Considering going back to modern rifle

[Curly]

Did any of you guys find elk during the early ML season that were still in the rut?  We hunted only the first two days of the early season; we never saw another hunter in the woods in the area we hunted, so I think the elk were just done talking because of being done rutting.  I like hunting w/ out a huge crowd of people around like it could be during modern rifle, but I also like the elk to still be rutting a little. 

Anyway, I have lots of time to consider using modern rifle next year; I figure I can get away from crowds by hiking in farther than most and if the elk are not rutting during ML season, I might as well go modern.

[CP]

I really screwed the pooch on my tag section this year.  ML deer & East side ML elk.  Since I hunted deer first it left no time for elk hunting.  I need to do something different next year.  If the ML seasons don’t change I’ll probably pick a west side ML elk tag and a modern deer tag.  Maybe the elk won’t be bugling but at least that will stretch out the seasons. 

[.54 THUNDERHAWK]

Curly, why not switch to archery if you like the talking of the rut?  You would be exposed to a little more rutting.  If proposed M/L dates change, such as starting Oct. 1 to the day before modern deer, we will have a little more exposure to the rut as well.  We didn't have any elk talking this early season but we were on bulls from day one.  We put three bulls down in our camp this year.  Should have had at least six...had a few misses at camp this year.

CP, I do the west side M/L tag for elk and modern deer.  Seems to stretch the season a little longer with early and late elk and extended buck.

[Curly]

.54 Thunder, you guys had a great season.  I'll try to connect during late season (this weekend), but I do mis hunting in the rut.

I'd love to do archery because of the animals talking duriing the season, but my hunting partner (my brother) and I both have problems with our shoulders at times.........must be genetic or something.  Pulling back the bow string tends to aggrevate the problem shoulder, so rifles (ML or modern) are really the best option.

The elk were talking real good a week or two before the season, but by the time the season started they were quiet.