Early archery cow - which week to hunt?

[bigorange]

Hunting early archery cow this year...I can only hunt one of the weeks due to work (I know ideally I'd take off plenty of time and hunt both weeks, but it is what it is and I have to deal with it...at least I have a choice of which week I can get vacation time and hunt this year)

 

Wondering if anyone has any recommendations. Looking at solunar information and hunt/fish predictors, the first weekend has the best rating (for what that's worth) but what concerns me most is that the moon is mostly full for most of the second week.

 

I know in the past I've been told the second week is generally better for bulls due to decreased pressure and the rut seems to get going better that week.

 

I know scouting and just getting out there is most important, and I've seen much of the discussion about hunting during full moons but given the choice I'm just curious what others would do...

 

Thanks!

Bradley

[Guest akaspecials]

 

....I'm just curious what others would do...

 

Tell your boss to piss off and hunt both weeks. jk. In my experience the cows will be out and about no matter what week you hunt. I would probably hunt the second week though just because there should be more movement in the woods.

[reezenhunter]

Can't miss opening day first week for sure!

[Red Rabbit]

I'd hunt the first week to catch both weekends. Assuming you work M-F, your choosing between 9 days (first Sat to following Sunday) or 5 days (second Sat to last Thursday). There may be fewer hunters in the woods after the second Sunday, but the elk may be more call shy or tend to come to water after dark.

[twigsnapper]

I have the same delima, Last time I had an archery tag (2008) I told myself I would take the 2nd week off not the 1st only based on hunting pressure. Opening weekend has every Tom, Dick and Harry and their cousins up in the woods. Now, the moon schedule has me all discombobulated. I will tell you that there will be considerably less pressure during the week and toward the end of the season. I think I will take opening day off and hunt opening weekend, go home Sunday night and then return on the 2nd Friday and hunt the rest of the season. Will get 9 days in and might even get 9.5 if I can make it up early enough on the 2nd Friday. Just my theory and it could change if the hunting is spectacular the first weekend. I may get fired but I will have a heck of a story

[Willyhunts2]

Kind of in same boat. I have a bull tag and ended up taking last week off for the hunt Thursday to Thursday. Just seems like a mad house the first week in years past. So I figured I would rather hunt them After they have been hunted for a week and get rid of some people. Just my thinking though.

[thegunsmith2506]

I always hunt the first week when I have an archery cow tag. I think most of the hunters only hunt the weekends and the woods really clear out during the week. The elk seem to settle down during the week and go back to their regular habits. Just my opinion.

[123456]

Hunts are as late as they will ever be this year. I would go with first weekend.

[Flatlander]

I like the second week. I actually kind of like the full moon during the rut cause bulls will bugle all night and you can locate the night before after dark and then come back a few hours before light. If they are bugling you have enough light to start following them back to their bedding area and be in position at first light.