GMU 652 rut

[jtrammell]

So I have had some trail cameras up since early September. I have about 6 bulls that regularly come into the area. One spike and the rest are branched bulls. They have been around since I put the cameras up. Now the weird thing is....the ONLY picture I have of a bull with a cow is the spike...and he was mounting her  Now with that said...what was up with the rut in the area. Last year, same spot and the bulls had the cows with them in a lot of the pictures. The bulls are all 4-6 points with the one spike.

Anyone in the area fell as though the rut was a little off this year?

[jtrammell]

anyone?

[Crunchy]

Bulls are likeky in bachelor herds by now.  Elk rut ended weeks ago at best.  The elk you were seeing in Sept likely moved into that area for cows and since moved back to their usual/winter grounds. 

[gutsnthegrass]

I live in 652.  My son came downstairs a couple nights ago and said dad, there are elk bugling in the yard.  I went outside and sure enough there were several cows with a small bull and he was bugling like it was late September.  I thought it was weird but just sat back and enjoyed the sounds.

[grade-creek-rd]

My bull I killed last year on Halloween was bugling...and this past Saturday I ran into a mature bull with some cows...and two young bulls together. I know as of 2 weeks ago the rut was going strong in the backcountry...This latest storm might have them starting to calm down a bit but the big bulls are still with cows, the younger satelite bulls are getting over the rut and hanging out together.

Grade

[notellumcreek]

Had 3 bulls going at it in my parents back field about a week ago, rut seemed to be in full swing at the time. Haven’t seen that herd since but they were with about 40 cows and bugling like crazy.

[jtrammell]

Bulls are likeky in bachelor herds by now.  Elk rut ended weeks ago at best.  The elk you were seeing in Sept likely moved into that area for cows and since moved back to their usual/winter grounds.

Thats what I originally thought but theyve been on camera since September alone....and are still on camera alone.