2022 Elk Hunting Season Recap
The 2022 season at Budge’s Wilderness Lodge has come to a close. We are thankful for another great year. Here’s a quick recap of the season’s events…
Archery Elk and Muzzleloader Seasons
As always, the archery and muzzleloader hunts were the highlight of the year! If you’ve never experienced a September hunt at Budge’s, put it high on your list. Bugling elk and spectacular weather made it an exceptional experience.
2022 Guided Muzzleloader Hunt
As usual, our guided hunters this September experienced very high success rates and shot opportunities. Guided muzzleloader hunters were 100%. Being in a limited license unit for archery elk and muzzleloader hunts means that we don’t experience the level of hunting pressure that plagues over-the-counter (OTC) units.
Ready to reserve your spot on a September hunt? Click here to get started.
Rifle Elk Seasons
Our first rifle season this year brought warm weather and plenty of hunting pressure, making it a challenging week to find elk. But our guides and hunters persevered, and we had a fun week despite the difficult conditions. When the weather is warm and there’s significant hunting pressure, elk tend to spend a great deal of time in thick timber where they can recover from the rut. And that’s exactly the behavior we saw this year.
By the second rifle season, we had a significant amount of snow on the ground and that turned the tables. Our guides and hunters saw herds of elk every day of the hunt and our hunters went 75% on shot opportunities. When it comes to elk hunting, it’s amazing what a change in weather can bring.
2022 Guided Rifle Hunt
Thanks for a Great Season!
We’d like to extend a big thanks to everyone who hunted with us during the 2022 season! No matter how good (or bad) the elk hunting is, nothing compares to the relationships we build along the way. It was a pleasure hunting with you and we can’t wait to see many of you back here again soon.
We also owe a big thanks to our crew! It wouldn’t be possible without a dedicated and hard working team. Our cooks, lodge staff, wranglers and guides made it a truly memorable season. By the second rifle season, snow was piling up! Our crew had to dig the way out (literally) keeping about 25 miles of Forest road open our hunters, as well as the general public in the area. They worked tirelessly to make it happen!
Booking for 2024 and Beyond
Our rifle seasons for 2023 are fully booked! We have openings in 2023 for archery and muzzleloader - if you have Colorado preference points for elk, contact us now for details. We’d love to help you plan a bow hunt or black powder hunt next season.
With next year’s rifle hunts full, we are now booking for 2024 and beyond. It’s not too early to begin planning. Whether you’d like to save preference points for a bow hunt, or you’re ready to reserve a rifle hunt, contact us to get started.
