Elk hunting in October

[bschnoor]

I'm just curious if elk will still respond to calls around Octobe 15? I'll be hunting in Idaho. Thanks - Brian

 

[brn2hunt]

Brian, last year I cow called a 6x6 in during a November hunt. The year before the bulls were still talking on Nov 5th and we took a nice 6x6. Both bulls were in Idaho.
Russ

 

[elk_horn]

3 years ago I called in a 6x6 it was the first week of October. I think it was Oct 6th

 

[austin]

Definitely and probably not.
Depends on where you are hunting.
I hunt in a very lightly hunted area and the bulls are usually still bugling on Oct. 15th. If not bugling then they are still responding pretty well but coming in silently.

Oct 15th two years ago bugled and cow called in a nice 6 point opening morning before sunrise. Had two bulls bugling like crazy coming in.
Oct 15th last year cow called a bull in to me opening day before sunrise, and cow called a bull into my friend on day 2 before sunrise.
There were shot 200 yards apart. That was a heavy back packing day!

I made a mistake for many years by not bugling and cow calling on the Oct 15th opener. Now I hunt it just like I would in Sept during the rut. These tactics will not work in a heavily hunted area however.

If you are hunting in a heavily hunted area with lots of traffic the day or two before the hunt, then more than likely the bulls will not be responding and you will be calling in other hunters.

 

[BC_HUNTER]

Me and my father have one spot that every year the bulls seem to go crazy right until the end of our season, Oct20. But in other areas you cant get a peep outta them, i guess it really depends on the location and the timeing.