I frequently see posts on various forums asking where and which week to go hunting during Colorado archery season. For the most part you will get the same answers over and over.
Basically the first couple of weeks find the elk somewhat undisturbed, not very vocal, and will probably come into some non-agressive calling. As the month wears on the elk will become more and more vocal, and may come running in head long bugling their heads off.
But this is not always true. In fact I think pressure has a great deal to do with how vocal elk are in early season. Here is my rational. Elk that are used to seeing, hearing or smelling people during the summer are more likely to be vocal or come to calling early in the season. The same holds true for areas with very little activity during the summer (like a wilderness area).
I also think elk are 'remembering' or associating certain activities with impending threats. Here is an example. I scouted a real nice area, seeing lot's of elk up to and including the week before hunting season. During my scouting I ran into lot's of cattle up on the hill, which at the time didn't appear to bother the elk.
