CO 1st rifle season

[SAR]

Are the elk still rutting and bugling during the 1st rifle season?

[Old Hunter]

Could be. Usually are. Great season to hunt.

I like it better than the muzzleloader season i'm doing this year.

[SAR]

Thanks for sharing that info Pete!

Scott

[SAR]

Come on fellows, someone else must have an opinion on the subject.

[In God We Trust]

Not to be vague but it really depends from year to year. I would say it catches the tail end of the rut more often than not. I have a 49 first rifle tag this year and I am excited. Even if it misses the rut some years it is a great season. If you can get a light dusting of snow at the beginning of the season all the better. Good luck.

[SAR]

Thanks, that's good stuff! Good luck in 49.

[wapiti66]

I hunted their 10 years ago on a youth cow tag, and I remember hearing some bugling 1st rifle. Not really info to go on but that's my 49 experience. Hoping to draw there next year for archery, so I hope they are bugling then. Personally I wish they would stop moving the last day of archery season up. I haven't hunted rifle since that youth tag but it seems at least the last 2 years in south colorado it hasn't seemed like the rut had really got going by the end of archery season, so I'd expect 1st season has rut potential.

[7mmshot]

Usually they are still making some noise. The big bulls have moved on.. There are decent sized satalites around to be taken. But the big bulls took care of business and are hunkered down..

[SAR]

Thank you fellows, I get the picture! Good luck too all this year, I drew a nice elk tag for Oregon after 8 years worth of points maybe i'll get lucky too.

[gon4elk]

Will be there in 2 weeks for the first rifle hunt in the South West part of the state. In years past they are bugling some. Biggest bull I've ever killed was in this unit opening morning followed his and another bulls bugle, had a dozen cows and 100 yards dumped him within an hour of the opener. Beautiful 6X8 340. I love the first rifle hunt in Colorado, plus they limit the tags to 450 hunters.