opinions appreciated !!!

bullslayer702 · Jun 7, 2009

i was hopen to get a few opinions got archery tag in nevada have hunted bulls quite a bit durring the bugal and seen them tear up the wallows rollin, rakin ,stompen ,pissen is that more of a territorial thing they do in the rut or to cool of as well see nevadas archery tags before the rut really starts up and i was up lookin for water this weekend and found a couple wallows i was thinkin of sittin durring my hunt but didnt know if it is somthing that would be good before the rut got good and heavy. Thanks Mike

slamdunk · Jun 7, 2009

Bulls will still roll in the mud pre-rut, especially if it's really hot weather and the bugs are bad.
I'd say if you have a trailcam or two, put them up on your wallows now and keep an eye on them all summer

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Jun 8, 2009

+1 slammy.

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com

1highpeak · Jun 8, 2009

Thats some solid info... Before the rut kicks in full swing, hunting big bulls can be tough, remember to be patient and hunt all day, if that means packing breakfast,lunch and dinner, so be it..., remember, its hard to kill a bull from the trailor!
Dont forget a good book or some magazines, It can get alittle long waiting for 10-12 hours on a wallow for 15min of action, but when your hold'n those horns, it will be all worth it!
GOOD LUCK!

Califelkslayer · Jun 8, 2009

Bullslayer, IMO bulls use wallows more pre-rut. I've observed that as the nights get cool/cold the rut really picks up, they don't wallow as much because it's cooler. Early Sept I usually see more mud-caked bulls than later.

That's just based on my own personal experence.

As soon as the weather cools=bugling starts all day, I get off of wallows.

Good luck and which Nv unit did you draw?

bullslayer702 · Jun 9, 2009

i drew 23 archery aug 24- sep 14

elknut1 · Jun 10, 2009

http://www.elknut.com
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Your hunt falls into "Peak Wallow Activity"! Bulls will hit wallows last 2 weeks of Aug. to Mid-Sept the hardest! After that it winds down considerably, they will still hit them into Oct. for which they're intended for. I agree on trail camera use! Elk can use certain wallows as a water-source for drinking as well, but not the good bull wallows. But if you hunt an area where elk migrate out of there's a good chance there will be no activity around the ones in the deep timber that are primarily used by the bulls themselves about the size of a big bathtub or two generally on a benched area.
You may have to wait until late July early Aug to see any use at all.
If you are noticing your photos from trail-cam are a mixture of cows & bull/bulls you can take that into consideration once there for using selective sounds to attract them if you see fit.
If you're in deep timber & notice all photos are of a resident bull or bulls & no cows, which is likely then if sounds are used to attract or "react" consider no cow sounds there.

Too, when your intentions are to sit a wallow in a stand or blind do not physically hunt that area & mess with their routine, leave it as untouched or harassed as possible. Elk can show at anytime there, but generally speaking the last 2 1/2hrs of daylight or evenings are best! Good Luck, it should be a great tag!

ElkNut1