Why don't some bull elk bugle??

[rtspring]

I'm stumped on this and in 29 years have never seen this. I hunt an area out of state that the bulls simply dont bugle!!! Last year over 4 months and I heard one bugle from a herd bull that had atleast  a 100 cows.  I watched him from 60 yards bugle. 

Yep I know wolves will shut them up but no wolves around.  A few lions but no wolves. 

I've been around alot of elk but never dealt with this silent game.  Trying to get a game plan for this year. 

And I also know for a fact the area holds alot of bulls, but just no bugling day or night..  Trying to locate a bull while archery hunting that isnt vocal is as tough as it gets....

Your thoughts? 

[vandeman17]

Is there a lot of hunting pressure? Maybe they get bugled at all fall long by hunters and no hunters and have gotten a little more savvy?

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

So many cows they don't have to bugle......

[TommyH]

Last year while trying to get some elk to talk, I watched 2 cougars come running down the mt.! They were moving in fast to my calls. There were elk around but couldn't get them to make a sound. Predators have a big part in how vocal they are.

[Limhangerslayer]

Turkeys and elk have a lot of coMmon characteristics in breeding season.   It might have to do with not Giving away his location of him and his cows to other bulls.   Really no reason for him to bugle, he had his ladies.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Turkeys and elk have a lot of coMmon characteristics in breeding season.   It might have to do with not Giving away his location of him and his cows to other bulls.   Really no reason for him to bugle, he had his ladies.

     Just about everything a turkey does an elk does. I to use them as comparison when explaining situations to people.

[pianoman9701]

Where we hunt near Trout Lake, they almost never bugle except after dark, usually not before 10 or 11 PM. A couple of guys I know park up high on logging roads long before first light and coast downhill on their bicycles, stopping about every few hundred yards to bugle and locate. In this area, they've been very successful. I'd be a little worried that they're trolling for cougars doing this but so far, they both keep making it back to camp!

[JPhelps]

RTSpring,

Something seems strange (like you already eluded too  )

With a herd bull and that many cows with satellites around like you  mentioned the competition should be high and the elk should be vocal on their own???

Is it always like that in this area?
Were the satellites mature or young?
Wide open terrain?
Were your hearing aids turned up?

Some of those answers may help answer but the elk should still be bugling?

[rtspring]

RTSpring,

Something seems strange (like you already eluded too  )

With a herd bull and that many cows with satellites around like you  mentioned the competition should be high and the elk should be vocal on their own???

Is it always like that in this area?
Were the satellites mature or young?
Wide open terrain?
Were your hearing aids turned up?

Some of those answers may help answer but the elk should still be bugling?

All of the satellites were atleast a mile or more, absolutely no hunting pressure other than me, broken timber with sagebrush,  other bulls were rags, not sure if its always like this but im telling ya it was SILENT.  I went out at night, used cow calls, bugle, locator bugles, early morning, late evening  . They just dont talk.  Im gonna guess and say 5-7 elk per sqaure mile..  Private property with bordered blm lands with no pressure..

[rtspring]

So many cows they don't have to bugle......

This is one point that I think figures in.  Very few cows seen other than the big fella that had a herd with him..  I have tons and tons of trail cam pics over a year with only 1 cow but lots of bulls..  Usually its the other way around.. 

[rtspring]

Is there a lot of hunting pressure? Maybe they get bugled at all fall long by hunters and no hunters and have gotten a little more savvy?

I hunted for 4-5 days 4 times over a month and only ran into one other hunter. And he was in his truck and not even elk hunting.  So pressure is almost none..  Other than me. 

[RadSav]

I expect those elk are gay!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I expect those elk are gay!

Yep that's it!!!!!

[rtspring]

I expect those elk are gay!

My thoughts exactly.... 

[JPhelps]

I expect those elk are gay!

Only explanation is that the satellite bulls are chasing each other aroud. That herd bull and the satellites should be going nuts especially if all the cows are in one herd.