Outlook for 2014 CO Elk archery season

[abomb5800]

So this year will be my second archery hunt. My partner and I are hunting the northern part of Colorado Unit 43. Last year seemed to be an extremely hot August and September. We started our hunt in unit 43 last year, and after doing a week in 80+ degree weather, we changed plans and moved over to unit 37. Since it was still warm in Summit County, were spent most of our time moving through the dark timber, only coming across a couple cows. It wasn't until the last week in September that we started to hear the bulls bugling. Too be more precise it wan't until our last day in the field that we heard bulling.

My question is what is your guys prediction for this years Elk activity with the weather? It has been cool the last several weeks, and been raining most afternoons. The last two days it had been raining most if the day. I work in unit 37, and currently as I sit at my computer it is 41 degrees with a low predicted to be 38 degrees tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if by morning time there will be dusting of snow above 10,000'. This has been a total turn around from last year, and I have been wondering if a cold snap this early will put them into rut earlier.

[spookinelk]

My prediction is that elk will be in different places than they have been for the past several years.The mountains are greener and wetter than I have seen them since the 90's, water is everywhere! Should be a heck of a year for everybody except water hole hunters

[under H2O hunter]

I think it's gonna be epic. My prediction is that the rut is gonna be long and bulls will be bugling longer into the day. I am so glad I am taking the whole month off from work and gonna enjoy listening to them boys bugle. One more day of work and I am gone.... Friday can't get here quick enough.

[one_elk]

My experience in 43 has been the elk seem to be generally lower and more in the aspen and oak brush during a wet year and more in the conifers during a dry year...

[BRazz]

Different part of the state here, but where I was this morning (checking game cams) the elk are in very different areas than in years past. I'm thinking it's due to all the water.

[wapitloco]

My prediction for the Montrose/Gunninson areas is that there will be more out of state hunters here than in the last few years. Due to the fact that I have been seeing a lot more hunting rigs rolling through town and in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

[dreamhunter]

I think it's going to be great.Just gotta get out there still and hunt em but I think we are going to here some good reports on here soon.I won't be heading out until the 16th-28th. Some of my buddies are headed out tomorrow and I will post some of their reports about activity.They said they would stay in touch via the mountain tops.

[abomb5800]

So now I have run it to a bit of a problem. I had a water whole at the top of a ridge and gully that was at the edge of a meadow surrounded by timber and oak brush at about 8,500'. Since last month there were 5 or 6 good size bulls and a handle full of cows that frequented it every morning at about 7. Last night the cameras were pulled and there was nothing. So now we are in the process of restratigizing.