Wetside rut

[N7XW]

Is it just me or does it seem like the rut isn't in full swing yet?  I've spent some time in the woods lately, seen some elk and yet heard no bugles.  A few cows and calves being vocal but not much else.  I'm a newbie when it comes to elk, so I may be way off on this.

[7mmfan]

It's a little early yet. Another week.

[Little Fish]

Same for me. Very quiet in the woods. Hunted last weekend....heard nothing despite being in some good areas. I will be headed back out this Friday and going to hunt through the end of archery season.

[HighCountryHunter88]

just because its quite doesnt mean things are not happening...

[Jonathan_S]

Bulls bugle from August through October.  Weather, predators, hunting pressure and individual bull personality dictate frequency, volume, time of day etc. of vocalizations.

"The Rut" refers nebulously to cows coming into heat and they aren't synchronized.  I've seen screaming bulls mounting cows well into the "post-rut"

Especially as a newbie just spend time in the woods and don't over credit any forum advice for when you should expect "Rut Activity".

[ASienkiewich]

I always think peak time would be right when archery closes and before muzzy season. But like others said it can be at anytime now, stay at it!


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[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

They are vocal in my area.  They answer my.locater bugles but not real aggressive yet because there isn't any estrus cows in the group yet.  As the next 10 days or so things should pick up.  Called one bull in so far and have had a few others going but no shot opportunities.

[WSU]

It varies day to day and bull to bull.  One day elk may be silent and the next vocal.  On the same day, bulls may silent in one area and the next ridge over vocal.  There's always a bull somewhere that's callable.

[N7XW]

Good info guys, thanks.

[justyhntr]

We've been hunting the White River and it's been very quite on the tree farm. Saturday evening we had a good bull going but ran out of day light before we could get it done. Last night we got into a bunch of fresh rubs but the wife shot a bear before we really got going . Heading back in this evening.

[deerhunter_98520]

I've had 5 bulls fire off since Saturday and none were to aggressive....one 5x5 herd bull chased off a rag horn and was horning cows but his bugles were not aggressive enough and didn't care enough about my calls to come in closer than 120yds

[N7XW]

I've had 5 bulls fire off since Saturday and none were to aggressive....one 5x5 herd bull chased off a rag horn and was horning cows but his bugles were not aggressive enough and didn't care enough about my calls to come in closer than 120yds

Good info, thanks.  I suspect you and I are hunting the same areas.

[tritt007]

Heard three call back opening weekend . We chased one down a drainage and saw him and his cows but he was not aggressive at all . The other one was just kind of locating not aggressive . And the third one was a little 3x4 I could not get to come close . Hung up with his cows and wasn't interested in fighting . Mostly just chuckled not really bugling .

[trophyhunt]

Was out all weekend, heard no bugles or cow talk, the bull a guy took by us did't say a word.  I had a spike come in while I was cow calling and he never made a sound.  I'm thinking by this weekend we will be hearing sweet music.

[Elkpiss]

There bugling and hot right now.. find the right bull and game on..