Help Me Pick Elk Season - CO First vs. Second Rifle

[shannerdrake]

Hey All,

I need some help picking a season for this fall. My hunting partner and I have narrowed it down to Colorado first or second rifle for elk (and maybe mule deer). However, we need some help choosing! We will be hunting DIY on private land.

First rifle - we can draw elk and we would be elk only hunting as there is no deer season. According to GoHunt, success rate for first rifle elk is averaging 30.2% over the last 5 years.

Second rifle - elk is OTC, so we would save our points, and we could draw mule deer so we would have both tags. GoHunt success rate for second rifle elk is averaging 14.2% over the last 5 years. Mule deer average around 50% success rate during second rifle in this unit.

A few questions - those of you who know better, does it really make sense that you are more than twice as likely to kill and elk in first rifle (30.2%) than in second rifle (14.2%)?

Would you be willing to give up the increased success rate of first rifle to gain a 50% success rate chance at a mule deer AND an elk?

The land we hunt (we have hunted here a few times before) does have elk and mule deer in the same areas. I have seen and harvested both deer and elk on the property before. Also, regardless if we go first or second rifle, we will be the first hunters on the property this fall.

Thank you in advance!

 

[WildWill]

I could see how the reduced pressure and earlier dates of first season could up the harvest percent that much. Would be especially beneficial on public. But with your situation having private property with no prior pressure I'd go 2nd all day.

 

[Nick87]

I could see how the reduced pressure and earlier dates of first season could up the harvest percent that much. Would be especially beneficial on public. But with your situation having private property with no prior pressure I'd go 2nd all day.

I agree. Unless the private is access fee or something in which case it might be worse depending on the size of the property.

 

[Dsnow9]

^ this

 

[shannerdrake]

I agree. Unless the private is access fee or something in which case it might be worse depending on the size of the property.

Thank you - what do you mean by “access fee?”

It’s private land that we pay a “trespass fee” to hunt on, but regardless if we go 1st or 2nd, we’d be the first hunters in the 2025 season for either species.

 

[shannerdrake]

I could see how the reduced pressure and earlier dates of first season could up the harvest percent that much. Would be especially beneficial on public. But with your situation having private property with no prior pressure I'd go 2nd all day.

Thank you!

 

[Nick87]

Thank you - what do you mean by “access fee?”

It’s private land that we pay a “trespass fee” to hunt on, but regardless if we go 1st or 2nd, we’d be the first hunters in the 2025 season for either species.

Yah trespass fee is what I meant. But if your the first hunters regardless, I'd go second season definitely. Makes it even better imo.

 

[WVmike]

I agree with all of the others and if animals are moving between public and private, you have the best of both worlds in that you don't have to turn around away from the private land, you can go after them like you would on private.

 

[cohunter14]

Another vote for 2nd. Don't read too much into those statistics as they are a guess, at best, from the CPW. 2nd season will allow even more time for the animals to be pressured onto the private land too.

 

[shannerdrake]

Thanks everyone! I REALLY appreciate the feedback and comments. I am shocked, but so far we are at 100% in favor of 2nd rifle.

 

[cgasner1]

Personal id ask if I wanted to hunt elk or deer. If you really want an elk I’d go first season show up early and scout it and get your bull killed. If you just wanna go hunting and shoot something I’d go second season. Sometimes this is like a magnifying glass and it works better to focus on one thing.

 

[Mallardsx2]

If you’re paying a fee I would for sure prefer to have both tags.

Lot of research would need to go into this though before applying.

 

[nrpate05]

First rifle is better for maybe catching some rut action and is limited, but having private access can totally change the game. I'd go second because the increasing pressure will have elk looking for private refuge and the season is longer.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

How big is the private and will there be other hunters besides you on it as well or just you?

 

[shannerdrake]

I

How big is the private and will there be other hunters besides you on it as well or just you?

Just my friend and me. About 3000 acres spread out over 5 parcels. Some connect some don't. About 2000ft spread in elevation and divided across two drainages.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Hey All,

I need some help picking a season for this fall. My hunting partner and I have narrowed it down to Colorado first or second rifle for elk (and maybe mule deer). However, we need some help choosing! We will be hunting DIY on private land.

First rifle - we can draw elk and we would be elk only hunting as there is no deer season. According to GoHunt, success rate for first rifle elk is averaging 30.2% over the last 5 years.

Second rifle - elk is OTC, so we would save our points, and we could draw mule deer so we would have both tags. GoHunt success rate for second rifle elk is averaging 14.2% over the last 5 years. Mule deer average around 50% success rate during second rifle in this unit.

A few questions - those of you who know better, does it really make sense that you are more than twice as likely to kill and elk in first rifle (30.2%) than in second rifle (14.2%)?

Would you be willing to give up the increased success rate of first rifle to gain a 50% success rate chance at a mule deer AND an elk?

The land we hunt (we have hunted here a few times before) does have elk and mule deer in the same areas. I have seen and harvested both deer and elk on the property before. Also, regardless if we go first or second rifle, we will be the first hunters on the property this fall.

Thank you in advance!

It really depends. I wouldn't look too hard at the success rate for statewide seasons because it really only matters for the specific area you are hunting. Elk are herd animals capable of moving miles in one night. You can be surrounded by them one day, and literally miles away the next, depending on the habitat/ownership/pressure where you are. Since you're on private, I'd say the success rate should improve as the seasons go by. For that reason, and because you could double up on muleys (if you have a tag), I would 100% choose 2nd (and I have in the past, and didn't regret it). I think your last sentence answers your own question really. Good luck!

 

[shannerdrake]

It really depends. I wouldn't look too hard at the success rate for statewide seasons because it really only matters for the specific area you are hunting. Elk are herd animals capable of moving miles in one night. You can be surrounded by them one day, and literally miles away the next, depending on the habitat/ownership/pressure where you are. Since you're on private, I'd say the success rate should improve as the seasons go by. For that reason, and because you could double up on muleys (if you have a tag), I would 100% choose 2nd (and I have in the past, and didn't regret it). I think your last sentence answers your own question really. Good luck!

You triggered a thought - is the second rifle success rate that GoHunt is posting the success rate for all 2nd Rifle OTC units or is is specific to just the unit I’m looking at?

 

[WildWill]

You triggered a thought - is the second rifle success rate that GoHunt is posting the success rate for all 2nd Rifle OTC units or is is specific to just the unit I’m looking at?

You can find unit and season specific harvest info on cpw website. Although as others have stated with how CO does its harvest survey I don't know how much stock I'd put in them.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

You triggered a thought - is the second rifle success rate that GoHunt is posting the success rate for all 2nd Rifle OTC units or is is specific to just the unit I’m looking at?

Not sure, but even if it is for that unit. That includes a lot of properties that are not where you will be hunting. I operate under the mantra that it "only takes one." I'm not hunting for a herd of elk, or a herd of mule deer. I only need one. But in the case of elk, the one is usually with the herd, so it does pay to think about where that herd will go as soon as the guns start going off. In a lot of units, that means leaving public and heading straight to private.

 

[cohunter14]

You triggered a thought - is the second rifle success rate that GoHunt is posting the success rate for all 2nd Rifle OTC units or is is specific to just the unit I’m looking at?

It's unit specific but take it with a grain of salt. Colorado sends random surveys out to hunters and compiles information based on the handful of responses they get back. It's an educated guess, at best. In addition to that, I know of many hunters that aren't truthful in their responses to the surveys, i.e. they might not report of being successful to avoid others targeting the area because of high success rates. Again, I wouldn't base anything solely on those success rates.