MT elk update?

[Schmidty]

West of kalispell was been quit. I only had two bulls talk to me all last week. they didn't say much and got out of range fast my wind was perfect. Maybe because of wolves and hunting pressure idk


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[Schmidty]

Quiet


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[airlocksniffer]

Had some decent bugling around Helena last weekend and yesterday evening (5 or so between 6 and 7 pm). A lot of bugles though are fairly short and the bulls aren't really responding to my own bugles or cow calls (which is as likely to be caused by my own calling skills or lack thereof).

 

[hunt_the_ridge]

Out this evening and not a peep.

 

[Schmidty]

Any action anyone ? Word was there coming in. I wouldn't know. this going to work stuff is screwing up my hunting


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[Ridge Ghost]

Lots of good rut action last weekend.

 

[jmez]

South Central. Hunted last week. It was an odd season for us. 5th year in the unit and we know it pretty well. A lot of small bunches of elk. 3-4 cows and a bull. Saw several bunches of 3-4 cows with no bull several days in a row.

Elk were bugling very little and what you did hear was after dark and right at first light. they were heading into the timber early, 7:30-8am, bedded by 9am every morning. 8 days I never had a bull respond to a bugle.

Much different hunt than we have had in the past.

 

[PJG]

South Central. Hunted last week. It was an odd season for us. 5th year in the unit and we know it pretty well. A lot of small bunches of elk. 3-4 cows and a bull. Saw several bunches of 3-4 cows with no bull several days in a row.

Elk were bugling very little and what you did hear was after dark and right at first light. they were heading into the timber early, 7:30-8am, bedded by 9am every morning. 8 days I never had a bull respond to a bugle.

Much different hunt than we have had in the past.

Same for us on the western part. The one bull we shot was walking to us. Just a matter of right spot right time.

Had really good activity opening day, missed a bull opening evening. Hunted that whole next week and only had one other bull bugle.

Had two bulls together in an opening in the evening with two callers back 300-400 yards in the timber. Neither bull showed any interest in cow calls or bugles. This was the second week.

Seen a lot of single cows this year, and noticed a lot of extremely light colored cows..just kind of weird.

 

[Jared Bloomgren]

The area I hunted this year was very tough as compared to previous years. It may have something to do with the mountain lions?

On three separate calling occasions mountain lions came into the elk calls...I think the elk figured out that talking led to cats finding them.

This is the first time seeing lions in the area after 5 years of hunting there.

 

[missjordan]

SW Montana elk were lit up like a Christmas tree last weekend! Which was really nice to see after how quiet it's been farther north. Didn't connect on anything but had some close calls.


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[BH107]

It was off and on for us. One day they would be talking, the next not a sound. Did see one nice bull with a dozen cows 2 weekends in. Then the 4th weekend we did well. We got in early, and imidiatly had some bugles. The wind wasn't right and that group moved off, but we split up and my cousin got on another smaller 6x6 bull and connected at 40 yards. After the bull went down in less than another 40 yards, 6 cows stepped out of the timberline before wandering off.

We went back last weekend and it was pretty quiet again. We did put a stalk on a small but legal bull, but coundn't get a shot. Then we watched a pack of coyotes chase 4 more cows out of a draw.

 

[Flatgo]

It's been a tough year were I hunt very hit or miss mostly miss. Seem like it shut down Sunday of 4th weekend haven't heard a bugle since. Called one raghorn in last Saturday but came in silent. Time to break out the smoke pole

 

[jmez]

I'll add that the number of hunters in the unit we hunt has went up exponentially the last two years. I think that has had the most impact on the elk in this unit/area.

First three years we had one group of locals, two guys from Massachusetts, and us. We have gotten to know all of them and they are there every year. We actually keep in touch through the year and coordinate our hunting dates do we don't all overlap at the same time.

Last year we passed three new camps on our way in. We set up our spike camp and the next afternoon 6 guys came in and set up a spike camp about 400 yards from where we were. There were also a couple of new camps set up in the next drainage over that we walk into to hunt.

This year the first day I was in by myself and ran into three groups of hunters on my way in. My buddies showed up the next day and between the two of them ran into 10 different hunters that day.

 

[slick]

I'll add that the number of hunters in the unit we hunt has went up exponentially the last two years. I think that has had the most impact on the elk in this unit/area.

First three years we had one group of locals, two guys from Massachusetts, and us. We have gotten to know all of them and they are there every year. We actually keep in touch through the year and coordinate our hunting dates do we don't all overlap at the same time.

Last year we passed three new camps on our way in. We set up our spike camp and the next afternoon 6 guys came in and set up a spike camp about 400 yards from where we were. There were also a couple of new camps set up in the next drainage over that we walk into to hunt.

This year the first day I was in by myself and ran into three groups of hunters on my way in. My buddies showed up the next day and between the two of them ran into 10 different hunters that day.

Yeah that'll ruin a guys spot quick.

 

[damxam]

Extremely sporadic this year. Last week seemed to be height of it though. One herd I chase is dead silent past few days. A different herd was going off like crazy last night and dead quiet tonight. Tough stuff. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

 

[hunt_the_ridge]

Out yesterday and the bulls were finally starting to go off by themselves...had 4 going around me and finally got it done west of town. Also heard cows going crazy with estrous mews and such. Sorry about the previous pics got it fixed now I think.

 

[goodgrouper]

Wow man, can't see your pic but way to persevere, glad you stuck it out and made it happen!

 

[Schmidty]

Good work it was tuff out there... I'm in Kila


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[Schmidty]

I was out yesterday too and didn't hear a peep. Allot of hunters i think pushed them out


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[hunt_the_ridge]

Yeah weekends can be super tough i have found out west...was out a few weekends ago and hunting a stretch and there was a car at every gated road along that stretch was really surprised when i had 4 going off around me on friday...but made it nice was able to really pin point the one I ended up getting and got the stalk on him.