If you wanted to shoot ANY legal bull?
Contributors to this thread:Elk
From: Bowfreak
12-Apr-19
What would be your hunt dates and why?
From: KSBOW
12-Apr-19
Following a long, I am planning second week in September for my Wyoming hunt this year pretty much focusing on first legal animal bull or cow!
From: LINK
12-Apr-19
From the day the season opens until the day it closes would be preferred. If your picking 8-9 days I like 7th or 8th until the 16th. I prefer to try and catch them when then are still partially in the gathering phase.
From: 2 Points
12-Apr-19
If I wanted to shoot any legal bull, which means a spike on up here in AZ, I would say September 8th, give or take. No need to wait for the rut.
From: Cheesehead Mike
12-Apr-19
I used to always start my hunts about the 10th but lately I've had great action before that. I would agree with LINK and go for 2 weeks starting on about the 7th or so...
From: Franklin
12-Apr-19
Opening day if hunting public land.
From: bad karma
12-Apr-19
In Colorado, first or last week. If hunting private land, any week....but surely when the ML crowd is out and about.
From: Lone Bugle
12-Apr-19
Ditto Bad karma.
From: LINK
12-Apr-19
I hunted during the muzzy season in CO last year. I only bumped into two guys and they were carrying bows. Might be anecdotal but that’s what I experienced.
From: Ucsdryder
12-Apr-19
I think it depends on your location. Opening day hasn’t been good to me, the bulls aren’t in there yet and it’s so hot they’re bedded down immediately. I’ll take 2nd weekend or 3rd. The more they’re up and moving around the better chance of killing them.
From: 12yards
12-Apr-19
I was wondering about known travel routes from public land to private land on opening week.
From: Shb
12-Apr-19
Go the week before opening day.
Have plans A,B, and C located.
Be on them, ready to go at shooting light opening morning.
Don't screw it up.
From: Yellowjacket
12-Apr-19
In CO 1st week before the herds are set. Single bulls will be wandering looking for other elk. Good chance they will come in silent though.
From: ElkNut1
12-Apr-19
2nd & 3rd week Mark, best killing dates around! It's much easier to arouse a Bulls Instinct To Breed as cows enter estrus! Both Satellites & Herd Bulls are very vulnerable at this time on OTC hunts! Doesn't mean dates before or after aren't good it's just that 2nd & 3rd week has been killer for us over the years!
ElkNut/Paul
From: Spookinelk
12-Apr-19
The average cow is getting bred on about 9/23 in my area of CO, I'm going with the week before that, this year in CO that would be the third week.
From: Michael
12-Apr-19
I shot my two bulls in Wyoming the last two years on the 10th and the 14th.
From: wyobullshooter
12-Apr-19
You don’t say how much time you have. Obviously, as LINK says, being able to hunt the entire season increases your odds of being in the right place at the right time immensely. That said, that’s not feasible for most.
If you know your area well, the first week can be extremely productive. Since most people figure the bulls aren’t very vocal yet, you darn near have the woods to yourself.
Normally, the bulls start talking more sometime during the 2nd and 3rd weeks, which make them easier to locate. Of course, most people understand this, so be prepared for LOTS of company.
By the 4th week, most have packed up and gone home. The bugling activity can still be at peak, with the advantage of once again having the woods darn near to yourself.
If I only had a week or so, I’d make sure I was in the woods the 18th-24th. If I had a couple weeks, no question they’d be the last two.
From: BULELK1
13-Apr-19
I've gotten into elk the opening day and I have gotten into elk the last day of the hunt.
I think being on the mountain is the best 'time' to get into/harvest an elk.
Good luck, Robb
From: Smtn10PT
13-Apr-19
Based on what Ive observed in my two Co hunts if I wanted to kill a bull there and didn't care how I would go opening week and sit water, now that's a boring way to hunt (to me). If I travel across the country I want to be chasing bugles which probably wont happen at that time of year.
From: Bowfreak
13-Apr-19
I have 10 days to 2 weeks to hunt. Also, I'm hunting a limited entry unit in WY. It isn't a top tier unit but there seems to be plenty ty of elk.
From: Corn bore
13-Apr-19
Freak, do you have a type 1 or type 9 tag? If it is a type 1 you won't have to worry about crowding.
From: ELKMAN
13-Apr-19
From the 5th to the 12th, or right in the center from the 18th to the 25th.
From: Kodiak
13-Apr-19
I like the last two weeks, regardless of what state.
I want em bugling a lot so I can find them easier. Rocket surgeon type stuff.
From: cnelk
13-Apr-19
We knock the crap out of ‘any bulls’ the first couple weeks of season. Bugle sparingly and use cow calling, raking exclusively
From: wackmaster2
13-Apr-19
yes, the week before season has very little hunting pressure if any.
From: LINK
13-Apr-19
My thoughts exactly wackmaster. Sure if I lived in or near the unit I’d be out there every weekend in August. Seeing that bowfreak is from Kentucky I’d recommend spending all your time during season. It’s hard to kill an elk without a bow in your hand.
From: Tyler
13-Apr-19
Opening week in Manitoba. Which is generally late August. Cow calls only. Yet to have to hunt more then 2 days.
From: Ucsdryder
13-Apr-19
Would you rather kill and elk walking down a trail going to water, or spend a week listening to bulging bulls and chasing rutting action and come home empty handed? I’ll take the latter.
From: ElkNut1
13-Apr-19
If I want to call cows I use 90% plus Cow Talk!
If I want branched antlered bulls I use 90% plus bull sounds, along with raking & some rattling! It doesn't matter the dates for either of these!
ElkNut/Paul
From: Bowfreak
13-Apr-19
I have a type 1. No issues with crowding in this area historically.
From: Brun
14-Apr-19
Hey guys, I'm just trying to become more knowledgeable about Wyoming's system and don't understand why it would be more crowded if you held a type 9 tag than a type 1. I thought the archery season was the same whichever tag you held. if anyone could explain what I'm missing I would appreciate it. Thanks.
From: wyobullshooter
14-Apr-19
Brun, I do understand the system, but I also have no clue trying to follow the logic that a Type 9 season would be more crowded that a Type 1 special archery season.
From: Brun
14-Apr-19
Thanks Wyo.
From: Inshart
14-Apr-19
Yup, trying to figure out that logic also, thanks for posting Brun and thanks for clarifying Wyo.
From: Mule Power
14-Apr-19
Sure you can pattern elk during the summer and when the opener arrives. But because of the heat action can be slow during the day meaning your windows of opportunity or short. For that reason I prefer not to place any bets until about the 12th. If I had to pick 10 days it’d be 15-25. This year 14-21 would be the dates if I had to choose 1 week.
From: Bowfreak
14-Apr-19
I don't know either....just answered the question.
From: KHNC
18-Apr-19
i hope 9/15-18 works out this year. Time of me and Jeff to get into rutting bulls and get two killed!
From: ground hunter
18-Apr-19
opening week on water holes.... I like hunting water holes,,, have done so for years, and have done well,,,,,, at this point in my life, unless its really really big, I like to shoot cows,,,, I hunt for the meat and relaxation,,,, have 5 bulls, 3 on the wall, that enough for me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but I love elk meat
