Gun hunters.

[iccyman001]

What does your specific area look like once season opens?

Are bulls still bugling?

Are they still chasing cows?

Post rut?

Is everything herded up?



Paint me a picture of your area.




I am taking a friend out hunting Oct 9th-14th. It\'s a rifle hunt in the same unit I bow hunted in.
We do it different here in NM. We had two archery seasons, then 3 weeks off, then first season rifle opens.
That is the hunt we are going on.

 

[cohunter14]

Dan, I know many have said they\'ve heard bugling during the rifle season but in the areas I have hunted, I\'ve never experienced it during rifle season. Any time I have seen a herd of cows, there are no bulls with them. And the same goes with when I see bulls, they are on their own or in a bachelor group. I am hoping this year could potentially be different since it seems like the rut still hasn\'t kicked into full gear yet based on all the reports I\'ve heard. But I\'ve had those hopes before and it has never happened.

 

[iccyman001]

Derek,

where you hunt, does it have a long archery and muzzleloader season before you head out?


OTC unit or draw unit? Lots of pressure or little?

 

[cohunter14]

Dan, we do have a long archery season with muzzleloader mixed in there. The archery season is typically about a month long and it ends about two weeks before the first rifle season. I have hunted areas that are both OTC and draw for the archery and muzzleloader hunters and I haven\'t noticed a difference. I have also personally hunted both OTC and draw areas for my rifle hunts, and the same holds true. The first rifle season in Colorado is actually all draw, which definitely helps with keeping the pressure down, but it still hasn\'t changed what I have seen or heard.

 

[iccyman001]

I\'ll have to let you know what I encounter, Derek.


Like I said first and second archery went before this hunt and in this area it was VERY low pressured.


So I am thinking rifle will have some road hunters, but it\'ll be quiet off the road. Should be fun!
I really hope I can get this guy an elk.

 

[StartMyHunt]

Dan,

Every year is different and a new learning experience where I hunt. Four years ago, during the third season of rifle in CO, I stepped out of my truck at about 5:00 AM and started to get ready for a long walk. As soon as I shut the door, I heard a bugle about 300 yards away. First time I have ever heard one during rifle season. I knew where they were so I decided to wait until the sun came up. As soon as I started to walk, the big boy went crazy and was bugling every 2-3 minutes. Then the forest exploded. Elk were all around me, but the trees were too thick to try for a shot. There must have been around 50 elk running in all directions. Long story short, I chased elk the entire day, and got a glimpse of the big bull, but nothing in the freezer. Incredible experience.

Mike

 

[iccyman001]

That sounds like an amazing day, Mike!


I hope we are as lucky as you that day.
My buddy would do backflips if we can get him an elk.