Elk Season 46

[Ross]

After knee replacement 5/23 this year was looking strong, until my spacer failed in April.

Another surgery loomed and on 6/25/25 I went under the knife for the 14th time on my right knee. As I knew the routine, recovery started once again. A spacer replacement is much quicker and less painful, but I had only 2.5 months before September calling time for friends. Recovery went well and had a great September calling for friends. Got into 2 areas with 5 vocal bulls and saw a couple nice ones. Put on a lot of miles and the knee is doing great.

Photo after surgery and one of the bulls seen in September. The new iPhone 17 zoom is very sweet.
Breaking this up into parts will say the outcome is

 

[Ross]

I go against the grain of most elk hunters, as I use my bugle throughout October. I like to call North Idaho the jungle, as you often have a bull very close, but have zero shot and glassing is very limited in most of the country. Hearing is one of your best assets and thankfully my loud music has not affected it. My last two bulls were called in bugling to 45 and 12 yards.

Day one had a significant windstorm that pissed me off, as a bull was screaming mid morning but I could not pinpoint until around 10am. Once I did off I went to the top of the mountain. He was on a 2nd estrus cow and hot on her tail. I heard them just over a ridge and got ready. She ran through the timber at 110 yards, he screamed, stepped out broadside only showing his 6pt rack and very little of his high chest to make a shot. Though I had the uphill thermal, the wind was swirling and they caught my scent. He last screamed around noon.

Day 2 offered a fogged in jungle with nothing more than a long hike.

So far zero hunters seen or heard in the woods, but many seen riding side by sides and walking the road.

As a side note, a young hunter heard 5 bulls screaming opening morning and shot a nice 6 pt that fell 5 ft off a forest service trail two miles in.