Mornings or Evenings?

[Olydog09]

When hunting the rut with archery tackle do you prefer hunting the mornings or evenings better? And why?

I have always preferred mornings. The elk seem more active and vocal to me. Also if you do get a shot off you have the whole day to track and pack. The tree stand thread reminded me that I would love to find an area with a good evening tree stand site so I could run and gun during the mornings and let my body rest up by sitting a stand during the evenings.

[Swede]

I like the way you have it thought out. I prefer calling in the morning and waiting in a stand in the evenings. During the rut, mornings are as good as evenings for tree stands, but earlier in September the evenings are much more productive for stand hunters If you plan your day the way you stated, then do your calling well away from where you will be going to your stand.

[stringunner]

Running and gunning in the mornings has been more productive for those of us in our camp. I also think this perhaps can be dependent upon the area and the weather. We have not had much luck calling and getting animals going on our evening hunts when compared to our morning hunts, but I have heard many seasoned hunters say the evenings is when they call in or shoot the majority of their animals. I hate to get it in my head that the morning are going to be better however, because then I might not approach the evening hunts with the same level of vigor as I do the morning hunts...

I say this from the perspective of hunting out of a base camp where we rarely stay out all day running and gunning. When we are tree stand hunting however, our tactics are different.

[elk.addict]

I prefer mornings, I seem to get more action but for some reason I almost always end up killing my elk in the evening.

This past year it worked out differently, killed my bull just after first light. Had time to debone everything, hang it in a tree and pack out 2 trips in the same day.

That doesn't happen very often; I wish it was like that every year.

[elkmtngear]

I agree with Swede and others, run and gun in the morning, and tree stand in the evening if I have that option (depending on elk activity, weather, rut timing, etc).

I've definitely killed more elk on the ground in the mornings, and more tree stand elk in the evenings over the years.

Which brings up another question: What evening tactics have been most successful for some of you guys in mid rut? Ambushing areas where elk are moving from bedding to feeding areas, or actively moving in on vocal bulls?

Seems the bulls normally sound off when there is little daylight left where I hunt...so time to run and gun for them can be very limited.

[Swede]

Jeff: For evening hunts during the rut, I would set up in major travel paths. Saddles, benches or draws where elk move through. Water can still be a magnet, but it is less of a draw than earlier when it is still hot in the evenings.

[Lefty]

Mornings I tend to find the big herds by glassing or sound . Evenings small groups and singles

[JohnFitzgerald]

In the mornings, if you're not in a good position, you can always bugle them to bed. In the evening you can run out of light before you get into position.

The best reason to chase in the evenings......you get to listen to all the elk tearing it up after dark. Gives you reason to get up in the morning.

[msd1228]

Morning guy here!

[Wyo67]

Had success in both morning and evenings, but we seem to have killed a few more in the evenings. It is way cool to hear them going at it in the elk woods at night.

[Toby]

I like mornings, I tend to not put as much effort into evening hunts, need to improve on this. I like elk tangents question on evening tactics, we need a separate thread on this subject.