Early Season Archery Elk

[CavemantheHunter]

Hey y'all. This will be my first year in awhile switching back to archery elk. I can only take one week of vacation for my hunt and am trying to decide if I should take the first week of archery season off or the second. Based on the number of hunters out and the peak of the rut, which week would y'all suggest? I appreciate it.

[atfulldraw]

Are you hunting west side or east side? Also bulls or cows?

[D-Rock425]

Id go first week couldn't stand not being there opening day.

[Pathfinder101]

If you are hunting east side, I would wait until the 2nd week.  Wetside...I don't know...

[wayner]

Id go first week couldn't stand not being there opening day.

tried waiting for the second week one time...drove me crazy

[D-Rock425]

If I had a bull tag I go 2nd week with just a general season tag I'd go first week if I was hunting the eastside.

[dreamingbig]

Go the first week.

[Mudman]

I would go both weeks!!  No they both have advantages.  Less spooked first week to locate em etc.  Second week I think rut action would be stronger if you plan to call em.  Westside Im refering too. Imakadabullcrazy call has been very effective as well and simple to use if your new to calls. good luck.

[Broken Arrow]

We have had significant more sucess on the West side, the first week of archery with bulls. The later you have better rutting activity and it would seem this would be the opposite, but has not been the case the past 4/5 years. Actually we have killed more cows durring the later part. But I agree with an earlier post if there is ANY way you can make it the whole season, your going to increase your chances.

[pianoman9701]

The season starts on a Tuesday. It'd be a waste of three days taking the first week off. Take the second and throw in that extra Friday the 7th.

[JPhelps]

As stated already there are advantages and disadvantages to both weeks.

The first week the bulls will not be harassed but still in the tail end of the pre-rut.

The second week will likely line up better with the rut but the majority of the bulls have already been hunted, called or killed.

[CavemantheHunter]

Thanks for all of the help. I should clarify: Westside, general archery (unless I get a permit draw). If I could, I would definitely take the whole season off, but with my work, trying to even get one day off, is like pulling teeth.

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Second week

[coachcw]

third week , way less preasure .

[BowBender87]

1st week...get to em before anyone else does...and pick out ur bull the weekend before so you know right where you will be opening morning

[ELKBURGER]

third week , way less preasure .

[iRem]

First week! Even though the early hunt starts on a Tuesday you get out on a Sunday to set up! Do a little scouting  through Monday night, put the elk to bed and give them a wake up call....

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

First week! Even though the early hunt starts on a Tuesday you get out on a Sunday to set up! Do a little scouting  through Monday night, put the elk to bed and give them a wake up call....

I am setting up during Labor Day weekend, and Tuesday is "game on !!" really surprised how many "weekend warriors" come out for the second week.
But really, in the last few years, weather has been more of a factor than other hunters 
But then, I still see few (hunters) more than a mile from their vehicles.

[iRem]

First week! Even though the early hunt starts on a Tuesday you get out on a Sunday to set up! Do a little scouting  through Monday night, put the elk to bed and give them a wake up call....

I am setting up during Labor Day weekend, and Tuesday is "game on !!" really surprised how many "weekend warriors" come out for the second week.
But really, in the last few years, weather has been more of a factor than other hunters 
But then, I still see few (hunters) more than a mile from their vehicles.

Isn't that the truth, weekend warriors and hunters that just don't want to put in the time. Every time I go out in the morning, I alway anticipate that I will not make I back to the rig before dark! Why? Because i am on the hunt, that means walking in, up and deep into the timber to chase the elk and not hunters!  I AM SO READY!

[D-Rock425]

third week , way less preasure .

[MIKEXRAY]

First week for sure in my opinion.  The first couple of days the elk are more relaxed and in their routine.  By the third or fourth day of the season they are much skidish.   I hike up the ridge about a mile in the dark and the first couple of days they come from the meadows below & pass by me between 7:30 & 8 am each morning.  By the third or fourth day they are coming by at daybreak, the second week they are headed up in the dark.  I would never chose to miss opening day. Mike

[Button Nubbs]

Killed my wetside bull last year 3 hrs into opening day

[colockumelk]

First week definately. They Havnt been pressured yet. They are way easier to call in or pattern the first week.

[D-Rock425]

I've done some thought about this and the right answer really depends on where and how you hunt.  Elk will act total different from season to season and hunting areas will effect what week I would choose.

[dreamingbig]

If vacation allows I would definitely take the whole season as we only get a pitiful 13 days.  However my vacation time is limited so I look to maximize my days afield.  I have shot elk both weeks.

[CavemantheHunter]

If work permits, I am definitely going to take the first week off and hopefully the first day or so of the second week. Already getting the itch and it's only May...It's going to be a long 5 months!

