As I understand it from the guys who have been out there that muzzle loader season follows the bow season when the bulls are still bugling and there are more of them on the hoof because it is before the rifle seasons.
Muzzle Loader season is during archery season. Archery opens about the last weekend of August and runs thru the last week of September almost.Muzzle Loader season usually opens the week end after labor day. So it is about mid way thru archery season.It is not quite peak rut yet,but elk will be bugling some, but it varies.
Best bet is to draw a "B" cow tag for muzzle loader season and then buy an "A" left over or OTC bull tag for one of the rifle seasons. You could also buy another left over "B" tag which is usually a cow tag. That way you can hunt two full seasons.. I do that,not so much to shoot two elk,but to be able to hunt longer in the fall. Lot of different combination scan be had.
Spike bulls are fairly good eating,but there are not many areas that they are legal since lot of the state is 4 pt or better.Yearling elk are about the best.There is a lot of good meat that turns out bad due to poor field care after the elk is down
