Colorado vs Montana

[Raghorn_Reaper]

Doing a DIY solo (likely) archery elk hunt in either Colorado or Montana. I have picked out some general areas in both states but it has come time to pick one to get serious about. I noticed there are leftover MT licenses left so I could snag one of those.

Is the CO and MT rut about the same times? Why would you choose one over the other? I have chased elk in CO for 2 years already. Tags are more in MT and the drive is about the same coming from WI. I have fresh legs, thin and in good shape.

I was all in on MT but for some reason the grizz have me turned around a bit. I think being solo makes the grizz a little more troublesome for me. Going with MT also puts me in a box a little bit in case i hook up with another guy that has a tag for MT. I really don't want to run into other hunters so with this I am leaning towards MT.

Fellas, I am at a stalemate.

[otcWill]

I do alright here in CO. I'd go to MT in a heartbeat if it wasn't only $40 bucks for my CO tag. Bigger bulls on the whole and less hunters. Really no comparison. Good intel in either state will lead to good hunting. For the most par, CO is the harder state to beat the crowds. Good luck!

[elk.addict]

I don't know which state is better; I kill a bull every year in MT but so do a lot of folks in CO. I guess it all depends on the spot you pick.
As for the grizzlies comment - I spend a ton of time (solo) in the backcountry throughout the year, and I wouldn't let them grizzlies bother you. Just take the necessary precautions and you'll be fine. When I am alone, I make sure I have my pistol beside be when I go to sleep. It just helps me sleep better knowing I have something there to defends myself as I feel most vulnerable when I'm in my sleeping bag.

[tdiesel]

something there to defends myself as I feel most vulnerable when I'm in my sleeping bag.

That's because you've just made yourself a burrito for the bear a nice pillowy outside with all the warm good in the middle

On course I would be in Montana as a chance for better bulls and less crowds. shoot being a CO resident I"ve seriously started looking at wy an MT to hunt just cause around my area it's getting to be more of a city during season than the woods (not saying some areas of MT couldn't be that way just pure numbers game). Rut should be about the same.

[elkstalker]

Depending on where you go in MT griz may not even be an issue. In general, the closer to YNP, Glacier NP, or the Frank Chrurch wilderness the more griz you will encounter. Other areas have very few or no griz presence. If you are worried, call the local CO or biologist and ask how thick they are. I hunted Montana for 5 years before I moved to ID and never had an encounter with a griz where I hunted, even though it was on the fringe of Griz territory.

[Raghorn_Reaper]

Thanks guys. Yeah, i am probably over thinking the grizzly thing. I was all set on MT and then my research led me to a news article of a guy getting jumped by a grizzly on the exact same trail i was looking into. thats when I shifted to CO. I think you all are right and I just need to be smart about camping with the Ursus arctos horribilis. Thanks for all the opinions guys.

[under H2O hunter]

Thanks guys. Yeah, i am probably over thinking the grizzly thing. I was all set on MT and then my research led me to a news article of a guy getting jumped by a grizzly on the exact same trail i was looking into. thats when I shifted to CO. I think you all are right and I just need to be smart about camping with the Ursus arctos horribilis. Thanks for all the opinions guys.

Just more reason on why you should hunt MT over Colorado... Articles like what you read will keep others away which means less crowds.. The opposite can be said about all the articles you can read about successful hunters... If people are successful then everyone thinks they too will be successful and you end up with a shit show because everyone and their brothers will be there the next few years... Go where no one wants to go and you will find elk. PERIOD. Be it the nastiest of canyons to Grizzly country...