Hunting Dates

[BTL]

I am looking at doing a hunt this fall with a few friends, but there seems to be a difference in opinion on when to go. The others would like to start out opening weekend for a short trip and return later in September. Each hunt lasting roughly 5 days. The idea behind it is to catch the elk off guard early in the year and leave after the pressure hits. Returning later in September the elk would be more vocal. I can definitely see positives to this but I am worried about the draw back of it being too short each time. Has anyone else tried this type of approach and found it more beneficial? If it were you, would you go solo for an extended period of time?
I have always had more success being a solo hunter. I am leaning towards that right now if we cant come to an agreement on the dates of our trip. Downside is I would enjoy sharing the adventure with these guys. Just looking for opinions, heck, the apps aren\'t even out for MT. Plenty of time to work things out.

 

[cnelk]

I do it every year but I\'m only 2 hours from elk.
I would go earlier than the others for the later part.
Hunt by yourself til they arrive and then hunt with them.
Best of both worlds

 

[Swede]

I like Brad\'s idea. I believe there is more of a correlation between the amount of time you spend hunting than the dates you choose. It seems opening weekends are getting more and more pressured with hunters.

 

[BTL]

I do like the sound of that. I would agree opening weekend seems to get busier but seeing the traffic at the trailheads that 3rd week was a little overwhelming. Third year in this area has given me a better idea of how to avoid hunting pressure, so maybe it would work to my advantage.

 

[flystrait]

I used to go early season in my early days. If I sat in a tree stand it would go early season. But for the run and gun style I do I find that Sept 10th on is the best by far. I don\'t even try before this. If I only had one week this year it would be Sept 12-19 this time frame will have the most action for us in Montana. It\'s still pretty good after that but this would be my goal for a one week hunt.

Craig

 

[OldMan]

If I had a whole month to hunt like you bow hunters. I\'d hunt the whole month. Hell, I would have hunted all year if they would have let me.

 

[BTL]

If I had a whole month to hunt like you bow hunters. I\'d hunt the whole month. Hell, I would have hunted all year if they would have let me.

Ha, I wish I had the whole month to take off. I will be doing my best for 7-8 vacation days this year. This should allow me to have an 11 day hunt.
Going earlier than the rest, starting at the 12th, would give me until the 22nd or 23rd of September. I will be putting those dates down on the work calendar for now.

 

[OldMan]

I know everybody can\'t do that. I always could, and planned my life around it. When I was based in Calif. I would come to Colorado for at least a month. Sometimes more. I was an owner operator trucker, so it was easy for me to do that. Then I retired, and moved to Colorado, and it was even easier.

Now you know why i\'m divorced. Elk hunting can be as strong an addiction as drugs. Be careful guys.