Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: elkaddict652 on September 17, 2016, 07:58:51 PM

Title: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: elkaddict652 on September 17, 2016, 07:58:51 PM: So I'm back in elk camp for the second weekend in a row and I must say I've probably never seen this few elk here ever. The last four or five years have been really good where we hunt and usually the rut is in full force by this time. Last weekend I jumped a good size bull with about 10 cows but could only get within about 100 yards and no shot. I didn't really follow because they dove off in an opposite direction we were planning on hunting and I was sure we would hit more. Lots of used trails and a couple lone bulls is all I've seen since. Anyone got any ideas?
EDIT. I'm in 328. Damn typos.
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: ffbowhunter on September 17, 2016, 08:01:37 PM: Not good news I'm heading over Monday to help a buddy fill his tag...hope it gets better!
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: jason stevens on September 17, 2016, 08:27:27 PM: 328 was decent last weekend we found elk real low on private property thursday and saw nothing but cats elk vanished farther east is what i was told.could of filled my cat tag if i had a riffle with me. 120yds is too far for my bow lol
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: teanawayslayer on September 17, 2016, 08:31:41 PM: There are elk all over and rut is heating up.
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: klickman on September 18, 2016, 08:41:21 AM: it was really quiet where I was in 328 yesterday too. I was just up scouting but I am thinking I might help some friends with their cow tags a little further south this year.
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: teanawayslayer on September 18, 2016, 10:57:09 AM: Quote from: klickman on September 18, 2016, 08:41:21 AM
it was really quiet where I was in 328 yesterday too. I was just up scouting but I am thinking I might help some friends with their cow tags a little further south this year.
nice guy! ;)
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 18, 2016, 12:14:29 PM: Usually to this kind of experience, people are seeing and hunting fresh sign on the ridge lines. The elk are down deep generally speaking. They don't scream their heads off all day unless you're in a Primos video. Get down in dark canyons and get within a few hundred yards and the rut might begin for you ;)
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: coachcw on September 18, 2016, 06:33:49 PM: My guess is if he was with a bunch of cows the rut is on . not a ton of bugles but the ones we got on where hot .
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: elkaddict652 on September 18, 2016, 06:40:34 PM: :update: went back to the spot we assumed they were going to and saw lots of trails again. Let out a challenge bugle and got a response so we sat tight. Had two bulls come in, one was a toad of a bull and the other was the one we saw last weekend as well with the cows. Big bull stepped to little bull and had a scream fest for about 20 mins. Big bull started horning little Bulls cow away, little bull didn't like that started freaking out running all around screaming. Cows started running right at us and my uncle had a shot. They turned up hill and he let an arrow go, but it caught a limb on the way and deflected into the tree. Cow jumped and barked and blew them all out....
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: cbond3318 on September 18, 2016, 06:42:18 PM: Just got out of 328, Saturday had bulls bugling from 3am until about 9am. 6 different Bulls in the basin we were in. Only 2 were dragging cows. Today was nearly the same except more Bulls and they were going absolutely insane all morning. . Lots of pockets of 2-4 elk up high. No shot opurtunities but had some fun encounters with angry Bulls.

Ridged out around 10 am and heard bugles in nearly every drainage we crossed. Definitely ramped up from last weekend.
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: Muleyslyr on September 18, 2016, 07:56:25 PM: Quote from: cbond3318 on September 18, 2016, 06:42:18 PM
Just got out of 328, Saturday had bulls bugling from 3am until about 9am. 6 different Bulls in the basin we were in. Only 2 were dragging cows. Today was nearly the same except more Bulls and they were going absolutely insane all morning. . Lots of pockets of 2-4 elk up high. No shot opurtunities but had some fun encounters with angry Bulls.

Ridged out around 10 am and heard bugles in nearly every drainage we crossed. Definitely ramped up from last weekend.

Left out of there today myself. Has similar encounters this weekend. I think the weather we had last few days help get the Bulls going. They were screaming today and actually watched two herd bulls fighting this morning. Finally starting to see them herd up. To answer the OP question, I think rut is just getting going. Last four days should be good!
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: ffbowhunter on September 20, 2016, 05:39:18 PM: If anyone needs to fill there bull tag pm me. Bulls bugling all night and morning...
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 20, 2016, 05:55:12 PM: Quote from: ffbowhunter on September 20, 2016, 05:39:18 PM
If anyone needs to fill there bull tag pm me. Bulls bugling all night and morning...
Nice offer :tup: Wish I had atag
Title: Re: 329 rut over or not even began yet?
Post by: ffbowhunter on September 20, 2016, 07:12:50 PM: Quote from: bowhunterforever on September 20, 2016, 05:55:12 PM
Quote from: ffbowhunter on September 20, 2016, 05:39:18 PM
If anyone needs to fill there bull tag pm me. Bulls bugling all night and morning...
Nice offer :tup: Wish I had atag
He is bigger than mine...had him twenty yards out. We didn't bust him so he should still be in his hell hole!