna be a giant or 2 killed but with the amount of pts it normally takes, plus the waiting period, along with the fact there's only a handful of units in each western state that consistently produce giants, I'm curious if people would take archery over rifle (or vice versa), if you're strictly after score.

I have no problem waiting for a rifle tag, though I am always a little hesitant to apply for a $1,200 archery tag that would probably be OIL. If drawn, I could probably swing 3 weeks vacation to hunt.

Is there usually decent rutting activity during the Sept. portion of the archery hunt? Are a lot of the bulls broken by the time the rifle comes around? This would be one of the tags I would seriously consider hiring a guide to try to get the biggest animal, but that would be a long shot for me.

Never can tell when a tag is going to be drawn but since I usually only apply for the tougher units and have accumulated some pts, I'd like to hear some thoughts.

Thanks.

I hunted 22 rifle early in 2014 for about 10 days and scouted for another 7. To be quite frank with you, I would have taken the archery tag over the rifle tag all day long.

In scouting in the months of Sept/Oct, rut action was extreme and several damn good bulls were spotted (350+ caliber). Come early November, the majority of the bigger bulls were hard to find as the majority were holed up.

In addition, it was hotter than hell that year and we didn't get much for cooler weather till later in the hunt. End up putting a 330ish bull in the dirt later in the hunt. Still a great hunt, but I personally would have preferred the archery hunt over either rifle.

bp

Some good muzzleloader rut tags this year as well.

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't Muzzy hunts in Ely area start 10-22? Isn't most rutting wrapped up by then?

061,071, 062-068, and 072,073,074 have rut muzzleloader tags this year.

bigpiney, thanks, that was kind of what I was looking for. I figured some of the bigger bulls would be a bit more visible during the archery.

As far as the muzzy hunts, I had looked at them but I figure I can pick up a tag just to chase bulls in CO with few points or usually on the re-issue list when it comes out. Picked one up last yr that usually takes 3 points and didn't have to use any. Although I now feel I have some kinks worked out with it, the muzzy has cost me 2 animals over the past few years so I'm not fully invested in it for as rare as this hunt would be.