elk rutting already - or was it just hanky panyk at 2 am?

[DeerThug]

So i check my cam daily.  Two days ago got a vid of a bull breeding a cow.  no idea if it was just teen agers messing around in the back of the car at 2 am..   Or actually a 'cougar' with her toy (It was a big cow with a monster spike)... but the rut is just a short way away.  If she was receptive she is likely bred.   and if the bull hangs around he is likely dead before too long....

Anyone recorded something like that so early?

[bearpaw]

One of my guides heard a bull bugling two days ago in Idaho, we have heard them start firing up about now in past years too.

[kselkhunter]

I've heard elk bugling in the night mid-August before on some camping trips.  Sometimes pre-rut starts early.   

[DeerThug]

Other thing i thought of is these are local elk that I dont think migrate so she was not traveling 150 mile from Naches to the high cascades. So in good shape.  And relatively speaking came out of winter well fed and turned the corner up to a month ahead  of others up in the mountains.  And some of the other pics I have got have had some other maturity things

Have a really small spike with like 1 inch horns and is like the size of a small buck.  Other yearling bulls that are huge and a calf that is maybe a couple of weeks old.

[Elknut1]

You sure the vid shows actual breeding or was the spike doing his best rendition of doing so as he attempted to mount the cow feeling his oats. Very unlikely any breeding action is happening at this time especially by a spike?

  ElkNut/Paul

[boneaddict]

Similar to other bovine type action.  They'll climb on all year, but wont actually breed.  Bulls bugle all year as well, but I bet the cooler weather or big weather- air change probably did get them vocal. 

[yakimanoob]

Similar to other bovine type action.  They'll climb on all year, but wont actually breed.  Bulls bugle all year as well, but I bet the cooler weather or big weather- air change probably did get them vocal.

I was wondering about this too -- if the cold snap would cause pre-rut to kick in.  I know it has ME excited for fall, anyway

[lord grizzly]

ive heard bulls bugle in June. I don't think elk have a calendar they just kinda do what they do. this weeks cooling off a bit over here. I wouldn't be surprised to see some pre rut activity. lot of people discredit that time of year but I can tell you early can be pretty dang good. I defiantly don't skip the first weekend over here.

[bracer40]

Based on everything I've read, air temperature does not trigger rut behavior, but rather the length of daylight. If there have been studies done that conflict, I'd love to see them.

[WapitiTalk1]

Elk vocalize all year long but obviously, much more when the rut actually starts as their is more to talk about (particularly the bulls)....  I had a bull sing back to me at camp during my mid July scout trip to Idaho.. he was just saying hello.  Ya, I think homer the spike was just going through the motions on something he thinks he's supposed to do.  I seriously doubt if that cow was coming into her estrus cycle this early and if she was, she certainly wouldn't let junior breed her... it doesn't work that way.         

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

July 7th I heard the sweet sounds of a bull bugling at night above my camp.  Heard another one behind my house last week early in the morning.  They vocalize a lot, we just aren't in the woods year round to hear them during the off season.

[2MANY]

Elk vocalize all year long but obviously, much more when the rut actually starts as their is more to talk about (particularly the bulls)....  I had a bull sing back to me at camp during my mid July scout trip to Idaho.. he was just saying hello.  Ya, I think homer the spike was just going through the motions on something he thinks he's supposed to do.  I seriously doubt if that cow was coming into her estrus cycle this early and if she was, she certainly wouldn't let junior breed her... it doesn't work that way.         

Strange things happen when the Peddler is in camp.

[greenhead_killer]

I've heard them bugle in July multiple times. Also have heard deer grunting in early sept. Just a way of talking I'm thinking

[DeerThug]

Well it looked like a pretty happy ending to me.  At least for the bull anyway.   

I had cattle for years and the bull calves would get frisky but this was pretty graphic and to me obvious thus the question. 

And she stood for it too like a cow (bovine) does.

[Elkcollector82]

Was out the other day looking for a bear. Heard a few bugles in the distance. Sounded like a two legged camo wearing bull. If it was a four legged type. He gonna be lonely this September.