Live Hunts - Colorado Archery Elk Hunt - September 10

Live Hunts - Colorado Archery Elk Hunt - September 10 - Day 4

Sunday - September 10 - Day 4
Colorado Archery Elk Hunt

A.M. Hunt
I went back this morning to the same area I hunted all yesterday. I again saw lots of fresh sign, but again, no actual elk sightings. I walked further this morning than yesterday morning, and still no elk. I even went down the 3rd shelf in that area, and no elk to be seen. Didn't see them feeding out in the meadows at dawn this morning, either. I'm thinking even more right now that the moon has them feeding at night. About 8 a.m. I did a bugling and cow-calling sequence, and thought once I heard something coming, but I think my imagination let the wind in the aspen leaves conjure up images of a big bull running to my calls.

This afternoon I think I'm going to check out somewhere new. Not sure where yet, but I have a few ideas.

Here is a big elk bed I found. Not sure how fresh it was

Near the elk bed above, I found this wallow, but it's not being used currently. The water was clear.

Here I am resting and psyching myself up for the hike back up to the top.

Back on top!

A beautiful view from the top, down the valley.
P.M. Hunt

This evening I went to an area about 10 miles away I'd never been to, but was told about by a friend. Amazingly, I once again didn't see a single elk. I say amazingly, because there was twice as much fresh sign at this new location as there was in the area I hunted all yesterday and this morning, and there was a lot of fresh sign there. This new area was a perfect mixture of aspen, ponderosa, spruce, fir and lodgepole pine. It was nice and cool, a perfect bedding area. Fresh dung everywhere, fresh tracks. Antler rubs everywhere. I probably saw in excess of 50 antler rubs. I found a good trail on a narrow bench, and sat over it from 4:30 until 6:30, and then still hunted from 6:30 till dark back to the car. The only thing I saw was one mule deer doe and a few squirrels.

Here is a view of what most of this new area looked like

Here is a view looking down on the trail I watched.
I think the elk hunting gods have condemned me. So far, I've only seen 3 elk that were less than 2 miles away from me. This is my worst hunt so far here in this area of Colorado, as far as close encounters with elk go. On the bright side, I think I've enjoyed the scenery and nice weather this year more than any in the past.


Here are several of the rubs that I found.

I think I'm going to give it one more go in the morning and then hang it up for this year in Colorado.

Go to Day 5

e-mail Joshua Flournoy

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