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.

 

[Ross]

Day 3 offered better visibility above the fog line. Fog line was about 4k after big rain event. At the trailhead at 5 no one. 2k up at daybreak 6:50. Snow line was around 4500. Fresh beds at this line. Small herd was there two days prior. This was 10/15. Followed tracks and beds for a couple hours. Hit large bench around 10. Bugled and cow called. Got 3 bulls to answer across the drainage. Bugled a few more times, with several answers. Sat down to make coffee. Heard elk running to me, cow and calf run to within 5 yards. They stayed within sight, about 3 minutes later hear more elk running to me, gun up another cow and calf set to 5 yards. They are in post one. Three bulls continue to bugle off and on for two hours. I move around the basin, attempting to glass as they are about 3/4 of a mile away. I mark the one aggressive bugler on my map, as he bugles at 4pm. North Idaho at its finest in October. I hate sitting in the fog till 11