Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Pete112288 on October 15, 2013, 04:37:40 PM
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I missed a couple opportunities to seal the deal in early season (muzzy). I just never have any luck even locating branch bulls after october. I know the pressure has a lot to do with it but I have never seen a branched bull from november til they drop their antlers. I mainly hunt the Coweeman 550 and I have a cow tag for there this year but I have yet to tag a branched bull. I was so close in early season and I want to give it my best shot before I take a cow. I have not had any show up on trail cams, in the groups of elk I do get on or anything. I am not afraid to get into the timber or brush or cover lots of rough terrain. Do I just keep trucking and cover as much ground away from the roads as possible? I will see up to a dozen different branched bulls in my hunt area up to November and then again in the spring, just never in the late season or through early winter at all.
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Well, first of all, if I had a 550 cow tag I would focus on that. Way better chance to tag than finding a bull.
There probably are places where your chance to kill a bull late does not plummet as much as that particular unit. With the rifle pressure in there, any bull that sticks his nose out of the reprod is likely smoked. Smart ones are in the reprod (and there's getting to be a overabundance of that). Basically hunt what might be safe zones. Miles of reprod is tough. Out of the way, huntable timber is good. Any places that can't be seen from any road. That's where you'll find most cows too btw.
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Ive been wondering the same thing about rimrock. It is just such different terrain than what i am used to. Im guessing just busting brush and hoping to kick one up is what its going to take.
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wow could I use some late bow season tactics myself,thinking about rimrock for late season,i was already informed about the snowshoes,and that they are down low(O NO !TO MUCH INFO !? )I guess scareing them up is our only chance .One article I saw talked about the lost calf call witch could bring in a cow or even a stingy bull wanting to know where his cow is going,he says to make the shortest cow call you can to simulate a lost calf.hopefully I didn't give out to much info and get myself censored or something,just trying to help a fellow hunter or even myself be suucussfull!! :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: :chuckle:
