First week of Archery

[six]

Next year my son’s football games start September 10th and go through October 22nd. This leaves me with 2 options. Either hunt the first week of archery or 3rd rifle season in Colorado. I am leaning toward the first week of archery only because archery is my thing. I love all the tweeking, tuning, and practicing that goes into shooting at longer distances.

The past 3 years I have rifle hunted 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons with some success. There is just not as much satisfaction there for me. By that I mean shooting my rifle a few weeks before season, then locating an elk a couple hundred yards away, putting him in the crosshairs and pulling the trigger. There is the bonus however of getting a freezer full of meat. Something I have yet to do with my bow.

Any of you guys hunt opening week of archery? I’ve always archery hunted the 3rd or 4th week when the bulls were bugling. Any words of wisdom on how to hunt the pre rut.

Of course this will all depend on if I can find a couple guys to tag along. It’s seems to me to be a lot easier to find guys that want to rifle hunt verses guys that want to archery hunt.

[Swede]

I prefer the first week of the season and I generally hunt alone. This season my son only hunted the first three days of the season with me. It would be great to have someone around when it is butcher and pack out time. Still, my most productive part of the season, historically has been the first few days. As for tactics, I tree stand hunt then. I hope to get one coming into where I had them on one of my trail cameras.

[cohunter14]

Mark, why not try to hunt both?

People take elk the first week of archery season every year, so nothing wrong with that choice. Although there isn't much wrong with filling your freezer during the 3rd season either!

[ishy]

My buddies all love the first week. Vocal elk are a little more hit and miss, but they are firm believers that they get more to come in before everything is herded up. They get more than their fair share of action early.

[six]

Mark, why not try to hunt both?

People take elk the first week of archery season every year, so nothing wrong with that choice. Although there isn't much wrong with filling your freezer during the 3rd season either!

Sounds great. In a perfect world we could all have unlimited vacation time and I would definitely do both. My family takes up the rest of my vacation time. Couple more years and my son will be 14. Then family vacation will be spent hunting elk.

[otcWill]

Best bugling of the season for me this year was opening week. Also the best time to cold calll the big boys before they herd up. Good luck!

[Indian Summer]

The early dates are just to early to be done. Elk hunting is never what I'd call easy and there's nothing wrong with shooting a bull with a gun. If it's that easy limit yourself to the size you'll shoot.

My best dates are the 15th to the 25th and you can't even get close to that. If you can't bowhunt past the 9th I'd go gun hunting this year. There's something to be said for meat in the freezer too and like you said it will probably be easier to find a partner or two. My 2 cents.

[ElkNut1]

If you're not real picky pre-rut can be a blast! Who knows, as long as you're out there there's a chance at a decent bull too! Setup on trails leading to & from bedding/feeding areas. You do not have to be in either just in the transition areas. These spots are easier to have wind in your favor as well & that is very important.

Another method is to troll with blind,cold calling setups, these too can prove very productive with a good setup & the wind in your favor along with the patience to sit still & quiet 30 minutes longer after done calling.

If around any bulls at all or you hear a single bugle, get within 150 yards or so & start into an Advertising Sequence, start on low volume & steadily increase it & its intensity & be creative in your sounds! Again, be willing to call for 20 minutes & then sit & wait 30 min more, keep on a sharp look out the entire time as in most setups mentioned here elk come in silent! There are other sounds & methods we use as well, look at the PlayBook really well as well as Vol-4 & the ElkNut 5 DVD, there are tons of suggestions there for anyones circumstance!

ElkNut1

[Swede]

A good set up is key to getting elk by calling in the pre-rut. Somewhere Elknut describes how and where to call from, so you have the elk within range before they can see you. That is very important as they will most likely come in silent. Some hunters I have been with prefer cow calls. I generally use short two note bugles and then move a few yards and wait. I move from where I called because the bull knows exactly where the call came from. I think the difference between calls we use is mostly a factor on how call shy the bulls are in the area hunted.