bugling Elk

[Missing]

Ok this was a new one for me, My son and I hunt late archery elk in the unit 335 and I have hunted that unit since it opened in the early 80's. This last Saturday we were into a group of about 35 to 40 elk and up on the hillside a small bull started bugling, my first thought was a small spike showing off because he just figured out he could bugle and then a very deep throaty bull up the ridge a little more started bugling. they continued for over 2 hours and we could still hear them as we walked out in the dark. I have heard them a few different years in early November do a bugle or 2, but never like this, they were bugling like every 4 or 5 minutes.

[washelkhntr]

Elk will bugle year round. some times more then others, but definately nothing like how they bugle in September.   

[Coastal_native]

I've seen and heard rut behaviour clear into december too, but only by the smaller raghorns that are still hanging around the heards.  As long as there is still a cow in heat the bulls will continue to rut, and it's likely there is a cow or two that has cycled back into heat.   Any calf concieved this time of year will most likely be the first to die next winter...

[halflife65]

I was walking out in the dark on Sunday and a bull started bugling a couple hundred yards from me.  I'm pretty sure it was one of two bulls that I had seen a couple hours earlier - either a 5 point or a little 3 point.

[krout81]

Look for Cow pies in the area..  Cows leave nice big cookie shapped poop when in heat.  If there are cows in heat you could call a bull in.  I have heard bull bugling late season before and I have called in 1.  Never came close enough for a shot he wasnt really sure that there was a cow for him to mount.  It was still a fun experience.