Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Pigfuz on September 30, 2013, 03:22:24 PM

Title: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: Pigfuz on September 30, 2013, 03:22:24 PM: Hello everyone. I was just wondering if anyone has heard the elk talking or responding to calls. After talking to several bow hunters it seems that the elk were barely in the rut during archery season. Do you think they will be rutting next weekend during muzzleloader season?
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: kentrek on September 30, 2013, 04:26:54 PM: Yes...when your in the woods itl be prime time to kill elk :tup:
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: Alan K on September 30, 2013, 04:49:04 PM: Muzzleloader should hit it perfect this year.
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: Pigfuz on September 30, 2013, 04:56:26 PM: Thanks for the replies. That's kinda what I was thinking.
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: bobcat on September 30, 2013, 05:05:07 PM: My guess is that 99% of the cows have already been bred.
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: JPhelps on September 30, 2013, 05:36:51 PM: The rut is pretty much the same time every year. The muzzleloader will be getting the post rut like always. The one advantage is some extra bulls may have made it through. I was out this past weekend and the bulls were still going good (like always this time of year) but I expect it to fizzle out over this week.

This season was a perfect example of the rut "seeming" non-existent due to weather, but I can almost guarantee the elk were taking care of business.
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: Bhunter253 on September 30, 2013, 05:44:19 PM: A week and a half ago I went out scouting. I called in a herd bull to 18 yards and I'm not good at calling also had a 4x4 satellite come in. so I would guess that was the rut peaking cause I'm horrible at calling.
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: kentrek on September 30, 2013, 05:55:19 PM: are we ever gona have a year with good weather in regards to the elk being vocal ?? im still wondering what that would be like :chuckle: :chuckle:

im telling ya guys its gona perfect...
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: Ihuntelk2 on October 01, 2013, 02:37:22 AM: This year they were not that vocal at all. I agree the muzzle loader boys will have a good season. Last few years they were talking more.
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: RadSav on October 01, 2013, 02:46:26 AM: I've always found the second estrus cycle to be the very best. Most cows have already been bred, but that makes the bulls even more active and aggressive for the ones that are not. My best day ever calling was October 16th. I miss those days when the archery elk season was the first 16 days of October :'( Now that you can use archery during the muzzy season I've thought about switching my tags.
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: family hunter on October 01, 2013, 05:54:33 AM: i find that if u get into the hills they are way more talkative the lower land elk seam to be more call shy. i have been calling them in for the last 3.5 weeks with ease. i also think that most cows have been bread and we are coming into the post rut , good luck it still should be a great hunt .
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: Fullabull on October 01, 2013, 09:59:56 AM: Calling bulls in during the Muzzy season will be easier than the early archery season so don't be afraid to use those calls :)
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: go4itlab on October 01, 2013, 11:09:22 AM: My :twocents: is with the changes in early archery dates gave the elk a break pre-rut and during the peek rut. This allowed most of the cows to have come in and been successfully breed. They will be done buy the time muzzy guys hit the woods
Title: Re: SW Washington Elk Rut
Post by: TikkaT3-270Shortmag on October 01, 2013, 11:11:39 AM: I just watched a bull mount a cow two nights ago :) glad I decided to do muzzy this year.