This or that?

[QuackNSmack]

Being new and doing as much research as I can, I have noticed most videos on elk are archery season in September. From my understanding, elk rut is full on in 3rd and 4th week of September given normal weather patterns? I'm leaning towards archery season since it seems like that is prime rutting and bulls are easier to locate and have a chance to call one in or get a game plan set up for a stalk?

My buddy is wanting to try our season with a rifle hunt so we don't have to get so close, but I'm wanting archery based of videos and the archery tactics I have observed so far. Seems not as many hunters use a bow and less likely to encounter the crowds on public land and you are able to get much closer to bulls during this time?

 

[JTA6498]

There is nothing better than bow hunting elk during the rut. Not sure where you are thinking about going, but I went to colorado last year for 4th week archery and it was awesome. The last two years, 3rd week was better than 4th, but you never know with the weather. If you are a bowhunter, nothing can compare to it. Watch videos and practice calling. If you want to be successful on a DiY public land hunt, you need to be able to call them in. I am going to colorado 3rd week for 2014 but I will also have a deer tag

 

[QuackNSmack]

This is what I wanted to hear. Bought a few calls last week and been practicing each day. So later season archery (3rd or 4th week) seem to be best in your experience for locating and calling bulls in? We are planning 7-10 days, 2 of which will be travel. I'm really looking forward to this sept. Have you been successful with dropping one each year? Are you going in as a draw or just purchasing OTC tag?

 

[Live2hunt]

Try a muzzle loader hunt. Season is still in peak of the rut and you do not need to get too close for a shot.