Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Little Fish on September 22, 2017, 11:30:02 AM


Advertise Here
Title: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: Little Fish on September 22, 2017, 11:30:02 AM
Any thoughts on how talkative (bugling) elk at when its raining outside? My experience has been that elk stop bugling when it starts raining. The heavier the rain the less they talk.

I had elk talking last weekend before the rain set in, but once it started raining I only heard one bugle (maybe).
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: JLS on September 22, 2017, 11:44:09 AM
I have heard extensive bugling in the sun, wind, rain, and snow.
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 22, 2017, 11:46:12 AM
In down pours maybe so. On the east side it seems like I hear more bugles with rain or misty days.
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: boneaddict on September 22, 2017, 11:53:38 AM
I have heard extensive bugling in the sun, wind, rain, and snow.

They'll bugle whenever they want to.  Rain doesn't bother them. 
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on September 22, 2017, 11:58:22 AM
Were bugling in the rain yesterday.
Although they bugled in between cloudbursts also.
I swear one was at the end of a rainbow.
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: boneaddict on September 22, 2017, 12:18:45 PM
Did you happen to,catch the video of the one, I think in Banff that was at the end of a rainbow on the lakeshore. It was circulating yesterday? It was  8)
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: Little Fish on September 22, 2017, 04:51:09 PM
I hear lots of people say rain doesn't bother them, but my experience has been different. Light mist and rain showers don't seem to bother them, but steady rain shuts them up fast. I typically hunt SW Washington in September and I think the elk like to wait out the rain in the timber.

I'm not sure there is a right answer. I'm just curious of other people's experiences.
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: JimmyHoffa on September 22, 2017, 05:05:06 PM
The rain doesn't seem to bother the roosevelts.  I've had them bugle at me in downpours that were so hard that the scope was getting so much rain on it in such a short time that I couldn't even hope to get a shot.
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: funkster on September 22, 2017, 05:34:03 PM
In my experience, rain doesn't bother elk or their willingness to talk. My dad always used to think the rain effected the elks behavior negatively until I encouraged him let's go out and see. That particular day we got on more elk than we did that entire early bow season. I think he was the one that didn't want to get wet  :chuckle:. I've also seen the other side of that when the elk have seemed to vanish on heavily rainy days. I was out finishing up the last day of early bow yesterday in a torrential west side down poor that left us dripping wet and had a bull coming in hot screamin'.
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: Jpmiller on September 22, 2017, 06:06:38 PM
I don't know that they stop I thinks it's just harder for sound to travel in rain so you don't hear them as far off. Just my  :twocents:
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: Hot Lunch on September 23, 2017, 02:37:32 PM
yes. From my experience they bugle at their cows in any weather. Location bugles are few and far between during rain and storms.
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: scoutdog346 on September 24, 2017, 09:09:36 AM
Elk will in ALL situations.
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on September 24, 2017, 09:32:05 AM
8 days out in SW Wa this year, heard steady bugling each day except during the rain.  Now that I think of it I rarely hear them in rain.  A mist is different though.  Oh, and I suck at getting elk at presenting me a good shot angle.....  Still bitter about this early season!
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: Magnum_Willys on September 24, 2017, 10:26:47 AM
Elk will WIN in ALL situations.

 :)
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: Fish4Fun on September 25, 2017, 08:38:06 AM
Last year on my Quality Rifle hunt they were screaming on the first day with a cold wind, rain  and snow mix. That was on Sept 23rd
Title: Re: Do Elk Bugle When it Rains?
Post by: Fullabull on October 02, 2017, 11:55:32 AM
I hunted Idaho from the 15th through the 29th. The first week was nothing but snow and rain. They bugled all that week but I was mainly scouting for when my son showed up on the 22nd. The very next day after he arrived, the snow and rain stopped and there was not bugling for the rest of the week :(
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal