Unusually Late?

Robin_Hood · Apr 6, 2011

I watch anywhere from 10-50 elk each evening/morning from my family room. I have my spotter setup on the hillside so I can watch the elk almost year round. I just found a group of about 5 bulls that haven't shed yet. It this unusually late? I will try and post pictures. And no, it is not new growth, the antlers are polished.

-Kevin

tailchasers · Apr 6, 2011

We still have deer around here that haven't shed. From what I have been told, the longer they hang on to their head gear the healthier the animal. When looking at the animals I do notice they look realy good this year other than loosing their winter coat.

Stubaby · Apr 6, 2011

Here in MT, I see bulls all the time in Mid-April still packin. It's crazy to see how fast they grow back. Three months from now you will be able to get a good idea as to what they will be come hunting season.

"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

ArrowheadWy · Apr 6, 2011

But I doubt you see BIG bulls packing.

Zigga · Apr 7, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Apr-07-11 AT 06:57AM (MST)[p]As of yesterday I saw the bull on the right still packin and he is a big bull in my book. He is surviving on pine needles and minimal grass. It would be interesting to know for sure why they pack them later some years.

http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/video/1416/late-sheds

nickman · Apr 7, 2011

In Eastern Ca, we still have bulls with headgear.....busted up so they resemble an Ibex, but still there, none the less.

15 miles down the road, bulls have 14" of new growth. Go figure!

A LOT of deer with last years rack also.

"whackin' a surly bartender ain't much of a crime"

Robin_Hood · Apr 7, 2011

>But I doubt you see BIG
>bulls packing.

The bulls I have been watching are 4 point and bigger, a couple 6 points in the group. I know the spikes are usually the last to shed, I see plenty of spikes still packing, but this year just seems a little off from what I have observed in past years for larger bulls.

I haven't seen any new growth on bulls this year? Most of the elk I am watching are well over a mile away; I just watch them through my spotting scope. I also laugh at the guys I see already on the hills trying to find the sheds, give the animals a break!!!

The elk seem to follow the snow line, with these last couple of storms, they are back down low on the mountian again.

-Kevin

travishunter3006 · Apr 7, 2011

I may be wrong, but I thought elk dropped in about mid april to late april and began growing right after. they grow em quicker and keep em longer than deer.

It was a big bodied 2 point.

Zigga · Apr 8, 2011

In my part of the state I have seen big bulls start dropping the third week in March and saw a big bull still packing a couple days ago. It seems to depend on what side of the divide you are on and the feed. Who knows? I've also seen brush heads packing their old antlers on May 15th and have seen new growth just as big on the same day in different years.

coyote · Apr 11, 2011

I went turkey hunting this morning saw 11 bulls 10 were still packin. I live in the beautiful state of Colorado.

hank4elk · Apr 12, 2011

Most of the bulls here still have racks,but saw one in the north today that had one side still,NM.Depends on where you live and the winter I think.

Robin_Hood · Apr 13, 2011

I watched several elk again last night. I saw spikes, and a couple rag horns. I also watched 3 that looked to be 5 or 6 points that still have their headgear from last season.

I can't remember seeing this many bulls still packing their antlers this late into April.

-Kevin

cmiddleton · Apr 16, 2011

i've been watching 4 bulls last weekend they all had dropped
looked everywhere yesterday but didn't find any sheds.

Robin_Hood · Apr 20, 2011

Watched several elk last night, only saw 2 that were still packin.

-Kevin

Robin_Hood · Apr 21, 2011

April 21, watching 6 elk from my family room, one of them is a spike, another is still packin his headgear as well. He is a 5 point. I think the others have shed already?

Any bets on when the 5 point will finally shed?

-Kevin

Zigga · Apr 21, 2011

>April 21, watching 6 elk from
>my family room, one of
>them is a spike, another
>is still packin his headgear
>as well. He is
>a 5 point. I think
>the others have shed already?
>
>
>Any bets on when the 5
>point will finally shed?
>
>-Kevin

May 3rd.

muleymaniac · Apr 22, 2011

ya got to remember not all elk are born at the same time - calfing - like breeding can take up to 2-3 months depending on the estrus cycle of the cows -

so it stands to reason not all bulls will drop at the exact same time frame - usually starting in late march but can go thru may