1st Rifle Season Elk Hunting Trip
Shared Trip
Active hunting
Prime earlyseason hunting during Colorado's exclusive drawonly periodExpert guides lead hunts through rugged terrain for mature bullsCooler temperatures and active rut provide optimal hunting conditions
Colorado's 1st rifle season is hands down one of the best times to chase elk in the Rockies. You're looking at cooler temps, bulls still fired up from the rut, and way fewer hunters crowding the woods since this is a draw-only season. Silver Spur Outfitters knows these mountains like the back of their hand, and they'll put you in prime position for a shot at a mature bull. This isn't your average over-the-counter hunt – you're getting exclusive access to some seriously productive elk country with guides who've been working these ridges for decades.
Your hunt kicks off in Colorado's rugged high country where elk roam thick timber and open parks. Since you're hunting solo with your guide, you'll move fast and quiet, covering ground until you glass up bulls or cut fresh sign. Early October weather is perfect – crisp mornings that get elk moving, but not the brutal cold that shuts them down later in the season. Your guide will read wind patterns, track fresh rubs and wallows, and position you for clean shooting opportunities. The tail end of rut means bulls are still bugling occasionally and responding to cow calls, giving you multiple ways to locate and close distance on your target. Expect long days covering steep terrain, glassing from vantage points, and being ready for quick stalks when opportunity presents itself.
Colorado elk country demands respect and preparation. You'll be hunting elevations between 8,000 and 11,000 feet, so cardio conditioning is essential. Pack layers since morning temps can be in the 30s while afternoons warm into the 60s. Your guide will teach you to read elk sign – fresh droppings, rubs on aspen trees, and muddy wallows where bulls have been rolling. The terrain varies from dense timber where you'll need to move like a ghost, to open meadows requiring long-range shooting skills. Quality optics are crucial for glassing distant ridgelines and picking apart timber for elk shapes. Most shots happen between 200-400 yards, so dial in your rifle before arriving and know your ballistics cold. The guide will help with range estimation and wind calls, but shot placement is on you when the moment comes.
Rocky Mountain elk are the crown jewel of western hunting, and Colorado holds some of the largest herds in North America. Mature bulls in this area typically dress out between 400-500 pounds, with exceptional animals pushing 600 pounds or more. During 1st rifle season, bulls are transitioning out of peak rut behavior but still aggressive enough to respond to calls and make mistakes. Their summer coat is thick and rich brown, perfect for taxidermy work. Bulls will often travel with small harems of cows, creating opportunities for multiple elk sightings in a single encounter. The best hunting happens during the first and last two hours of daylight when elk move between bedding areas and feeding zones. These animals have incredible eyesight and hearing, making them one of the most challenging big game species in North America. What makes elk hunting addictive is their unpredictability – one day they're vocal and responsive, the next they're ghosts in the timber. When you finally connect on a mature bull, you've earned every ounce of that success through skill, persistence, and a little mountain luck.
This 1st rifle elk hunt with Silver Spur Outfitters gives you everything needed for a world-class Colorado experience. You're getting expert guide services, exclusive access to prime elk habitat, and the best odds for success during one of the season's most productive periods. The solo hunter format means personalized attention and the flexibility to adapt tactics based on elk behavior and weather conditions. Don't wait on this opportunity – draw odds for quality elk units keep getting tougher each year, and outfitter tags book up fast. Whether you're after your first bull or chasing something for the record books, this hunt delivers the authentic Rocky Mountain experience every elk hunter dreams about. Contact Silver Spur Outfitters today to secure your spot for next season's 1st rifle hunt.
Colorado