Got My butt kicked in ID this week

[shooterrdy]

Elk sign everywhere between 7800' 8500' fresh wallows thrashing etc. West side if Leadore not a single buggel to be heard in 6 days. Always a step behind hope it gets better for everyone this week.

 

[brn2hnt]

Has been dead quiet since the opener all over.

Have heard from hunters in 4 different zones now and all reports are consistent.


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[HuntInWild88]

Saw 6 bulls yesterday with no cows... just hanging out..zero sign of the rut.

 

[Buffinnut]

Sorry to hear things didn't go your way! I was worried because I can't get to Idaho until the 24th but sounds like things are running late. Might be good for me

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

We finally had our first bugle of the season today here in Idaho. We’ve been working on this little 5x5, he must have just finally gone thru puberty. I don’t think he’s ever bugled before. Sounded like a cross between a bugle and the sound a dog makes when you step on there tail. Had him to about 25 yards but just wouldn’t come into view for a shot!

 

[Rob5589]

Bummer. I heard a total of 7 bugles in 3 days, 4 from the same bull.

 

[4rcgoat]

Extremely slow up here in Wyoming also,could hear a pin drop this weekend.

 

[cmeyer733]

I was in the complete opposite all last week from Monday (7th) through Friday. Bugles from multiple bulls every day, even all day a couple days. Elevation 7,800 - 9,000. They were fired up.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Got a buddy headed out to ID 9/22 to 10/1. Excited for him

 

[MThuntr]

Hit and miss in my draw unit in MT. First bugle heard 2 weeks ago while scouting but silent throughout the week until Wednesday when one put out the tiniest squeak bugle. Thursday I caught up with them...3 bulls (2 raghorns and 1 good bull) with about 25 cows. Bigger of 2 bulls bugled like morons for few minutes and did some sparring then proceeded to eat with each other and bugle in each other's face. It was hilarious but not helpful for me. I sat with them all day and at dark they bugled back and forth until I had to leave. Called in 2 yearling bulls on Friday in a different location. They bugled like 3 times and came in silent (I could hear them coming through timber). If I wasn't 2 miles from trailhead and didn't have a special permit I could have stuck the bigger one with about a 15 foot shot. Silent since. I'm head back on Saturday.

 

[fwafwow]

FWIW - our first day in SW Idaho was last Sat and we saw a full herd of 60+ including a big 6 point and a few smaller bulls. Very vocal - bulls and cows. Got into some bugles that evening on the hillsides and thought “this will be an awesome week!” Glassed a small group on the same hill the next morning. Then all went silent for 4 days. No bugles and nothing seen by glassing and calling from multiple high spots. Finally got a couple of single bulls to answer in each of the last 3 mornings, all near the lower elevation hay fields. Called one young 5pt into 85 yards, then had 6 pt called into 31 yards but he only showed his head and then disappeared like mist.

 

[Danny Hoey]

Our spot is on fire and closed down....could be worse. Good luck to those who still get to go out.

 

[canthitbombz]

Extremely slow up here in Wyoming also,could hear a pin drop this weekend.

Same here, we heard 3 location bugles this weekend and that was it.

 

[North Idaho Stickbow]

Our spot is on fire and closed down....could be worse. Good luck to those who still get to go out.

Oh man. I’m sorry. It’s a crazy smokey mess here from all the fire west of us. I’m going back up tomorrow. Who knows how that will affect the elk. I know they weren’t bugling one bit this past week.

 

[dukerugger25]

I’ve been out in Eastern ID for the past 5 days and heard 0 bugles. I did find two good bulls, but swirling winds made both stalks fruitless. Passed up a 17yd shot on a black bear in the middle of the second stalk - next time I will just hammer away.

 

[CookeMonster]

All I can go by in the Panhandle is twig snaps. They’re keeping their mouths shut. Usually have elk songs to go to bed to and get up to every day around this time.

 

[North Idaho Stickbow]

All I can go by in the Panhandle is twig snaps. They’re keeping their mouths shut. Usually have elk songs to go to bed to and get up to every day around this time.

Glad it’s not just me up here. I was chasing a bugle this morning, but I’m 90% sure it was a dude because the bugles slowly moved in the same direction as the road below me and disappeared.

 

[jjdub]

very slow in utah as well. hopefully the magic date of 9/21 fall equinox will change it.

 

[reaperukon]

I’m still getting my butt kicked. Going to try and channel some ElkNut wisdom tomorrow and Sunday. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy, but I’ll give it a try anyhow. Saw this bruiser come out 30 min before sunset the other day. Actually bugled half heartedly before he came out and sounded like a weenie bull. Responded to a cow call and sort of to a challenge bugle. He was way content to just feed in the meadow.

I knew he was on private so just wanted a little interaction. Gave me a glimmer of hope for the next few days.


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[Dust Rider]

Im guessing that landowner likes his high fence to keep the elk safe from those pesky hunters