Colorado Archery Elk Hunting and Black Powder-Muzzle Loader Elk Hunting

Some Quick Facts:

A bull was bugling right below us

• Only six archery or muzzle loader hunters are booked each season! (could be a combination of either archery or black powder). We only offer two five day hunts for the entire month of September. This protects our area from being over-hunted.

• You must be in very good physical condition or you won’t be capable of hiking on foot into the areas where the elk are. At a minimum, you must get into a physical conditioning program by May 1st.

• You can purchase an archery tag over the counter-no draw is required for our hunting area

• Entering a draw for a muzzle loading/black powder tag is required.

• For prices and dates offered click prices and dates.

For archery and black powder, we hunt the same territory as we do during rifle season.
However, you get the first opportunity of the year to hunt it!

We utilize the same base camp, spike camps, use horses to pack into camp and support our hunting operation as explained in other pages of this website.

Honestly speaking…

McKee Guides Michael & Brian in 2005

We are avid archery hunters and hunt during archery season ourselves (not at the same time or area as our clients). Hunting archery ourselves makes us to be very much in tune with the skills that are required to get a successful shot.

You may feel slighted to know this, but we feel that our guiding skills for archery are superb since we practice and implement them year after year. We walk the talk. Of course, we have made some mistakes during some approaches or set ups, but we have always remembered what we would have done differently. Learning from these mistakes is critical to future successful hunts. Throughout the years, we have gone through the school of hard knocks on tactics. Now, we have a pretty good recipe that works. Of course, hunting is hunting. Archery elk hunting is the toughest sport hunting around. Our harvest ratio has been better than the statewide average of 10%. However, get your expectations in line when you come archery hunting. Closing in on that last ten yards (from forty to thirty yards) is always the most difficult. It is not easy.

You can expect….

While hunting archery we will always get into the middle of the elk. So… you will see elk and hear the bulls bugling. Some days the bulls are more active than other days. The elk move around very, very much at night. One canyon during one day may have no elk in it… the next day the canyon will have elk in it.

They have gotten smarter and wiser over the last twenty years. However, we always hunt hard and never give up. You can expect to work hard hunting on foot. If you choose to go hunting with us, you will get very tired and exhausted. However, it is very rewarding!

Steve got this bull on the 4th day! He hiked many miles with us to find it.
Mark's first Bull		Lunch break

Which is the best time to Colorado Elk hunt in September?

Chad McKee with Archery Mule Deer

All of the guides have gotten into a great debate whether the first part of September or the last part of September is better.

The reality…one time period (earlier or later) is not better than the other. The bulls may be bugling more during the latter part of September, but they are not as aggressive to come into a cow call, as they may be earlier in September. By the end of September, the herd bulls have gathered up the cows for the most part. Consequently, they are reluctant to come into a single cow call risking they could lose the entire cowherd to a satellite bull.

Our guide "Michael" with 2006 Bull Elk taken with a bow.		Brian 2006 Bull Elk taken with a bow.

Hunting Colorado Elk with a Muzzle Loader or Black Powder

Archery spike camp two hours away from base camp

This is absolutely the most premium time to hunt elk! During this time, a hunter receives the same benefits an archer does since the elk are in the middle of their rutt. However, the success ratio of a muzzleloader is much greater at 75% since the shooting distance is much greater at 80 yards!

You must draw for a license for this hunting season. For a non-resident, it will take two to three years to draw an elk muzzle/black powder tag.

We can assist you with applying for a muzzle loading/black powder Colorado elk hunting license.

This is Pete with "Richie", a successful black powder hunter from the 2002 season. Don't let the pick up truck fool you! This bull had to be packed off the mountain! Richie is an outstanding hunter from Arkansas.