This years elk rut

[PolarBear]

I have found around here, Clearwater and St. Helens that as soon as every yayhoo in the country starts blowing their damn Terminator bugle, the bull shut up and everyone thinks that the rut is over or late because they are not talking anymore.     Pressure and over calling can push bulls to do their stuff at night making some think that the rut is not on.  Like it or not the rut is the same time every year.

[Broken Arrow]

Some folks learn from trial and error...some learn from being passed down,.....some on there own......some from reading and research. What ever method works best for folks and gives them confidence is awesome. I hunt with folks from all of the above mentioned methods, all we ask is if folks have something to share in their arena they do so and we have an open mind. Still one of my pet peeves, is the RUT discussion i have met others in the woods, who state;  " The rut is late", " hot weather postponed the rut", " they rutted in July this year". Its based on science.....and like others have said......depends on how you view it. I have hunted in 90+degree weather on the west side for the past several years in the early season and have heard almost no vocal during hunting hours, but have seen trees torn apart, wallows being used, then go up to spike camp and cant sleep from the hours of 1-3 am as it sounds like a fricken zoo. In the end.....I, and those in my camp.....LOVE September...you cant beat it, even if you are not hearing animals during the day does NOT mean your going to have a tough hunt.....we have killed a ton of silent bulls.

[billdo5]

  This year they were quiet then all of a sudden i got one to freak out.. Dont get it lol

[Broken Arrow]

Its not rocket science. Even when elk are quite, if you get in their kitchen and you sound like a challenge then they are going to sound off....all good hunters know this. I think that most folks are referring to, is not hearing any of the locator bugles in the am or pm. I have been astounded by folks who during September, will randomly call in a drainage, here nothing call back and assume the elk are not there.

[billdo5]

Its not rocket science. Even when elk are quite, if you get in their kitchen and you sound like a challenge then they are going to sound off....all good hunters know this. I think that most folks are referring to, is not hearing any of the locator bugles in the am or pm. I have been astounded by folks who during September, will randomly call in a drainage, here nothing call back and assume the elk are not there.

Then why do some bulls come in quiet and others freak out explain that are u an elk??? This year i got in ones kitchen and he was bugling back and racking $hit then with a different bull he didnt make a sound but was racking $hit... I believe it has to do with 1. Weather 2. Competition 3. Location/area

[Broken Arrow]

Actually depends if he has cows and what you consider his "kitchen".  With bulls who are silent and do have cows....i am referring to anything under 75 yards. when I know I am in close and I let out a young bull bugle, I have seen big boys melt down. Silent bulls we have shot do not have cows, they are just curious, and thus you need to be silent, patient and movement free.

[billdo5]

My kitchen is 150 yards and in because at 75 yards thats a dead bull lol.. The bull i shot this year had 7 cows with him and was bugling and actually left them and came to within range but couldnt get a shot and then he retreated back to his cows and was silent then i snuck in for the kill...

[Broken Arrow]

sounds like you got it all figured out billdo. wish you the best this year!

[JPhelps]

Its not rocket science. Even when elk are quite, if you get in their kitchen and you sound like a challenge then they are going to sound off....all good hunters know this. I think that most folks are referring to, is not hearing any of the locator bugles in the am or pm. I have been astounded by folks who during September, will randomly call in a drainage, here nothing call back and assume the elk are not there.

Then why do some bulls come in quiet and others freak out explain that are u an elk??? This year i got in ones kitchen and he was bugling back and racking $hit then with a different bull he didnt make a sound but was racking $hit... I believe it has to do with 1. Weather 2. Competition 3. Location/area

All bulls are different.  One drainage can be on fire and the next one over may be dead (elk in both).

* Is a cow in estrus in one herd and not the other
* Competition from satellite bulls (the larger and more comparable the sattelite bull the more action there seems to be)
*Did the bull just move Into the area and is rounding up cows
*How many Satellite bulls are around that talk a lot
*The elk are elk and we may not know the reasons they do what they do.

One of the most vocal and aggressive bulls I've ever seen was a heavier 4x4 herd bull running the show.  When all other elk seemed to be settled down his was letting the world know where he was. I think it Is kind of the same thing as a young guy beating his chest because of his accomplishment (sound familiar  )

[Jonathan_S]

When all other elk seemed to be settled down his was letting the world know where he was. I think it Is kind of the same thing as a young guy beating his chest because of his accomplishment (sound familiar  )

    good one.

[billdo5]

How does that have anything to do with what im saying mr phelps? Just saying my opinion on what i believe... sorry im a world class call maker like urself

[JPhelps]

I'm pretty sure my post addressed why some bulls could be bugling "freaking out" and others are "quiet".

A bull challenge bugling on his way in is usually in fight mode, a quiet bull is nervous or just interested in what the other elk are doing.  The calling sequence put out can alter the mood of the bull as well.

Straight cow callers very rarely get a bull slobbering mad and fired up like a calling sequence with a challenge bugle in it.  With that said honestly I dont know why elk do what they do 100% of the time.  I just keep it simple and use the same tactics 90% of the time and let the cards fall as they will.

[billdo5]

Makes sense im not trying to stir the pot just trying to voice what i believeand have a good conversation without getting a thread locked 

[sirmissalot]

Straight cow callers very rarely get a bull slobbering mad and fired up like a calling sequence with a challenge bugle in it. 

Stop it Jason, all this talk about fired up slobering bulls is going to really cut into my productivity today  September can't come soon enough!

[D-Rock425]

How does that have anything to do with what im saying mr phelps? Just saying my opinion on what i believe... sorry im a world class call maker like urself