SW Washington Elk Rut

[Pigfuz]

Hello everyone.  I was just wondering if anyone has heard the elk talking or responding to calls.  After talking to several bow hunters it seems that the elk were barely in the rut during archery season.  Do you think they will be rutting next weekend during muzzleloader season?

[kentrek]

Yes...when your in the woods itl be prime time to kill elk 

[Alan K]

Muzzleloader should hit it perfect this year.

[Pigfuz]

Thanks for the replies.  That's kinda what I was thinking.

[bobcat]

My guess is that 99% of the cows have already been bred.

[JPhelps]

The rut is pretty much the same time every year.  The muzzleloader will be getting the post rut like always.  The one advantage is some extra bulls may have made it through.  I was out this past weekend and the bulls were still going good (like always this time of year) but I expect it to fizzle out over this week.

This season was a perfect example of the rut "seeming" non-existent due to weather, but I can almost guarantee the elk were taking care of business.

[Bhunter253]

A week and a half ago I went out scouting. I called in a herd bull to 18 yards and I'm not good at calling also had a 4x4 satellite come in. so I would guess that was the rut peaking cause I'm horrible at calling.

[kentrek]

are we ever gona have a year with good weather in regards to the elk being vocal ?? im still wondering what that would be like   

im telling ya guys its gona perfect...

[Ihuntelk2]

This year they were not that vocal at all. I agree the muzzle loader boys will have a good season. Last few years they were talking more. 

[RadSav]

I've always found the second estrus cycle to be the very best.  Most cows have already been bred, but that makes the bulls even more active and aggressive for the ones that are not.  My best day ever calling was October 16th.  I miss those days when the archery elk season was the first 16 days of October   Now that you can use archery during the muzzy season I've thought about switching my tags. 

[family hunter]

i find that if u get into the hills they are way more talkative the lower land elk seam to be more call shy. i have been calling them in for the last 3.5 weeks with ease. i also think that most cows have been bread and we are coming into the post rut , good luck it still should be a great hunt .

[Fullabull]

Calling bulls in during the Muzzy season will be easier than the early archery season so don't be afraid to use those calls

[go4itlab]

My  is with the changes in early archery dates gave the elk a break pre-rut and during the peek rut. This allowed  most of the cows to have come in and been successfully breed. They will be done buy the time muzzy guys hit the woods

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

I just watched a bull mount a cow two nights ago glad I decided to do muzzy this year.