Archery DIY OTC Colorado 2016

[Deanmac]

I went on my first elk hunt last year OTC bull tag 2nd season, I hunted in the San Juan NF unit 711 east of Dove Creek. I hope to return this year but have just about decided to go during archery this year, we will camp this year instead of staying in a motel. I will be driving from Georgia (26 hours) so a scouting trip is sorta out of the question. I plan to return to the same area I hunted this fall, which is thick cover with water holes on the rim of steep canyons. I guess the main reason I was considering archery was the fact the bulls should be bugling and archery is also either sex, I would be happy with any legal elk. I plan to apply this year and start getting priority points for the future, but don't see anyway for a either sex tag except going with archery for 2016. We did consider going back during gun season but waiting to third season, but I don't see it any better than 2nd plus a bigger chance to get snowed in. LOL

I am 61 and retired, so vacation time is not any issue for myself but the folks going with me would only want to hunt about 7 days so considering travel time that would be about a ten day trip.

My big question since Archery season is about a month long, when should we go? I see it is 14 days before Muzzleloader starts which I figure would be better before the caps start getting busted. So should we be in the woods on opening morning thus arriving a couple days before season starts or show up mid week of the first week of season and stay until the folks start coming in with the smoke poles?

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Happy New Year to all.

Dean

[Indian Summer]

I wouldn't base my dates on the smoke pole hunters. Instead I'd want the rut to be in full swing and then I'll find a place to get away from them. Ten days: 15th to 25th or a day or two in either direction to fit the work schedules.

[saddlesore]

Not an archery hunter here, but I can't understand why someone would want to hunt the first week or two when full rut is still a few weeks away, The problem with meat spoilage is the greatest, it is still, darn warm, bugs are still out, more chance of rain during then monsoons. Most locals here in CO don't even think about it until after the 15th.

[82ndreddevil]

Not an archery hunter here, but I can't understand why someone would want to hunt the first week or two when full rut is still a few weeks away, The problem with meat spoilage is the greatest, it is still, darn warm, bugs are still out, more chance of rain during then monsoons. Most locals here in CO don't even think about it until after the 15th.

I agree to not worry about the muzzle loaders when planning your hunt dates, you ain't gonna hear many shots if any if it's a unit that offers OTC archery and rifle. That's just based on my experiences OTC hunting in southern CO. I also would not worry about the heat of early September versus late September as mentioned by saddlesore. It's a legitimate concern when you consider how deep in the woods your gonna hunt. but your not gonna see a huge difference in the tempeture range during that time. The difference you may find is more people in the woods in late September running around bugling from their ATVs pushing animals deeper. If you have located some good water holes I would sit on those and try to catch them there from midday to evening

[bald9eagle]

Piggybacking this one...

Clarifying...Late September is peak rut? I was planning on going the middle of Labor Day week and hunting for a week (Sept 7th -13th). So you guys think that the best time to go is the 14th-21st or 20th-28th?

I had read a lot of guys say that during ML season was a good time to archery hunt because many bow hunters would avoid it and ML hunters wouldn't get far from the roads. I'm more interested in hunting the rut than avoiding ML hunters. Thoughs?

[Deanmac]

Thanks for the comments and keep them coming, especially surprising don't worry about the ML hunters.

[CurlyTail]

Each year, muzzleloader season is planned to be the peak of the rut - best guess by the CDW biologists. Next year it will be a full moon this same week. I would not let either the muzzleloader hunters or the full moon deter you from being in the woods that week.

[Deanmac]

. Ten days: 15th to 25th or a day or two in either direction to fit the work schedules.

good info thanks

[Deanmac]

. Most locals here in CO don't even think about it until after the 15th.

That is the kind of responses I was wanting to hear, thanks

[Deanmac]

[quote="82ndreddevil. If you have located some good water holes I would sit on those and try to catch them there from midday to evening[/quote]

Yes some good water holes in the area, thanks for the tip of midday to evening, I would have figured it would have been best at daybreak?

[Deanmac]

Each year, muzzleloader season is planned to be the peak of the rut - best guess by the CDW biologists. Next year it will be a full moon this same week. I would not let either the muzzleloader hunters or the full moon deter you from being in the woods that week.

Thanks for the comment, I did not realize that ML was planned at the peak of rut, I guess that is why it takes 3 points to get drawn in that area for ML. I guess the elk are similar to whitetail back east, if they are rutting they are going full blast 24/7 so the full moon will not effect movements?

[Indian Summer]

Piggybacking this one...

Clarifying...Late September is peak rut? I was planning on going the middle of Labor Day week and hunting for a week (Sept 7th -13th). So you guys think that the best time to go is the 14th-21st or 20th-28th?

