Rut over?

[teegansdad]

I have been out camping in pe ell tree farm. I set out 4 cams in prime areas. (Hell holes) I had elk on every camera and 4 different legal rag horns on Friday the day before it opened. I had Bulls answering me back every time I cow called for the first four days, but the were hearded up. The only sati lite bull I could pull hung up at 80 yards and was smoked by another hunter 2 hrs later. From Wednesday to today I have only located 2 cow elk and had them in at 40 yds and spent 30 minutes cow talking to the likes that I have never experienced before. It was like an agrument. "No you come here, no I said you come here and on and on. I spent countless evenings in the woods prior to start of seAson and it was on! Now it seems to hVe ended its quite for the most part.

[Eric M]

I was down at the St. Helens Monument and they were bugling Thursday night, all day and night Friday, and today was pretty good too. Friday was insane though.

[Bean Counter]

FWIW the rut is later this year down in Arizona.

[madmack76]

It is starting to get hot here, it is going to be a good year. so pumped my first year hunting muzzy and I think it is going to be a good one.

[Buck Rub Jr]

My buddy and I had bulls SCREAMING today. At least 5+ in this canyon non stop for probably almost an hour. Saw two of the bulls. Really nice six points. Then jumped a heard later with another big six, but he wasn't a talker. Fun day.

[jstone]

Yesterday the elk where just HOT.. They where screaming there heads off all day. While I was packing out my true spike the heard of about 50 that I took him out of where just down the drainage from me 3 different bulls going at it. Yesterday was so much fun. Just being in the middle of all that.

[trophyhunt]

Was in the backcountry yesterday and didn't hear a single bugle in many different canyons.  I don't believe it's over by any means but it sure is a weird year in the white river.

[predatorG]

I'm in SW and it's silent. Had one bugle opening morning. Nothing else.

[wooltie]

In stampede pass..haven't heard back besides cars up n down the roads.

[BOWHUNTER45]

This week should be prime time !

[Taco280AI]

I've hunted three spots in Colorado so far and I'm finding the elk are either down low on private property or WAY up high still because it is so hot. One of the three bulls I saw on private was bugling, the other two weren't.

This weekend I was around 9000 feet and talking to some guys who have been there every year for five years said it was unusually quiet. Normally you would hear bugling all night long. I didn't hear a single one during the night or morning.

Came across another guy who was camped six miles in who had to go another four miles to find the elk. Once he did he said they were bugling, but 10 miles back and at 11,000 feet. He had a cow broadside at 30 yards and didn't let it go for the same reason I didn't go back that far - getting it out.

So I guess the elk are talking, but not much and they are really far back and high up, unless on the private, but then they're still fairly quiet. Hoping to get an elk this coming weekend.

[gonehuntin68]

How bout now?

[jrebel]

Just got back from a two week hunt in Montana.....It was dead.  Very few bugles and most the elk were down on private.  From the sounds of it, the rut really kicked off early where we were.  Locals say the bulls were going crazy the first two weeks in Sept. and got hammered by hunters shutting them up and moving them to private.  We counted over 200 head on on ranch.   

[WapitiTalk1]

Yes, the elk vocalization activity seems to have highs and lows throughout the rut but remember, "the rut" will continue as long as there are cows in the area coming into their second and even third estrus cycle (this can and oftentimes goes into mid October).  It's all about the ladies!  The rut coming "early or late" is really a misnomer as it happens during the same general time frame each year (triggered by the amount of light let into their eyeballs/length of day, the bulls testosterone level rising, and the cows coming into their estrus cycle/cycles).  It seems there are always lulls in the vocalization activity each year.  There are numerous factors that can trigger tongue tied bulls for a few or many days at a time (a weather front moving in to the area, a wolf pack moving into the drainage, excessive hunter calling/pressure, etc., etc.).  With the herding up activity accomplished now, it's recommended to keep your calling under your hat until you get in tight to a herd bull.  At that point (under 70 yards ideally) it's very possible to tick the herd bull off enough that he'll come to clean your clock.  Using Elknut's "threat" levels/method has resulted in many herd bull noses hitting the dirt.  Remember also when in tight to a herd, some quiet cow calls can result in a love sick satellite walking in.  Go get em smoke pole hunters!     

[chester]

Had three screaming this morning, wouldn't say it's over yet.


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