Elk Rifle Season Opens: The October 1-5 Hunt

The first any-legal-sporting-arm elk season of the year opens October 1 and runs through October 5. Around ten elk hunt codes across the state use that block, which makes it a small season compared with what comes later in the month, but it is a distinct opportunity and it hunts differently from everything after it.

Why the Early Rifle Hunt Is Its Own Animal

By October 1, archery season has been closed for about a week. The pressure that was in the country through September has come off, and the bulls have had a few quiet days.

The rut is winding down rather than finished. Herd bulls are still with cows, satellite bulls are still hanging around the edges looking for an opening, and there is usually still some bugling happening, especially at first and last light. It is not the wall of sound you get in mid September, but it is far from silent.

That combination is what makes this season worth having. You get a rifle in your hands while there is still enough rut behavior left to locate animals by ear rather than purely by glass.

What That Means for How You Hunt It

• Locate at dawn, then move. A bull that answers at first light gives you a starting point. He is not going to stand there, but he tells you which drainage to work.
• Glass the transitions. With the rut fading, animals start shifting back toward feed, water and cover patterns. The benches and edges between them are worth your time.
• Do not over-call. Late rut bulls that have been bugled at by archery hunters for a month get suspicious fast. Soft and sparing beats aggressive.
• Be ready for a longer shot than an archery hunter takes, and a shorter one than you expect. Both happen in this season. Practice covering that spread, which we get into in Why Your Rifle Setup Matters More Than Your Rifle.

Five days is not a long hunt, and this season in particular rewards hunters who arrive ready to go rather than planning to warm up on day one.

Weather in Early October

Early October in our country typically runs 30 to 50 degrees in the morning, sometimes at or below freezing, warming into the 50s and 70s by afternoon. That is a wide daily swing, and it is the single most common thing hunters underpack for.

The right approach is layers you can shed before you sweat, because damp clothing in a cold morning is both miserable and a scent problem. Our recommended layering setup by condition is on our hunting gear page.

If Your Hunt Is Later This Month

October 1 through 5 is the opening act. The heavier elk rifle blocks come later: October 10 through 14, October 17 through 21, which is the most heavily subscribed bull rifle season in the state, and October 24 through 28. The muzzleloader seasons run on overlapping dates in different units.

Which one you are in is determined by your hunt code, and the difference between them is real. A bull that is still talking on October 3 may be completely shut down and back in a bachelor pattern by October 25.

Whatever your dates, a few things do not change. Confirm your zero after you travel rather than before. Keep the wind in your favor. Hunt the full legal window, which runs until a half hour after sunset. And listen to your guide in the first hour rather than the last.

Thinking about an early October rifle hunt for next season? Those dates get spoken for well in advance. Look at our guided elk hunts, contact the team, or call (575) 315-6107 to talk through units and weapons.