I had read a lot of guys say that during ML season was a good time to archery hunt because many bow hunters would avoid it and ML hunters wouldn't get far from the roads. I'm more interested in hunting the rut than avoiding ML hunters. Thoughs?

Yes Bald Eagle.... The rut take place later in the month. After the 10th the gears start to turn. By the 15th it's on. Over the years I've seen the question pop up.. "If you had to pick 1 day what would it be" I think the most common answers are the 20th and 21st. To me dates are the number one factor and everything else comes after that. I'll take the 15th to 25th every year if I had to pick 10 days. Of the dates you listed I'd go with the 14th to 21st for sure. Great dates!

[saddlesore]

I have muzzle loader hunted every year for at least the past eight years.I have yet found muzzle loader season to be in the peak of the rut. On chilly crisp days. You may find/hear a few vocal bulls, but no as many as you will hear in the coming weeks. Out of eight years,I would venture to say maybe two,I have heard more than few bulls. Lat year was one of them. Most of the time,you will hear the bulls doing locator bugles.Two noters when they are checking to find out what other bulls are in the area.Those bugles are usually just at day break and may last for 20-30 minutes. I have yet to see bulls with harems at that time.

Elk enter into rut based on the shortening of daylight hours ,not the weather, however,they do seem to be more vocal on those clear crisp frosty mornings. I attend the CPW Sportsman Round Table meetings every year and the CPW commisson meetings when they are here in Colorado Springs,and I have never heard them state that the ML season is scheduled to be in the peak rut. A quick call to the CPW will rectify that thought. Archers have a lot more clout in the lobbying with the CPW because they are a bigger group.They don't want the ML hunt during the peak rut and the CPW doesn't want it because the bulls are more vulnerable and they don't want that much more pressure on the elk before regular rifle seaon.

Every year in Rocky Mountain National Park ,west of Estes Park,there are tours where hundreds of tourist go to listen to elk bugle. This is in peak rut.Call the Estes Park Chamber of Commerce and ask when the peak tours are.Before the wolves became prominent in Yellowstone,my wife and I would be there every year for about 8 years between Sept 20 and 25 to photograph the elk in rut.Then we switched to Rocky where now you can see more elk there.

True, there is not a big difference in the temps between early and late Sept,but those 5-8 degrees at night can make a big difference.

Muzzle Loader hunters do not disrupt archery season all that much.There are relatively few tags given out vs the areas that are open, you won't see all that many ML hunters in the woods. Where I go,I might see 1-3 other hunters, but I see a bunch of archery hunters. BTW, I don' t know who started that ML hunters don't get very a far off the road, but that hasn't been my experience. Myself,I hunt at least 3-4 miles back and sometimes 7-8.

What will screw your hunt up is others, both archers and ML hunters running around bugling all day long like the biggest baddest bull in the woods.

[Deanmac]

Great comments saddlesore, Wow drawing a ML tag 8 years in a row, I realize residence hunters have an advantage, but I guess the area you huns has more tags than 711.
Based on what was said I should go toward the end of ML week and stay to the end of archery on 25th? The best days would probably be after ML ended until the 25th?
All this planning info is getting me excited about getting to go again.

[saddlesore]

Deanmac.I drew a coveted bull tag for a trophy area 2007 that took me 21years to draw. After that, knowing I would never shoot a bull as big,I only applied for cow tags for ML and it s fairly easy to draw in certain areas. However, I did hunt with a ML since about 1977 on and off when I could buy a left over tag that didn't jepordize that trophy hunt draw.If I couldn't, I hunted with a center fire rifle.

Yes,I would go on those dates if you can.

[Deanmac]

Deanmac.I drew a coveted bull tag for a trophy area 2007 that took me 21years to draw. After that, knowing I would never shoot a bull as big,I only applied for cow tags for ML and it s fairly easy to draw in certain areas. However, I did hunt with a ML since about 1977 on and off when I could buy a left over tag that didn't jepordize that trophy hunt draw.If I couldn't, I hunted with a center fire rifle.

Yes,I would go on those dates if you can.

Thanks for info, I am to old to try for the super area, glad you got your bull after the long wait. I plan on applying for a cow only ML this year.

A guy a use to coach in baseball lives in the Springs area, he is one of the managers of the Civic Center or what ever they call it, were they have concerts and such. His name is Matt McClain.

I Appreciate you reinforcing the dates on the archery hunt.

[under H2O hunter]

Colorado Parks and Wild Life will tell you that the peak of the rut is the two weeks between the end of the archery season and the first rifle season. They try to have the peak be an un-interepted time for the elk to breed. Now we all know that this is just an educated guess. Elk will be more active as the weather cools but this is not always the case.

