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Bull_Fighter
Guest
You've got 5 full days to hunt this September. What days to you pick, and why?
For where I hunt in NM I'd pick the 6-10th. (Which would be first season archery and first crack at them)
Labor day weekend will have tons of campers and road warriors out on ATVs and hiking in the woods. A day or two after they leave the elk usually settle back down!
The past 3 years I've killed my elk on the 6th, 9th, and 10th.
So those are my choices!
Labor day weekend will have tons of campers and road warriors out on ATVs and hiking in the woods. A day or two after they leave the elk usually settle back down!
The past 3 years I've killed my elk on the 6th, 9th, and 10th.
So those are my choices!
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
Sept 24 - 28 covers the heaviest rut week on the property I hunt. Would prefer to not hunt over a full moon but can't resist all of the bugling!
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Bull_Fighter
Guest
Do you guys ever have much luck with calling in bulls during the first half of September? I really like to get out there on opening day/week, because of the lack of pressure from other hunters, but the elk aren't too vocal during that time in my experience. I've only spot/stalk hunted during that time. Last year I went on Sept. 13-20 and called my first bull in, which was awesome. However, it did feel like there had been a lot more pressure from other hunters around that time. I'm always torn between opening week (less pressure but could be hot and not much rut activity) or during the peak of the rut (much more pressure but the bulls are hot and bugling!).
"Sept 24 - 28 covers the heaviest rut week on the property I hunt. Would prefer to not hunt over a full moon but can't resist all of the bugling!"
I would love to hunt Colorado during these dates, but unfortunately the season has ended
Which is why I hunt Wyoming too - until Sept 30
I would love to hunt Colorado during these dates, but unfortunately the season has ended
Which is why I hunt Wyoming too - until Sept 30
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
Not with a Unit 682/791 PLO tag it hasn't Brad!! August 15th to February 28th rifle tag so any weapon can be used.
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Bull_Fighter
Guest
cnelk said:
I've had great experiences during the first half as well. In 2016, opening weekend here in Idaho was brutally hot and buggy, but that's the only exception. Do you primarily call elk or spot/stalk?
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,332
I would choose September 10-14 if I had five days to hunt. Right during the pre-rut phase, so the elk should be vocal. That's also a Monday-Friday, so less hunters in the woods, and on top of it the moon would be great.
Bowhunter65
Member
- Sep 5, 2016
- 101
This year we will hunt the 15th----the 23rd for our vacation here in Montana because of the full moon phase. This year the full moon will start in the middle of the week. Hopefully its cold and cloudy. I always try to time my week off in September by looking at the old farmers almanac.
Lark Bunting
New member
- Sep 14, 2016
- 710
I did it all wrong last fall. I killed my elk on a Saturday, early season, Sept 2, 80? that day, Labor day weekend. I let out a bugle and had elk surround us, at least four bugling their heads off. The one that we chose just happened to come straight to us and turned broadside at 24 yards.
We stacked odds against us; hot, early season, Holiday weekend, etc. Like I said, we did it all wrong...Oh, and the moon that night?...see image...all wrong, just don't tell that elk!
We stacked odds against us; hot, early season, Holiday weekend, etc. Like I said, we did it all wrong...Oh, and the moon that night?...see image...all wrong, just don't tell that elk!
Bob Frapples
Member
- Mar 10, 2014
- 367
I have been looking at sep 7 -27 ish dates this year but looking at the colorado 2017 book i see muzzleloader opens sep 9 to 17, right in the middle of when i was looking. I'm not so sure about being in the public woods whilst smoke poles are running around?
maybe i should look at opening day to sep 8? or am I looking at it wrong and over nervous?
maybe i should look at opening day to sep 8? or am I looking at it wrong and over nervous?
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,332
Bob Frapples said:
I personally wouldn't let it bother me or change my plans. Keep in mind, muzzleloader hunts are all by draw so the number of hunters is controlled.
joegiglianm@gmail.com
New member
- Sep 27, 2017
- 98
Bull_Fighter said:
I hunt Northern NM, always the first half and have been very successful. I think it's the best time for vulnerable big bulls. I'm calling. Sure, bulls are not screaming all over the place, but if you can get in the middle of a small rut, or manage to get a big boy riled and involved, it can be incredible. If the bulls are not that vocal, I especially like thick scrub oak areas with difficult visibility and I use cow calls. I move quietly, sounding like a small group of cows and listen for bulls sneaking in or giving a quiet bull chirp. The action gets close and exciting. It's kinda like what Forrest's Mama says about that box of chocolates..."you never know what you're going to get"....lol.
So with that said, if I had to pick only five days then I'm headed into set up camp on the 3rd when a lot of other camps are breaking down to get to work on Tuesday, and hunting the 4th to the 9th. A little secret though...I'm staying till the 14th if need be. :upthumb:
