Bugle Report 2014

[Archelk]

Off to Colorado finally for the last week of archery. Been another long year of waiting, planning and anticipation. Good luck to all and I hope to be sharing pics on the meatpole thread come next Saturday.

 

[PMcGee]

Hopefully it gets better here in CO 421. Only heard a handful of bugles all week. We're seeing some elk only 2 legal bulls though.

 

[sodaksooner]

Just a few in 45 last week. Not much activity reported at all in the areas we were hunting. Matter of fact, saw more bulll moose than bulll elk.

 

[darcytribe]

Had permission to go on some private prop yesterday afternoon and had 4 different bulls responding. Got within 70 yards of a decent 6x6 but 60 yards is my limit. He was with 5 cows and we couldn't pull him over closer even though he was responding well. Was fun to work him though.

 

[SethH]

North west colorado was on fire for me and my buddies over the past ten days. Had 4 bulls over a half hour within 30 yards yesterday. buddy killed 300" 6x6

 

[switchback007]

this may sound stupid......but......do bulls still bugle during the first rifle season? or has it all ended by then? I am so pumped and ready to go. I am dreaming of what it is going to be like.... Yes, I am green but I have been trying to get this done for over 7yrs now and finally got drawn. I have so much to learn. I am a fast learner tho. and I am certain that I will have a good time. I have practiced my bugle over and over on different sounds. However; I am pretty certain that I will not even pull it out of my bag. I'd like to watch them in their environments to get an idea of what and how they respond.

 

[AHP27]

this may sound stupid......but......do bulls still bugle during the first rifle season? or has it all ended by then? I am so pumped and ready to go. I am dreaming of what it is going to be like.... Yes, I am green but I have been trying to get this done for over 7yrs now and finally got drawn. I have so much to learn. I am a fast learner tho. and I am certain that I will have a good time. I have practiced my bugle over and over on different sounds. However; I am pretty certain that I will not even pull it out of my bag. I'd like to watch them in their environments to get an idea of what and how they respond.

Definitely not a stupid question. I've heard the odd bugle in first, normally at night but I wouldn't be shocked if you heard one at first light. I'll only bring cow calls in rifle but maybe you can get a response off a contact bugle or something. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

 

[miller1]

Unit 43is very quiet, good sign but only heard 2 bugles, hopefully it cools down.

 

[T43]

They were going off in the evening in Idaho.

 

[Cranny]

Unit 11 idaho they are at it. See my vid on my other post.

www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?21944-Idaho-scouting-trip

 

[TMK]

I hunted NW Co from September 13th thru the 21st and the Elk were not very active. It was very dry & warm. They did not respond to any kind of calls at all.

 

[a3dhunter]

Elk were responsive to calls, and bugling back to calls but were not bugling on their own in central Colorado 9/20 and 9/21. Found bulls had 6-10 cows in most situations where I was.

 

[coop2424]

Was out in unit 4 idaho over the weekend and have never heard so much bugling. One night there was confirmed 6 different bulls but most likly more and the morning of another there was at least 4.. Got some some bugles after first light but for the most part they shut down during the day.. Elk hunting archery for me is all new but the buddy I had with me said it reminded him when he would camp in Yellowstone during the rut.. Now I just need to learn how to hunt the dang things better. Haha

 

[5MilesBack]

The elk have been keeping me awake all night with all their screaming in Central CO. Had one just about blow the doors open on the tent the other night. They've been bugling for awhile now but since about last Thursday they've definitely crossed over into the "zone".

 

[airlocksniffer]

I was up in the Elkhorns on Saturday morning and the bulls were raging. I had probably 3 in a quarter mile radius bugling from about 8-9 in the morning. Never got a look at them as a lot of that country is new growth fir and pine so it's super thick. Went to the same are yesterday evening and didn't hear a single peep, cow or bull.

 

[groe]

It was not good until the 20th of September in the areas we were hunting in CO. mostly because we hadn't found enough animals in one place. Things picked up for us quick. Good luck to those still at it!

GR
Heads Up Decoy

 

[brewer427]

They've been screaming NW of Whitehall, MT. Was into bulls from last Friday to yesterday that were all bugling into late morning and starting back up fairly early and going way late into the night. Had a buddy send a message to my inreach saying he had a huge cow down, so hiked out and drove over to where he was at and helped him pack out. It was one of the biggest cows I ever seen, had a lot of meat on her. Catching up with work today then heading out late tonight and will be gone until Tuesday. Going crazy at work especially with the heavy rain we got in Helena yesterday, hope there still fired up when I get back in the hills.

 

[BigDog00]

I was in the Wyoming Range last weekend and heard only 2 bugles (at dark) out of the three days I was out there. I saw one lone cow and one young (club horned) bull. Not sure if they are going to start rutting late or are already done, but I figured they would be pretty fired up last weekend. My boss has an area 7 tag and had them talking at the beginning of the season.

 

[MAT]

this may sound stupid......but......do bulls still bugle during the first rifle season? .

The first bugle I ever heard was during the 1st rifle season 25 years ago. Me an a buddy were taking a piss and we heard this weird bird sound, so I was looking up in the trees and when my eyes came down a nice bull and some cows were walking right at us. Unfortunately we only had deer tags (at that time I thought elk only lived way up high on the mountain). As we sat there with our scopes on the bull who was now like 40 yards away I whispered to my buddy "Matt if we would have bought an elk tag like I wanted to we'd be arguing ballistics".

 

[Archelk]

Unit 63 CO (Hour and half NW of Gunnison)was very quiet where me and my buddy were at. We were very surprised. We put 35+ miles on our boots and never saw any fresh sign or encountered any elk. This has never been the case for us in that area and we know it very well. Talked to some locals trying to figure out what may have happened. They told us it may have been the 350-450 head of cattle they had up in our area. They said the week before we arrived they had been herding cattle up. That right there explained it and I was greatful for the information. We have never had that many head of cattle in the area we hunted in the past nor have they herded the cows up during this time. I posted awhile back when someone asked about if moo cows effect elk and I said no not in my experience but I stand corrected. Beautiful country and we got to spend a week in the great outdoors but disappointed on the elk end. Does anyone know who to ask in CO reference head count numbers of cows released into units to graze? Thanks and best of luck to those who are hunting now and for the rest of the hunting season.