Where do the bulls go..?

[WoolyRunner]

Where do the bulls go during rifle season? I’ve been on 3 different herds this season and there are only spikes in the bunch…. It seems rifle season is a real gamble to stumble on one..

[Humptulips]

Often the first time they get jumped, and this could happen before modern rifle, they end up being split from the herd and being a lone bull. Tremendously difficult to find and sneak up on a single elk. In the past I have had the luck to find a herd of bulls, so they do also herd together from the cows sometimes. Also, hard to find because typically you are only going to find two or three together. Hard to track and I don't think they move around as much as a herd. Pretty easy to be close to them and not even realize they are around.
The other thing is that bigger bull that was in that herd might be in someone else's freezer by now.

[lewy]

Post rut bulls can be tough but the one thing they do need to do is feed and replenish some of what they lost rutting, like bruce said they can tend to bach up and pocket out somewere

[pianoman9701]

Where do the bulls go during rifle season? I’ve been on 3 different herds this season and there are only spikes in the bunch…. It seems rifle season is a real gamble to stumble on one..

After the rut they all relax together in groups, play cards, take penicillin, heal their wounds, try and replace the fat they've lost during the rut. I've seen groups of mature bulls hanging out in refuges together. They're done with the cows and obnoxious youngsters.

[Bullkllr]

I believe the term my dad used was they "hole up"

[Humptulips]

Where do the bulls go during rifle season? I’ve been on 3 different herds this season and there are only spikes in the bunch…. It seems rifle season is a real gamble to stumble on one..

After the rut they all relax together in groups, play cards, take penicillin, heal their wounds, try and replace the fat they've lost during the rut. I've seen groups of mature bulls hanging out in refuges together. They're done with the cows and obnoxious youngsters.

That paints a picture. Maybe replace the dogs playing poker picture with bull elk playing cards.

[pianoman9701]

Where do the bulls go during rifle season? I’ve been on 3 different herds this season and there are only spikes in the bunch…. It seems rifle season is a real gamble to stumble on one..

After the rut they all relax together in groups, play cards, take penicillin, heal their wounds, try and replace the fat they've lost during the rut. I've seen groups of mature bulls hanging out in refuges together. They're done with the cows and obnoxious youngsters.

That paints a picture. Maybe replace the dogs playing poker picture with bull elk playing cards.

You might have the next great felt painting there. It's been a while since the last great one; maybe the 70s.

[boneaddict]

Hole up is about the best description. 

[Backstrap]

2 ridges away from the closest road.

[builtfordtough]

They are big for a reason.  They are in the deep and steepest places imaginable.   

[Dark2Dark]

In my opinion, if you’re seeing herds you’re probably only going to find small immature bulls still in the family group. Spikes and three or four points.

The big boys go far into crappy stuff where they won’t be seen or heard by other people or elk.

In my opinion, if you can find him, it’s much easier to kill him than a bull in a herd.

[WapitiTalk1]

They start moving into their bachelor quarters shortly after the rut.

[haus]

They don’t have to go far to be difficult to find if it’s the westside. Even in the eastern units they might be within a mile of the herds, just tucked into a brushy spot.

[metlhead]

Don't forget that plenty are hanging out in freezers already. I know of quite a few bulls killed around the Harbor this season. Often the small herd's bull has been picked off. You could be doin everything right, but 3 guys did it righter earlier.

[WoolyRunner]

Don't forget that plenty are hanging out in freezers already. I know of quite a few bulls killed around the Harbor this season. Often the small herd's bull has been picked off. You could be doin everything right, but 3 guys did it righter earlier.

Very true.. was out all day today.. didn’t even see fresh sign..