Would you rather....?

[cnelk]

In Colorado, a typical hunter has the opportunity to shoot 2 elk
Only one chance a bull [Unless you win a raffle or get a Gov tag ]

This year, I bought 2 elk tags for archery season - 1 E/S tag and 1 antlerless tag.
If I would have shot a cow, I would have used the cow tag and kept hunting for a bull.
Since I shot my bull late in the season, my cow tag went un-used

Is this what most would do with the opportunity of 2 tags?

Or would you rather save a tag for a rifle season later and continue hunting elk for more days?

I have done both.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Thoughts?

[JGH]

Well, I'm in Wyoming ... and we CAN "save" one for rifle season.

Or, in my case, I "saved" both of them (General tag, which is either sex for archery, and portions of rifle ... and a cow/calf tag.)

I'm headed out tomorrow to try to use one with a rifle. I hope I get a shot, but honestly, I'm losing my interest in rifle hunting elk. I enjoy other rifle hunting -- particularly pronghorn (what fun!) -- but I find I have a hard time relaxing during rifle season, and trouble enjoying the hunt. It seems rushed, and pressured.

More hunters. Pressured animals. Variable weather.

I'm toying with the idea of "skipping" rifle elk season next year ... specifically avoiding it and the pressure that seems to come with it ... and dumping all of my effort and time into September. Or maybe a later deer (rifle) hunt in November.

(Which kind of puts the pressure on for next year's archery season!)

Good Lord, please put a dumb calf, or small cow, in front of my rifle tomorrow, with enough daylight. And early, close to a road, please. Amen.

[WapitiTalk1]

Can you buy a tag for each season, one for bow and one for rifle? If that is the case (forgive me, I'm not familiar with how the CO seasons work), and I was both a bow and rifle hunter, I would opt for a bull tag in archery season (the rut) and a cow in rifle rifle. I admire the man who buys both tags for archery season though

[cnelk]

Yes you can have an E/S tag for archery and then a antlerless [cow tag] tag for another season [ML/Rifle]
There are different 4 Rifle seasons to choose from
They run from mid-Oct to late Nov [and a few other rifle hunts that go later - maybe WW will chime in on those]

You could also hunt cow only during Archery or ML and then hunt for a bull in one of the 4 rifle seasons

Lots of options to extend hunting opportunities

The risk of buying the 2 tags in archery season means that you're done elk hunting when October arrives [that be me this year]

I remember years ago when only 1 elk tag was available. Does that make the decision easier or harder in when to hunt?

[ORelksniper]

In Oregon we get 1 elk tag. I love elk meat but apparently I love a good challenge more. Bow hunting for me.

[JJ Overkill]

This yr i hunter E/S archery and anterless archery. I got my bull early and couldnt find a cow to use my tag on. I wanted and will next yr, ger a late rifle cow tag. Unless we draw a unit then it will be achery tags for both. If my son doesnt get an elk archery he can get a transfer his licence to a late season cow tag. It night be easier for him to get an elk with a rifle but who knows.

[Swede]

Archery elk is my favorite. Where I hunt it is ok to shoot either sex. I am not an elitist or against other elk hunts i.e. rifle. I am just not very interested.

[bnsafe]

i bought both for archery season this year, honestly im not sure what I will do next, but will prob do the same.

[BrentLaBere]

This year, I bought 2 elk tags for archery season - 1 E/S tag and 1 antlerless tag.
If I would have shot a cow, I would have used the cow tag and kept hunting for a bull.
Since I shot my bull late in the season, my cow tag went un-used


^^^^This. I would do the same thing only because I love using the stick and string a lot more than a rifle. Only reason I would want a rifle tag is if you had family and friends heading out for the later season. I always enjoy hunts like that so it would be hard to turn down.

[Z Barebow]

Filling two tags with the bow is a high class problem to have.

I don't rifle hunt or have any family/friend rifle hunts so the answer is pretty simple for me.

I have found that tags in the pocket are the best critter repellent there is. So I still get to hunt!

[Vanish]

I'm not good enough at elk hunting to even bother buying two tags yet!

Since we try to hunt every species we can, and I only have so many days off, I have passed on the rifle cow hunt so far. My wife seems to think it will be an easy hunt (HA!) and has been pushing to do it, but she hates cold ...

[easeup]

I have a little different twist on the issue while hunting the CO OTC units. that ES tag eliminates hunting anything but a cow in a later season. I'm OK with that part and would really like to do it too. but the friends I have that go up for rifle season in October hunt in the San Juans where there are no B tags for elk lately. I have joined them just to take the role of "Hop-singh" since I cannot get a tag of any sort.
such is life.