Later early archery start - good or bad?

[NOCK NOCK]

So with the later start this year for the early archery elk, am curious what everyone thought about it. Was it better or worse as far as hunting went for you?

For us it seemed to be worse. Animals were not in the normal places/routines that we see them in every year, although the huge amount of hunters could have dictated that.

One very small area we hunt has little to no pressure. T cams. had consistent elk right up until Sept. 10, then they just disappeared. Have hunted this spot for 25+ years and ALWAYS see a handful of elk every year during season....not this year. 

[kentrek]

Better experience for us

[buglebuster]

I had a great 1st half of the season, lots of action and close calls, just to thick for a shot. I think the bulls were harder to call in mid to late september. Every bull we saw had cows, even getting in tight and calling they seemed to get out of there. I think early September before they have their harems headed up, and are still sizing up the competition they are easier to call in

[SuperX]

I initially thought the later start would mean more vocal elk, herding and cooler weather.  None of that happened in Bumping, in fact I never saw a single wallow or heard any daytime bugling / cow calls, and the weather was warm except for a couple days the first week.  They did get curious when I called, and I ended up with a nice cow who came in silently.

I think none of that really was affected by the later start, it just was a weird year.  I hope the muzzy hunters are going to have a great season!

[deerhunter_98520]

This was the weirdest year for me....I was really lookin forward to this year with the dates....last year I had quite a few bulls answering my calls and would come close but to thick for shots and this year I physically seen more bulls but they were very quiet which made it very hard to locate....and where I had them quite often last year there was no fresh sign what so ever...they all disapeared...it made for an unusual season that's for sure

[kirkl]

You archery hunters aren't going to start whining about wanting an earlier season now are you?   

[jackelope]

I'd find it hard to say whether starting the season 5 days later changed things significantly or if it was the crazy weather we had this year. The weather had to have a significant impact on things.

[Lucky1]

You archery hunters aren't going to start whining about wanting an earlier season now are you?   

Nah. We just want it longer. That's all.

[jrebel]

Didn't hunt early elk in Washington this year, but think the best part about the later start had to be getting it away from the busy three day labor day weekend.  No way that can be a bad think.

[bowhunterwa87]

Same for me..took a whopping two days to get a cow... Buddy got drawn for peaches tho and shot his bull three days before closer...said it really helped because the bulls werent talking until four or so days before close in the area he was in.

[deerhunter_98520]

You archery hunters aren't going to start whining about wanting an earlier season now are you?   

Nope just means more scouting now 

[kentrek]

I'd find it hard to say whether starting the season 5 days later changed things significantly or if it was the crazy weather we had this year. The weather had to have a significant impact on things.

The cold snap sure seemed to make the bulls shut up...was still able to slow play them those days but the intensity was just not like it was when the sun was out...kind of opposite of what we thought they were going to do

[eastfork]

Not sure if we really noticed a difference. We had off and on action ....like normal. We found some hot bulls....and a few not so hot.  All in all it was a great season. We had many chances....I kinda agree with buglebuster.....I think it's easier to call in bigger bulls early on. We had maybe a little better action first week....then the rains came. Killed our area. They went totally slient. Then they warmed back up. We filled one tag and should of filled both but we passed on a few and had some missed chances.......can't wait til next year!!!! 

[Mxracer532]

Weather was the biggest factor. Nothing talking in Cowichie at all. Oct 2 in Little Naches bulls were going nutz. Dad fulfilled his 40 year dream of a branch bull in 3 hrs on Sat morning. Bulls bugling like crazy. Come right in. Later the better. just a weird year.

[dreamingbig]

Better.  The drought this year had the biggest impact.  The grass ran out up high and the willows got zapped during the Labor Day freeze.  Next year will be better.


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[dreamingbig]

You archery hunters aren't going to start whining about wanting an earlier season now are you?   

Nope.


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[2MANY]

Bulls screamed through archery season and are still screaming.
Been a great rut that is still cranking if you are in the elk.

[Fullabull]

I was in the Lewis River unit and they did not start responding to calls until about the 19th. After that it was easy to locate them with calling. I had more bulls talking this season than than any other season I have hunted here which was nice. Had multiple call ins but none presented a good shot so came home empty handed but still had more fun than I have had in while. I like the later dates. The bulls I was calling in did not have cows until the 23rd which seems really late.
I think the ML hunters are going to have a field day with all the new ground they are hunting. I ran into a few ML hunters scouting the area while I was hunting.

[Rainier10]

It was better for us, elk were screaming most of the season.  Shut down for two days when a low pushed in but they were back at it the next day.

Later season had them vocal from day one and we had cooler weather as the season progressed.

The rifle rut guys had a great season and for the muzzy guys they are still talking so I think it worked out well for all in our area.

[buckandbullminingco]

I initially thought the later start would mean more vocal elk, herding and cooler weather.  None of that happened in Bumping, in fact I never saw a single wallow or heard any daytime bugling / cow calls, and the weather was warm except for a couple days the first week.  They did get curious when I called, and I ended up with a nice cow who came in silently.

I think none of that really was affected by the later start, it just was a weird year.  I hope the muzzy hunters are going to have a great season!

Weird  i hunt the same unit and had bulls bugling after the first weekend, found a handfull of hard hit wallows and tons of sign.  then again im 8+ miles from any road

[pd]

I had a great 1st half of the season, lots of action and close calls, just to thick for a shot. I think the bulls were harder to call in mid to late september. Every bull we saw had cows, even getting in tight and calling they seemed to get out of there. I think early September before they have their harems headed up, and are still sizing up the competition they are easier to call in

That's an interesting perspective.

[Little Fish]

My partner and I had our best season in the last 5 years (we had some great action before the dates changed to early September). Before the season changed with the last 4-year cycle we used to hear multiple elk and always have a shot opportunity or two. When the season changed we would hear 1 or 2 elk the entire season. This year was was entirely different. We heard or saw elk every day and some days it was hard to keep track of how many talking elk we heard. In total we had 6 call-ins with 2 blown opportunities which should have resulted in 2 dead elk. The other 4 call-ins failed because we moved too soon, the brush was too thick for a shot or we got winded. Great season overall even though we came home empty handed.

[Little Dave]

It worked out well after making a few necessary adaptations.

[D-Rock425]

I still like the later date but didn't notice a change really.  We had a group of muzzy hunters make a switch to archery this year so out normal stopping grounds got pounded hard the first few days.  I normally get in the deep thick stuff and can get bull's to sound off.