Colorado elk on opening day?

[Arctic Hunter]

I'm going to try to get drawn again for a Colorado elk tag this year. It will be my third trip. I've hunted the 4th-11th and the last week, and while I've seen elk, I have yet to connect.

I thought about going up for the opener this year. How many of you guys hunt opening day in Colorado and what tactics do you prefer? I'll try to get up there a day or two before to hopefully find an active wallow or watering hole.

Thanks.

[old_goat2]

Depends on where I'm hunting and work schedule, water hole hunting depends on water availability, lots of dumb bulls killed opening. I'll be out this year opening weekend unless I draw a moose tag. Calling in likely areas.

[joe ashton]

I too will be out opening day. Calling in the AM and sitting over water in the afternoon.  Good luck.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

When I was out for opening day, the weather was Hot and the fall was late.  

The elk were still high up on the mountain.  

Find the elk and be where they want to be like water holes or on a trail going to their bedding.

Usually there is less hunting pressure but calling bulls in with bugles or hearing them for that matter might not happen.

[tracker12]

I'm with Joe on this one.  I like hunting opening week and call in the morning and sit water holes in the evening.  I should draw a WY tag for the Big Horns this year and will be there SEP 1 for the opener.

[Michael Arnette]

I did the same thing with a group of guys sept 4-12th. One of us connected on a bull but the bugling wasn't the best. I think an opening day start wouldn't be a bad idea.

[monterey]

I Hunt opener every year.  My theory is "why not!".    

Last year was warm even at 10,500,  saw nor heard nothing but being there is enough for me.  

Warm weather seems to see them seeking shade early in the day.  I've watched them at first light feeding in the open and then heading for bedding areas the very moment the sun touchés them.

[fnshtr]

Like they say, elk are where you find them and there are no "hard and fast" rules. In 2013 (think Noah's flood) I heard between 8 & 10 bulls bugling to my simple squeals two days before the opener. During the first 3 weeks hunting I only heard two more and only seen one young bull after 15 long days of hunting.

Go, hunt hard, and good luck. You will have a great time!

[Arctic Hunter]

When I hunted the 4th-11th, I saw elk and found sign well below timberline (8000-9000 feet). I was under the impression that te elk would be much higher, so I was a little confused.

I'm still fairly new at hunting them, but it led me to believe that they might get down in the dark timber where it's shaded and cooler, despite being fairly early in the season. Anybody have some thoughts on this? Elevation in my area goes up to around 10000-11000 feet.

[DWT]

tagged out second day last fall, called in 8 bulls by that morning, not a bad 2 days.

[monterey]

Donald, there really are no hard and fast rules as far as where you will find them.  An area I used to hunt held a good many elk at 7500 to 8000, even though there was a lot of high country surrounding.  The key was that it was a quiet area that did not attract summer recreationists.  The higher country had trails and easy access.  Neither did it draw hunters since it is not "elk country".

This is just my opinion, but I think a lot of elk hunters, especially new hunters are conditioned to rely on their ears.  Just because they are not sounding off, does not mean they aren't there.  Try calling cold with a cow in heat sound.  Expect them to come sneaking in silently.

[Overspined]

I've been out almost every year for the past 10 or 12 years. I have gone during every week of the season, but now I'm forced to go the second week.  It's a good week as is the opener but animals are usually a little quiet. I find them high, I find them low(7500+). Get into the shaded N facing slopes. If it is cool enough I see them walking around sometimes until noon. Evenings I troll or sit. I've had great success at getting close and getting shots most years, no elk have died...I usually hunt known areas and new areas each year.  I've personally never seen an elk during hunting season in a hunting area closer than 1/2 mile from a road, and usually 1 mile min.

[DKdc]

I have most of my success opening week. Overspined is right on the money. Go somewhere that is remote and you are more likely to hear bugling. To me reomote is  minimum two miles on an established trail or one mile of bushwacking right off a road. The best hunting i have found is about four to five miles off an established trail. Those animals are pretty comfortable. good luck
DK

[Arctic Hunter]

This is good information. Thanks for the help everyone.

[BWallace10327]

Hiking deep into the wilderness on opening day sure sounds glamorous, and the farther back you go, the more elk you'll see (theoretically), but it can be awfully hot during the last few days of August and into September.

[DKdc]

I bone out my meat and it seems to cool off plenty quick. (when hunting near or at timbeline) Leaving it on the bone makes it tough for the deep hind quarter meat to cool.

The real problem is once it is boned the flies can get at it through the bag because the meat is actually hanging from the bag and the weight of the  meat will stretch the fibers at the bottom allowing the flies to blow it through the bag. I carry another set of cheap game bags and leave them in camp. Once the meat is back at camp I hang the boned out bags and then simply pull the other game bags over and tie them off. The exterior bag will not be stretched out because the meat wont be hanging from it. At night when the flies are gone i take the exterior bag off and let it cool down.

 If you leave the meat on the bone, hang the quarter by the quarter itself and slide your game bag over it and seal the top with a zip tie to keep the flies out.

Do your best to get it out asap and i think you will be fine. Hopefully that makes sense.
DK

[FoCoBlackWidow]

I've hunted them opening week for the past few years at/above timberline. The advantage here, especially if you're a novice like me, is that your binos cover ground for you. The elk are visible at that time of year up high and knowing there's an animal out in front of you keeps your spirits up through a tough week. You'll work for it, but it's enjoyable.