Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Missing on December 02, 2010, 09:25:38 PM
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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.
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Elk will bugle year round. some times more then others, but definately nothing like how they bugle in September. :twocents:
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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...
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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.
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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.
