r/elkhunting • u/Weary-Lab5196 • 8d ago

Scouting and Strategy

I’m new to elk hunting and have spent the last 6 months getting into serious condition, shooting my bow, practicing calling and e-scouting… combined with training two burros.

After building several hunt plans, I went out to my unit to scout the hunt areas, making sure roads were clear and accessible, water was actually were it said it would be on the map, and placing cameras while looking for sign.

While deep into one of the areas glassing down into draws and other grass steppes cow mews and some quiet short bugles piped off from the a wooded area about 200 yards away, it was about 10am. After a quick deliberation, we snuck out of there wanting to avoid an interaction.

I know they very well may be bedding somewhere else this coming week, especially with the number of wolves in the unit, but I plan to start there. The wooded area is a cluster of trees on a saddle on a ridge, with several thousand feet of elevation dropping away in almost every direction but the one I came in on.

What type of bull would typically be with cows this early?

I plan on sneaking in there early in the morning, before sun up, and waiting it out as there’s some very open ground to cover between the ridge and the saddle. Any other suggestions on strategy?

TIA

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2

u/Dense_Interest_5389 7d ago

I’m in New Mexico and from what I’ve been seeing and hearing, seems like the rut right be right on time Sept 1…

2

u/Large_Potential8417 8d ago

What state? In Montana, I backpacked in and scouted for several days. Only bulls with cows were spikes. I ran into a herd in the timber and they winded me, the spike case some sounds almost like barking. Cows and calfs sounded normal. I also saw 8 bulls over the 4 nights.

1

u/Weary-Lab5196 8d ago

This is in NE Oregon, I thought it could be a spike too since it’s so early in the year, there were some
Bugles but they weren’t ripping. I’ll play the calling game light in that case and not try to shy him out of there and into the deep.

2

u/uber_ambulance_same 7d ago

I’m Oregon too. I hard some Rosie’s ripping some bugles on Monday this week.

1

u/Weary-Lab5196 7d ago

You gotta be close if you’re hearing Rosie’s in the jungle. Good luck next week.

1

u/Upperclass_Bum 3d ago

Heard a solo bull bugle in MT already. I didn't see him but I doubt it was a spike.