Question for Elk experts

[Jamesl]

Got a report that "the bulls are screaming and the cows are hot", where we will start our hunt next Tuesday. My question is, how long does this activity typically last? Should we expect the same activity next week?

Regardless, we are extremely pumped and ready to go whether the animals cooperate or not. Just curious.

Thanks

[elkbowhunter]

Im no expert but have some experience with those rascals. Will the Bulls be vocal at a given date and time?? thats the million dollar question. Possibly but not necessarily. Typically 15th and on is the prime. But not always.....seem them come full force early sept and then seen them totally insane first of Oct.....I bet you will do fine!! Regardless the rut is on!!!
HAVE FUN!!!

[Jamesl]

Im no expert but have some experience with those rascals. Will the Bulls be vocal at a given date and time?? thats the million dollar question. Possibly but not necessarily. Typically 15th and on is the prime. But not always.....seem them come full force early sept and then seen them totally insane first of Oct.....I bet you will do fine!! Regardless the rut is on!!!
HAVE FUN!!!

Oh we will have fun regardless, no doubt. Thanks for the input.

[elkbowhunter]

Oh we will have fun regardless, no doubt. Thanks for the input.

be careful out there!! hope you hit em going nuts!!! its a rush!!!

[Jamesl]

thanks.

[unclefish]

No expert here either.....but where we go they will typically scream for a day or two then will go quiet....possible worn out from all the crazy activity going on. Then they will fire up again in a day or two.

They will bugle in spurts then get tired and then resume. Sometimes we will get 3-4 days in a row of great activity and then they go quiet for several days. It just depends and every place is different. This year they were screaming early for us.

One thing is for certain.....there is nothing like bow hunting for screaming bulls!

[kerrbow]

Bowhunted those big rascals for a lot of years. A couple of nice cold fronts have come thru the Rockies even as we speak and cold weather really helps. If next week warms back up then they may not be as vocal. If that happens then they usually bugle early morning before sunrise and late evening. I used to get right below ridgetops in dark timber and cow call a lot. Hope for continued cool weather, low pressured animals and hunt hard, hard, hard. Good luck

[Pernell]

Where are you hunting?

[Jamesl]

Folsom NM.

[Scout]

Bowhunted those big rascals for a lot of years. A couple of nice cold fronts have come thru the Rockies even as we speak and cold weather really helps. If next week warms back up then they may not be as vocal. If that happens then they usually bugle early morning before sunrise and late evening. I used to get right below ridgetops in dark timber and cow call a lot. Hope for continued cool weather, low pressured animals and hunt hard, hard, hard. Good luck

^^^^This^^^^^

If you can find the herd before sun up you can use the wind and get in the mix and as soon as legal light bugle and that herd bull will think you snuck in and are taking cows. Think of not trying to pull him to you but to get him to protect what he has

Good Luck!

[elkbowhunter]

Just know cows usually come in heat twice during the rut. Ive had Bulls screaming going off first week of the season in the heat of the day before any cold front. Ive also had them go off the last 3 days of the season.....so its a roll of the dice...they do what they do. Once the Bull gathers his harem unless he is threatened up close he will just gather them and move to the next ridge. So get in there and be aggressive...get in his face!!

[elkbowhunter]

Also remember a cow is receptive for mating less than 24 hours. She won't be willing to mate again until her second estrus cycle arrives in 20 days. Cows can have up to four estrus cycles each season, but most cows become pregnant during the first or second cycle. There is a great book out there....ELK OF NORTH AMERICA Worth every bit of 25 bucks.....

[Jamesl]

Well it's a guided hunt, so I feel like we are in good hands. I'm going to learn as much as I can. Can't wait.

[elkbowhunter]

Oh good deal. Do you know how your guide handles the approach? does he split you up with him bugling down wind from you are is he right beside you when calling?

[tpcollins]

I'd use a cow call 10 -1 versus the bugle. In fact if you can get two different calls and alternate them, you can make a bull think there two cows.

On my one DIY hunt, I could get the bulls to answer but as I kept bugling they'd hang up or go away. When I switched to alternating two cow calls, I called in a Colorado 5x5 and nailed him with my ml. Good luck.



Whoops - I missed post #13.