Help me understand these elk

[Swede]

With wildlife there are two terms I shy away from. 1. "Always" and the other 2. "Never"
It seems very early for the bachelor groups to break up. What I have observed, which is not everything be any means, is that the wallowing, rubbing and shortly after, the breakup of bachelor groups happens after about August 20 and is usually finished by September 1. Those dates are not meant to be exact, but close. The breakup of the bachelor groups is facilitated by sparing for dominance. The bulls seem to hang together as long as the critters still have their velvet.
Where I hunt, cattle on the public land will cause the elk to go to the ranch land in early August, for more quality forage and more solitude. I don't know Matt. Maybe you are right. I just have not seen that and can't explain it based on what little I know about elk physiology. Lets see when and if they come back. Good Hunting

 

[jfive613]

In the summer I always try to pattern cows, not bulls. Those bulls, as many others mentioned have broken up and are preparing for the rutt. Although seems a bit early for that, at least here in New Mexico.