Its getting closer to that time every day Dan. Some of the best advice I've ever heard while elk hunting.... "Don't pass up an elk on the first day that you would shoot the last day" this includes cows, calves, etc. You may not see another elk. "An afternoon not hunting hanging around camp cause your sore or sick is better than having to take 3 days off because you didn't rest when you should have"
If u are trying to call one in which is a better call, cow call or a bugle? I am not 100% confident at my bugles and don't want to run them off so I'm guessing that it will be a cow call for me. I was just wondering if they respond to bugling better. And I do realize they have heard a ton of guys bugle at them before.
There is no right answer to that really. Bugling is harder than cow calling. It really depends on the bull sometimes a bugle will bring them in mad and on a string. However if you call to aggressive he may think its a bigger bull and leave the area. If the rut isn't on it may just run them off. Cow call and the dominate cow may stop the bull from leaving and coming to you. Or it may bring the cows to you which will bring the bull also cause he will go where his cows go. I really like to use either call early morning more as a locator. Get one to bugle back then you have an idea where one is and try to work in on him. Maybe not even call any more after that. Its all a double edge sword. What works great on one may not on another. I have yet to hit it where they are rutting like crazy and super aggressive screaming their heads off. But this may be the year. They are predicting a wetter cooler year so maybe that will kick it up a notch. You don't want to over call
I guess that brings me to another question, how long is typically the elk rut and is that week in September typically the beginning, end, or the middle? Of course I understand weather plays a part in that too. I only have whitetail experience to compare it to.
Everything Colby is saying take note of, he's hit the nail on the head every time, especially the "dont pass up on the first day, that you'd take on the last". That msy be the only Elk you see, they get the nickname 'elusive Wapiti' for good reason and Elk are mostly there when you least expect it
Oh trying to guess the rut is always fun. My uneducated guess or SWAG is around Sept 15th you will start seeing some activity. Then sometime in the next three weeks it will hit pretty hard. Then a smaller second rut around October 10th.
I say I want to hold put for a bull, but if I a cow is standing within range she's getting shot in a heart beat.
I am holding out for 400". Yeah right. I will shoot anything legal except for a calf and I might change my mind to a maybe on a calf.
Don't rule calves out. Elk meat is great. Calf elk meat is amazing. Packing a calf out would be much easier than any other elk. I won't lie I'll smoke a calf.
You guys might have a long drive here if ya fight like a married couple Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk
Just about the license, and also got my whitetail tag as well. I'm excited y'all time to see some mountains again. And be on the ground around and animal I've never hunted b4 I know this will stir up a whole conversation boy my arrows weigh 380 and I don't have all the time in the world to change my setup am I good or bump
