I've been archery elk hunting for about 27 years, compound bows. Do a lot of 3D shoots through the spring and summer.
My season has always been archery elk in September, then I would centerfire hunt whitetails through October & November ( I would hold out for a good buck through the rut just to extend my time hunting, and then take a doe at the end if I hadn't gotten a buck...ultimate goal it always to put one in the freezer for breakfast sausage, jerky, and tenderloin & backstrap steaks). About 7 or 8 years ago I decided I should start trying to take advantage of the late muzzleloader elk season that opens in December, this is on the same tag I use for archery if unsuccessful. My dad had a .54 TC Renegade that I inherited when he passed, and it had been in my gun cabinet for a couple years at the point in time I decided to learn to use it. Absolutely fell in love with black powder shooting. Now I hardly ever shoot my centerfire rifles, I just use my bow or the Renegade through the general whitetail season too.