Early Season Issues

[king]

The bulls are bugling but aren't in that crazy rut stage yet (at least where I've been hunting) and I have been right in the middle of them for the last 3 days but I'm lacking that last element to bring them into view. Bulls barking and bugling at 75 yards several times, I've tried cow calling a little, cow calling a lot, bugling doesn't seem like a good option at this point. Any advice for elk in this stage? Or a hunter in this stage?

[wildmanoutdoors]

Are you sure its Bulls barking? And not Cows? Usaully once the barking begins your done as thats a warning to the others. Sounds like they have you pegged?

[king]

No it's the bulls for sure, just a short, quick bugle. I've heard them do it across the valley and at other times when they are definitely not aware of me. Almost every bull I've been on is by himself.

[halflife65]

Ok, not really "barking" but more of a semi-bugle.  Barking is usually a cow that's busted you and it's a bad thing when you hear them bark.

If you've got a buddy to do the calling, have him set up 100 yards behind you and call.

[BlackRidge]

Some show on the Vs. network was talking about how the rut would be happening later this year due to phases of the moon/etc... wonder if this is backing that up

[halflife65]

I heard bulls bugling 2 weeks ago (been looking for deer since and haven't been back to check up on them.  If I have time after work, I'll be up tomorrow evening, though) and there are a couple of other posts on here indicating rut is starting pretty heavily in some areas.  See Wonkywapiti's post.

[Bows4huntn]

I've been hunting and scouting the Colockum a few times over the last week and my observation so far is that it is not really happening yet,at least not where I have been. I have managed just one response from a bull so far and the bulls I saw yesterday at a distance totally ignored my attempts to get them to respond.    Not panicking yet as I have always had more success the second week anyway!

[bonkellekter]

Just got back from Montana over labor day weekend.. We saw one bachelor group of big 6x6 bulls still running together and raghorns and spikes still running with the cows... the bigger bulls were close by - raking there horns and what not. Heard lots of bulls and bugled some smaller ones but they just were not too crazy yet. Next week should be pretty good!