[D-Rock425]

Its only 4 months until sept.  Ill start scouting next month and hanging treestands depending on draw results.  Then I get to focus on bear hunting come August 1st kinda takes the mind of elk hunting a little.

[billdo5]

2nd week... the bulls will be in the rut a little bit more than the first week... got a better chance... what unit do u plan on hunting in?

[billdo5]

called a bull in for my dad in 2010.. 6x6 scores like 315 to 320 in GMU 652 like 15minutes from my house   On the second week

[huntnnw]

I think early sept is prime for calling in bulls.. they are just starting to look for cows and come in..once they herd up with cows its very difficult to call them away.. sure it will give you that classic rut hunting with lots of bugling and such..but I have called bulls in alot easier in early Sept

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I think early sept is prime for calling in bulls.. they are just starting to look for cows and come in..once they herd up with cows its very difficult to call them away.. sure it will give you that classic rut hunting with lots of bugling and such..but I have called bulls in alot easier in early Sept

X2
Opening morning, scouted elk..
second week, look for where the elk you scouted all summer went.. 
If you can only hunt ONE DAY, the opener is it !!!
every other day is extra.

[CavemantheHunter]

2nd week... the bulls will be in the rut a little bit more than the first week... got a better chance... what unit do u plan on hunting in?

I'll be hunting in either the Lewis or the Coweeman. Know both of those areas well. As of now, I plan on spending my time scouting in the Lewis.

[billdo5]

oh ok never have hunted there... i just stayed around the puyallup unit and mashel

[blackveltbowhunter]

The biggest questions I would would have is, how soon do you have to request your vacation? And is the majority of your hunting gonna be on private timber or NF? With the two units you gave its a toss up, as Cowweeman is all TC, and Lewis River is a combo of the two. With the exception of September 16 your going to be hunting the " beginning" of September   

      Personnally I could care less when the season is in September in terms of the rut, This season I dont think your going to see alot of changes in elk behaviour based on "rut" cycles... and aggree with the other responses in regards to tactics. But WEATHER would always be my deciding factor when taking time off. If you may want to hunt private timber co lands at all and they are looking to be OPEN.... I would prolly shoot for the first week. If its looking like they will CLOSE around the opener, unless you have a solid plan mapped out on public ground, ( which is a good idea, if possible ) I would wait. Hunt when you can, and pray for weather. If you get it, then its no different than hunting opening day elk and you havent wasted a week of time in spots that may not be as productive; or hunting the way you want to. And if you dont, you can always join the crowds on public land the second week. The bulls will have been educated following a long and most likley warm labor day weekend anyway. So waiting an extray four days wont hurt anything.

[huntnnw]

if you know where elk are on the opener be there... after day 1 who knows where they will be.. if other hunters have pushed them then u will spend the season chasing

[whackemstackem]

I always end up going the first week, just a family tradition. I have noticed that the temperature is the key factor for success in my area and not so much so much what week I decide to go. The cooler the better.

[WSU]

if you know where elk are on the opener be there... after day 1 who knows where they will be.. if other hunters have pushed them then u will spend the season chasing

They don't move far in those units.  I've chased the same herds for multiple days.  Once they get in the reprod they don't go too far unless really pushed.  Even then, not that far.

[johnniel]

I've hunted the eastside for quite a few years now and I go back and forth about about hunting the first or second week. I get so anxious to be out there first I can't hardly stand it, but the last few years I have noticed an increase in  recreational use ie(motorcyles,Atv's, shooting and camping) because of  Labor Day. I've decided to go the second week to let things calm down a bit. I hope this helps.

[D-Rock425]

if you know where elk are on the opener be there... after day 1 who knows where they will be.. if other hunters have pushed them then u will spend the season chasing

the trick is to know where the elk go once they're pushed.

[mfswallace]

third week , way less preasure .

 

C U out there

[huntingalways]

   I hunt in Montana where we have 5 weeks of elk hunting in archery.  The first week (Sept 1-7)here is a little slow and takes more patience, calling and waiting longer for a bull to respond and come in to bow range, or just sitting over a wallow mid day waiting for one to come in and cool off.
    The 2 week (Sept 7-14) I like a little more, the bulls are starting to gather cows and are on the move more vocal and will come into lonely cow calls. the last 3 years remarkably I have shot elk on Sept 11.  My Daughters first bull at age 13 was on Sept 12.
 

[blackveltbowhunter]

   Nice bulls! Thats second pic is great 

[billdo5]

Montana is way different than Washington... U can't compare the two

[kentrek]

Montana is way different than Washington... U can't compare the two

yes you can,ive had simualr results here in sw wa on rosies...the only dif ive noticed is rocky mtn bulls have alitl more atitude(easyr to piss off)