Now regarding your hunt in 2016 there is pro's and con's to hunting the archery season both early as well as later in the month. Early season is better for sneaking in on elk that are usually solitary. They haven't herded up yet so getting in closer is much easier... Early season also has fewer hunters pressuring the elk so they are usually more responsive to calls if you know how to call. If you are not confident in calling then usually later in the month is a little better because the elk CAN be more vocal. But that doesn't mean they will be. If your area has a fair amount of pressure especially with ML blowing their calls every 5 minutes then the elk can become silent and you'll be chasing down other hunters rather then elk. Later in the month when the elk are vocal can be like a shopping spree more then a hunt. I have had days where I have called bull after bull after bull in. These days are epic because the elk will be vocal all day long and when they are in full rut they can be called in with a honking truck horn it seems.

Full moon will have a large effect on elk that are pressured. The full moon is scheduled for the third week in September this year which is the ML season (September 16th to be exact). Everyone is going to tell you what is their personal choice... Your chances of scoring an elk based on the rut and using a bow is far less then your chances of using a rifle in 2nd or 3rd season.. These are just facts. The best way to increase your odds of getting an elk is to do EVERYTHING you can regardless of which season or time of year you choose to hunt. What I mean by this is study your area inside and out, figure out where those little pockets of safe haven are, be willing and able to go where everyone else doesn't want to, Keep a positive frame of mind and keep thinking that you will get it done and keep going when the going gets tough.

[mandrroofing]

Ya know i believe when you should go depends all on your area.the area i hunt gets slamed during the ruttiing times and are really quite due to all the pressure,sure you hear a few bugles but there few and far between.this past season i decides to hunt earlier than i ever have,the opener and were im at,we felt alone while hunting.we were into elk everyday.and killed my first elk. for were i am and not speaking for were anyone elce hunts,i want to hunt when the pressure is low and it paid off...

[bald9eagle]

Piggybacking this one...

Clarifying...Late September is peak rut? I was planning on going the middle of Labor Day week and hunting for a week (Sept 7th -13th). So you guys think that the best time to go is the 14th-21st or 20th-28th?

I had read a lot of guys say that during ML season was a good time to archery hunt because many bow hunters would avoid it and ML hunters wouldn't get far from the roads. I'm more interested in hunting the rut than avoiding ML hunters. Thoughs?

Yes Bald Eagle.... The rut take place later in the month. After the 10th the gears start to turn. By the 15th it's on. Over the years I've seen the question pop up.. "If you had to pick 1 day what would it be" I think the most common answers are the 20th and 21st. To me dates are the number one factor and everything else comes after that. I'll take the 15th to 25th every year if I had to pick 10 days. Of the dates you listed I'd go with the 14th to 21st for sure. Great dates!

Awesome. We opted for archery because it would be less to be concerned with weather wise for first timers. No need in fighting with unknown road conditions, 1ft of snow, plus 2nd rifle crowds.

Are those dates consistent through the Rockies?

[CurlyTail]

You can have a good debate on whether your chances of success are better during "peak" rut, or "pre" rut. Peak rut the bull are screaming and easier to locate. However, they are also cowed up and although they will answer your calls, they will be reluctant to come to your calls and leave their cows. In the pre-rut the cows are not quite in estrus and lesser bulls may be the temporary herd bulls. Bulls are looking for cows, and may be more likely to come to your calling.

I personally favor the peak rut. I like to hunt them in their bedding areas. Waiting until early afternoon and approaching from above, getting close, then challenging the herd bull with a good scream. The technique of cow calling, getting the herd bull to answer, then cutting his bugle off with a challenge bugle of your own is a highly effective technique.

A good herd always has some Satellite Bulls hanging around, and they are very responsive to some soft cow calling. I am usually satisfied with a Satellite Bull as most of these are 6x6 in my area.

If you cant get the bull to come to your calling. Sneak out and leave the herd undisturbed, and try again tomorrow if you can find them.

[Deanmac]

You can have a good debate on whether your chances of success are better during "peak" rut, or "pre" rut. Peak rut the bull are screaming and easier to locate. However, they are also cowed up and although they will answer your calls, they will be reluctant to come to your calls and leave their cows. In the pre-rut the cows are not quite in estrus and lesser bulls may be the temporary herd bulls. Bulls are looking for cows, and may be more likely to come to your calling.

I personally favor the peak rut. I like to hunt them in their bedding areas. Waiting until early afternoon and approaching from above, getting close, then challenging the herd bull with a good scream. The technique of cow calling, getting the herd bull to answer, then cutting his bugle off with a challenge bugle of your own is a highly effective technique.

A good herd always has some Satellite Bulls hanging around, and they are very responsive to some soft cow calling. I am usually satisfied with a Satellite Bull as most of these are 6x6 in my area.

If you cant get the bull to come to your calling. Sneak out and leave the herd undisturbed, and try again tomorrow if you can find them.

Great advice, thanks