Here in Colorado,there too are ranch hay fields that elk have been on for years as winter pasture.However this year we have seen them in early to mid October, whereas in past years typically they don't show up until late November-early December.
The 2nd rifle season which was mid October, the elk in the Gunnison valley were already on the hay fields at night and then retreated to nearby timber during the day.
Except for those elk on the hay fields on private land,this was the first year in about 20 that during ten days of elk hunting I never saw one elk during the rifle season. We hunted in a 10 mile circle from 7000 ftto 11,500 ft in elevation. In ML season when there was still some water about and some green forage, I did kill a cow elk.
Last edited by saddlesore; 12/30/12.
