Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Colorado Elk Hunt Question

I am planning on Elk hunting in NW Colorado in Fall 2006. I normally avoid the 2'nd rifle season as historically it has statistically underachieved in harvest results (elk are probably aware of increased hunter pressure by then and yet haven't been forced down by colder weather). However the 3'rd season in 2006 begins on 11/04 and the moon is full on 11/05. Given these factors, which is the better of the two seasons to hunt? I know in the S.E. USA the Whitetails will feed ALL night and lay up ALL day on a full moon. What about the elk?

Whitetails won't lay up all day during a full moon. Mid day hunting during that time frame gives repeated sightings as does very late morning(same time frame essentially).

Elk on the other hand, I'd bet won't be up much during the middle of the day unless you are close to bedding areas and close by water sources. But I'm not elk hunter, know enough to be dangerous to myself and not the elk....

Best of luck, I"ll be able to tell you more after the September MZ hunt of the same moon phase W of Denver.

Jeff

By the end of the first season, the elk are all in the thickets by an hour or so after daylight. I hunted the first season last year with a full moon (the season was a week later than it had been for the last several years), and saw no discernible difference in movement patterns. There was a lot less bugling, but (for all practical purposes) just as many bulls with the cows in the mixed groups. Once the guns go off, the old cows know where to go, and when, and they take everyone else with them.

Mudhen just about covered it, but even by the 1st rifle season, the elk are in the thick stuff from being pushed by archers and muzzle loaders particularly on public land. The 3rd season does have about a week between it and the 2nd season and it gives the elk a chance to calm down a little

3rd season also gives the snow a chance to get them moving. Works some years, others it doesn't...