Finding Velvet. Am I too late?

[jgilber5]

Thinking back to last year, and ahead to next. Got to a pretty unique area last year with decent sign, and busted a few cows out of the area mid day. The first for me though was finding pretty huge strips of shed velvet! Anybody else ever encountered this? I've found sheds of course but never velvet. Rubs nearby were a mix of 2+ years old and semi-fresh. Cool to see, but makes me wonder if the bulls would be long gone out of that area come September. Do you all ever see bulls stick around in their shedding grounds into the fall? I haven't been able to watch this area through the seasons to see how far (or not) they transition.

 

[Andrew12gauge]

Seems like the bulls would be there if there are cows around


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[cnelk]

I’ve found velvet when archery elk hunting.

 

[ElkNut1]

As a Sept. archery hunter this is quite common. I've taken bulls early on (pre-rut) with bits of velvet still hanging off their antlers. -- So you bet your odds are good that bulls aren't far off. I hunt many areas where there are fresh rubs with bits of velvet drying up & bulls are regularly within earshot of my bugles.

I'd say the closer to opening day where hunting pressure hasn't had an effect on the elk that many hunters will soon find & hunt that your odds of getting elk in are very good. After pressure arrives & elk get pushed out & around then these rubbing areas can be vacant. -- Find these areas with little to no pressure & you will find elk nearby in much of the timber country they call home.

ElkNut

 

[Geewhiz]

In the areas I hunt bulls stick around from the summer through most of archery season until they move out to who knows where. So yes, they shed their velvet at the beginning of august and stick around through most of the rut

 

[jgilber5]

As a Sept. archery hunter this is quite common. I've taken bulls early on (pre-rut) with bits of velvet still hanging off their antlers. -- So you bet your odds are good that bulls aren't far off. I hunt many areas where there are fresh rubs with bits of velvet drying up & bulls are regularly within earshot of my bugles.

I'd say the closer to opening day where hunting pressure hasn't had an effect on the elk that many hunters will soon find & hunt that your odds of getting elk in are very good. After pressure arrives & elk get pushed out & around then these rubbing areas can be vacant. -- Find these areas with little to no pressure & you will find elk nearby in much of the timber country they call home.

ElkNut

Thanks Paul! Really appreciate the input, and all the work you put into educating us new guys, have the app, great stuff!

 

[drdrop]

I just found some velvet while hiking around this morning. My understanding is that cultures in distant lands pay good money for velvet. Does anyone know of any velvet buyers?

 

[well_known_rokslider]

I’ve found velvet when archery elk hunting.



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I didn't realize my wife had a shower drain in the mountains too!