hoopscoach
Active Member
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- 309
If you are considering applying for an early season elk tag on the Bosque, you should read this first. I decided to post this warning to archery and muzzy elk hunters because I have talked to some very disappointed guys hunting the Bosque Del Oso in the past few years. I have hunted the Bosque 4 of the last 5 years for deer and bears and have come to understand that the elk disappear after the first week of September every year. There are some very good bulls that will summer on the Bosque but as soon as the rut starts around the beginning of the second week of September, they typically leave the Bosque and head to the adjacent ranch to chase cows. I talk with elk hunters in the campground every year and this is a pattern that seems to happen consistently year after year. I'm not sure whether it's because of the pressure the bulls feel as the archery season opens or the natural urge to be with the cows, but it happens every year. There are some very nice bulls in August and at least one or two lucky guys will harvest one but if you don't fill your tag in the first week of September, it's probably going to be tough to find any mature bulls after that.
The muzzy season is even tougher as you might imagine since it doesn't start until mid September. Usually there is at least one of the muzzy guys that will get lucky and catch one passing through but muzzy success rates are extremely low.
The later season bull hunts can be very solid but are somewhat weather dependent. My nephew drew a 2nd season youth bull tag in 2019 and shot a smoker of a bull so I have had good experiences with the rifle hunts. However, in my opinion, the early season hunts are not worth the number of points it takes to draw them. The rut rarely takes place on the Bosque so you shouldn't expect to be calling in bugling bulls and seeing much rutting activity. If you are considering applying for any of the September elk hunts, I would suggest you call Bob Holder first or spend some time down there in September the year before you draw to see what the hunt is like. It's a bummer to see guys spend 11+ points on a hunt and then be disappointed.
The muzzy season is even tougher as you might imagine since it doesn't start until mid September. Usually there is at least one of the muzzy guys that will get lucky and catch one passing through but muzzy success rates are extremely low.
The later season bull hunts can be very solid but are somewhat weather dependent. My nephew drew a 2nd season youth bull tag in 2019 and shot a smoker of a bull so I have had good experiences with the rifle hunts. However, in my opinion, the early season hunts are not worth the number of points it takes to draw them. The rut rarely takes place on the Bosque so you shouldn't expect to be calling in bugling bulls and seeing much rutting activity. If you are considering applying for any of the September elk hunts, I would suggest you call Bob Holder first or spend some time down there in September the year before you draw to see what the hunt is like. It's a bummer to see guys spend 11+ points on a hunt and then be disappointed.
