I hear CO Elk activity is SLOW!!!!

[crcountry]

2 of my buddies are in Leadville hunting private property and another is down in unit 77....both say it is super slow! Rutting activity is hampered by 80 degree daytime temps. Bugling has also been almost non-existant except for a couple mornings late last week when it was pretty cool above 10k feet (with zero hunting pressure). Anyway, thought some of you may be interested.
crcountry
BTW-The MZ hunters that they are with are pretty discouraged as well. You'd think a MZ tag on 9/20 would equal a slam-dunk....not this season so far. Animals are hidden in the black timber as soon as the sun in coming over the hills they say.

 

[marley]

I've been archery hunting around Leadville and have had the most active rutting season I've ever experienced. It has been crazy. If I was packing a ML I would've already had 3 different bulls on the ground grossing over 320, I missed one at 35 yards and the other 2 hung out at 80 or so yards which I am not comfortable with a bow. It has been hot but the deep dark black timber canyons are still producing a lot of bugling and chasing cows through out the day. Tell them to get down in the canyon bottoms around the water and they should be getting into them.

 

[megalomaniac]

Not too far from leadville last week with a ML. Bulls were screaming (of course I was above 11,700ft) all morning, and even got into a big talker late evening at 10,500ft.

 

[backpacker]

Was up near Hotchkiss for the beginning of the ML and they were going pretty good (above 10k). Had 4-5 bulls w/in easy muzzy range (2 in bow range)- just didn't have an elk tag After the first 2 days of the muzzy opener they cooled down though.

 

[RidgeRebel]

I just got back from 521 north of Paonia, action was way slow. Tons of ML hunters and my brother and I were archery hunting. My brother arrowed a great six point the first night and we were way exited but we might as well of won the lottery just happened to be at right place at the right time. We hunted hard for six more days seeing few elk, very little bugles. But the rut was on we were finding rubs and wallows and there was bugling after dark. I think were we were the elk were just way pressured. Next year we'll go the last week and miss the ML hunters. Great hunt no the less though. The people of CO are some of the nicest folks on earth.