Early September Vs. Late September

[mandrroofing]

YO whad up kids ! lol...So,Ive heard a lot of talk about guys loving the last week of sep for archary elk and some like early sep.The two times ive been has been in late sep and i noticed that being a fairly heavily hunting GMU and the Muzzleloader season the week before the elk have been quite anyways even know its the "PRIME TIME" to be in the woods.Would it make sence to go the first week instead of the last week,i know there will still be pressure from scouting and opening week and all.whats your all thoughts on this? Thanks...

[WapitiTalk1]

Pick your poison A. Early SEP the bulls are starting to tweak pretty good and are starting to feel their oats. It's at this time of the season they are more apt to come into cold calling setups either silent or vocally. They can be very receptive to both bull and cow sounds. End of AUG early SEP is pretty hot in most states and active wallows are getting worked regularly (tree stand/ground blind opportunities). B. During late SEP, the rut is in full swing (cows are definitely coming into estrus) and most cows are herded up. Herd bulls are very vocal, and, very defensive against intruders. This phenomenon can lead to some seriously exciting encounters if one works the wind, gets close to a herd bull, and challenges him for the right to date one of his girls. I find the best location bugle responses come during this time of the season as a general rule (locate, locate, locate). Herd bulls seem eager to yell back at a potential intruder (new kid on the block) and reveal their location. Wallows are not being worked as much at the end of SEP. Not sure how the ML season affects late bow in CO if it does at all. Given the choice, I will always hunt later in SEP rather than earlier.... just my .02

[Swede]

I prefer the early season and have killed more elk by far early, than in the late season. I like getting to the elk before they are herded up. The early season is just different than the late season. The elk are more spread out early, but in the late season they move around more.

[Indian Summer]

Mid month. Not sure where you hunt but Montana starts on the 6th and goes til mid October. The 15th to 25th is awesome. If my time was a bit limited I'd totally agree with Phantom... I'll take late any day. Same in Wyoming. Earlier is warm and they are really getting down to business yet. Later they are winding down and tired.

I can't freakin' believe how many people talk about pressure and ask for a strategy to deal with it.... in the same place. Switching dates will solve nothing. If people are educating your elk you are fighting a losing battle.... Seriously, the Rockies are big man. MOVE ON!!!

[mandrroofing]

Mid month. Not sure where you hunt but Montana starts on the 6th and goes til mid October. The 15th to 25th is awesome. If my time was a bit limited I'd totally agree with Phantom... I'll take late any day. Same in Wyoming. Earlier is warm and they are really getting down to business yet. Later they are winding down and tired.

I can't freakin' believe how many people talk about pressure and ask for a strategy to deal with it.... in the same place. Switching dates will solve nothing. If people are educating your elk you are fighting a losing battle.... Seriously, the Rockies are big man. MOVE ON!!!

I'm all about moving on,but since this isn't my tradition I started its really not my place to move the hunt to another area,( which I have suggested) we hunt some of the more difficult areas in Colorado ,southwest area. We do See elk every year and with the death of my mother in law this past season, I only got the huny two days, so I basically only have hunted elk 1 season. I do believe it's a good area just very tough terrain and just curious to see what people prefer late season verses early season and why? That's all...

[cnelk]

There are other factors that could determine Early vs. Late.

Depending on the elevation, late could mean snow.

Depending on ML hunters, early could be better. But I have seen the ML hunters pull out mid-week and sometime it takes a few days for the elk to get back to their normal September behavior, so later could be good.

Depending on full moon, some do not like hunting during that time, some it doesnt matter.

I have had success both early and late.
But I can tell you this, I wont be answering my phone opening weekend the whole week before ML season....

The only way to achieve the best of both is hunt the entire month...

[Bullnuts]

I prefer the early season and have killed more elk by far early, than in the late season. I like getting to the elk before they are herded up. The early season is just different than the late season. The elk are more spread out early, but in the late season they move around more.

Definitely. Like whitetails in the pre rut, elk are more prone to come in to a call during the early part of the season. I love hearing bulls bugle in the late season, but if you can't catch up to them, what's the point? I hunt early, rely primarily on cow calls, and do pretty good.

[Indian Summer]

[quote="mandrroofing"] I'm all about moving on,but since this isn't my tradition I started its really not my place to move the hunt to another area,( which I have suggested) quote]

Gotcha. I see. Not much you can do about that unfortunately. People, muzzleloader hunters... man you guys have your work cut out for you down there. I'd be saddling up and heading to no man's land if there is one.

Hey ya'll.... let's have a giant party at Cnelks house for a month while he's away come September and just gun hunt later!

[WapitiTalk1]

Dibs on the his bike during the party! Now I need a rifle

[cnelk]

You can borrow one of mine while you're here....

[Trophyhill]

I'm growing to really like the early season for reasons listed above

[WapitiTalk1]

You can borrow one of mine while you're here....

Not sure I remember how. Lessons?

[Elkduds]

Am I getting "old-timer's disease", or is the rut starting and peaking later as warm weather lasts longer each fall? 15 years ago I recall bugling starting in early Sept, even with heavy pressure early. Rut was on in 2nd week of Sept, CO's muzzle season, back in the day.

[Willie makit]

Can't speak for the elk, but our peek deer rut has moved from 2nd week of December to now., or my memory's suffering the same disease.

[Bullnuts]

Am I getting "old-timer's disease", or is the rut starting and peaking later as warm weather lasts longer each fall? 15 years ago I recall bugling starting in early Sept, even with heavy pressure early. Rut was on in 2nd week of Sept, CO's muzzle season, back in the day.

Very cyclic, at least in my hunting area. Some years I'll have elk bugling and going total berserk by the 15th of August, and then sometimes, like this past year, they didn't get going until after the middle of September. I believe moon phase has a lot to do with that and hunting pressure certainly determines how vocal they will be. As for warming trends, I don't put a lot of stock in that. Elk are programmed to mate at a certain time of the year or their calves won't be hardy enough to withstand the next winter. Some may drop late, but I think the majority are right on schedule.