2025 Bugle Report

[Serrano]

OTC Southern Colorado Sept 1. The day before the opener.

Some bugling. Other hunters heard nothing.

At dawn I saw a herd of over 50 elk, 6 bulls, 2 were 6x6, 2 smaller and 2 spikes in an open canyon bottom. One 6x6 chased some cows around and bugled some. I glassed three other herds with some bulls.

At dusk I saw another herd of about a dozen with a big 7x7 going nuts. Raking trees, tearing up the ground, chasing cows and bugling. It seems too early for the big boy to be in the herd. But the cows were clearly not ready for him. I also saw the big herd again, but they were in the trees this time.

Colorado opener Sept 2. I heard no bugling.

I didn't find the big 7x7 bull or the big herd. It doesn't seem they were spooked away. I'll search the areas I know the elk move to. I did glass two of the other herds with 2 bulls. They were small bulls but not spikes.

 

[surich725]

Hopefully it was taken as a joke.
Completely meant that way.
My post was meant to imply that you were covered up in those units and wanted all the action to yourself.

Yep there are people everywhere, its crazy

 

[String&stick]

Scouted in Wyoming weekend of August 23rd and 24th and had 2 rag horns bugling at first light for 20 minutes or so and then 1 6x6 bugle 3 times in the evening. . . Was surprised given how early and warm it was

 

[elkocd]

I've heard some bugling, but the bulls are all still bunched up where I am in central WY. I've looked over probabaly 200 bulls the last few days and they are all together and nowhere near the cows. They are even play fighting and wallowing. I know I will wake up one morning in the next few days and everything will be different.

 

[mTNhunter86]

I've heard some bugling, but the bulls are all still bunched up where I am in central WY. I've looked over probabaly 200 bulls the last few days and they are all together and nowhere near the cows. They are even play fighting and wallowing. I know I will wake up one morning in the next few days and everything will be different.

Do me a solid and push some of those bulls to the West. Thanks in advance!

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

Been blasting off here for weeks
Everything is early here this year
Seen rutting behavior at least 2 weeks ago and the deer started shedding velvet last week

 

[Scoot]

The last 2 days of August in Southern Colorado I heard dozens of bugles and saw bulls chasing cows.

 

[mTNhunter86]

Been blasting off here for weeks
Everything is early here this year
Seen rutting behavior at least 2 weeks ago and the deer started shedding velvet last week

Good to hear. I’m headed your way tomorrow.

 

[wyohayes]

Been up since Aug 29.

On morning of sep 1, cows/calves were still in summer groups, very large herds (for this area). Bulls were mixed in with summer herds with lots of cow/calf talk and bulls bugling, raking, grunting, panting, glunking. You'd have thought it was peak rut. Literally hundreds of cows calves spread across about 5 square miles with 7-8 different bulls talking and lots of rags not talking.

Sep 2, summer herds broken into smaller herds (not "rut sized" herds but smaller), some bugling morning and evening but not consistent.

Sep 3, nearly all large herds broken up. Seeing groups of <10 cows/calves and solo bulls. Handful of bugles in the morning

Sep 4, two bugles around 5:30am. Small groups of cows, <6, spotted around. Bulls coming in silently to calls.


TLDR: the "august summer herd breakup" happened late in my area and made some super cool opening day activity. Typical pre-rut now with limited bugling.