Archery early bull Or second Hunt?

Ultra2man · Jun 25, 2006

I was just curious to see which archery hunt most of you would rather be drawn for? The one that starts on Sept 1st? Or the second one that starts in Mid Sept and goes for 8 days? And why?

Personally I would prefer the second hunt. The bulls usually seem to be more vocal and rut crazed by then.

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Jun 25, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Jun-25-06 AT 11:28PM (MST)[p]Hey there Ultra2man! You have good and bad to both hunts. Generally the early season isn't as vocal as the late season but the bigger bulls usually don't have their cows rounded up yet and although silent, will come to your calls. The later season you are talking about is great for a good show and usually favors the rifle hunter because you can follow the bugles and get in closer for a shot. If you are after the herd bulls the rut is a difficult hunt with a bow but pretty successful with a rifle. Bottom line.....give me a tag in any season and I will figure a way to kill one! Great post. This should be fun to read. With a bow I would choose the earlier season but with a rifle I would choose the rut hunt.

www.awholelottabull.com

jodog · Jun 25, 2006

I agree with Awholelottabull, in the early part of the season the herd bulls are looking for cows comeing in to estrus and are mostly by themselves. Later on they don't like to leave the cows and alot of times a satellite bull will come to the call.During the second season you will hear alot more bugleing but I've watched alot of big bulls bugle as they walked away with their cows. They can be killed in both seasons but for bow hunting I like the earlier one. What ever season you pick if you don't kill a bull you'll think the other season would have been better....been there done that.

DonVathome · Jun 25, 2006

I did not draw and have to buy a LO bow tag, and I am deciding which hunt to go on, I am picking the 2nd hunt, it is 7 days now (short) I would love to hunt 10 days, but will take the shorter hunt for more rutting and I am hoping to get a better tag next year and save some vacation time for a better hunt.

30inchbuck · Jun 26, 2006

Are you talking Oct. rifle hunts or Sept. bow hunts?

Ultra2man · Jun 26, 2006

I'm actually referring to the New Mexico archery hunts in most units. There is an early tag for Sept 1-15 and then a 2nd archery hunt from Sept 16th-24th.

I drew a NM unit 17 Bull tag for the 2nd archery hunt. The first rut tag I've drawn in putting in for about 10 yrs!!! I can't concentrate at work, home or anywhere!!! Come on September!!

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Jun 26, 2006

I'm right there with you Ultra2man! I drew my Utah archery tag this year too but my hunt starts August 24th and goes through September 15th. I am planning on hunting wallow and water early and then spot, stalk and call the second part. It should be a lot of fun and I am loosing a lot of sleep over it.

www.awholelottabull.com

PleaseDear · Jun 26, 2006

I like the early dates myself.

The bulls seem to be more out looking for cows and getting the little harem..hehe together. Cow calls can really bring a wandering bull to you.

Later in the month, it seems they are all cowed up and alot of smaller bulls come to calls or bigger bulls that have been 'beaten' and run off from their cows are somewhat shy to come to a bugle call.... both can be productive..... of course weather and the moon can play a roll in the whole hunt....

For instance when I don't draw any tags and do OTC in colo. I am there for the first week and if needed back over for the 3rd week....

Heck your gonna have a great hunt anyways!!!

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Jun 27, 2006

I like the second hunts . I think cows control any how and they are real vocal too , but then again I'll draw back on a cow or spike with out a second thought , so having the smaller bulls come to cow calls more so than herd bulls doesn't matter a whole lot to me . I just love to hunt elk, besides if one of them stud bulls came into bow range I'd loose it and drop my bow or something crazy.Bring on the cows and spikes baby....