A Little Early???

[Tuffbucker]

Yesterday I was laying topsoil in my backyard, and happened to look up and see a herd of elk out in some fields about 500 yards away. Well I grabbed by binos and camera and took off in the truck for a closer look. I got within a couple hundred yards and watched them for a while and was suprised by some of the behavior I was already seeing.

First off--The herd consisted of three bulls and about 25 cows and calves. I watched the smaller bulls sparring for about 10 minutes, while the larger bull herded the cows around. Any time the smaller bulls would get near the cows, the larger bull would chase them off. All three buls were bugling back and forth. It was fun to watch, but I kept thinking to myself.....isnt it a little early for this kind of behavior!?!??!

Has anyone else noticed some early "rut-like" behavior. I was wondering if the cooler weather we have been having could be triggering some of this???!!??

TUFF

 

[Silentstalker_work]

I saw the same type of activity this weekend with 2 different herds. This cold weather has really kicked the activity level up. I hope it holds through the hunt! It will be awesome! Have a good one.

Chad

 

[Ggap]

We rode horses in the Strawberry area on Saturday and heard at least 10 different bulls bugle. We were really surprised. We also saw two decent bulls with cows. It seems early but I'll take it. It was really fun.

 

[DallanC]

I saw behavior like this over a week ago. Small bulls sparing, big bull rounding up the cows. Seems quite early this year.


-DallanC

 

[supersider34]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-24-04 AT 05:07PM (MST)[p]You guys are getting me fired up. I am going to go up Monday anyways to see if I have any luck. Yes the weather here in Idaho has been cool so i would believe that could have something to do with it. I am pretty jacked over wanting to head up for a day of scouting then it will be every Thursday till Sunday hunts till the end of the month.
Good luck to all others on there Hunts.

 

[azhunter79]

fellas, i think we're all missing the point of tuffbuckers post, the underlying message that makes me hate him....this man lives in an area were he can be working in his backyard and look 500 yards away and see a heard of elk!!! not only is it impossible for me to see elk 500 yards from my backyard, its dam near impossible for me to SEE 500 yards from my backyard, and if i could id be afraid of what i saw!
just kidding TB, reading posts like that really makes me jealous of people fortunate enough to not live in the city, or at least far enough outside of the city to not be able to have those kind of encounters.
mike medley

 

[Tuffbucker]

Actually, I do still live in the city, I just live on the far westbench of Salt Lake CIty (West JOrdan) to be exact. THe neighborhood I live in is a new development, just Northeast of the main Kennecott Mine. Last winter I had a herd of elk wintering less than 100 yards from my back yard. Cant complain to much.

TUFF

 

[cohntr6]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-24-04 AT 11:17PM (MST)[p]you dont know don and linda funk of west jordan? They have been there for a good 25 years, they do live in a "older" neighborhood though. THey are my aunt and uncle. Anyway, yes you all have made me fired up for the opener of archery elk (and deer) in CO for saturday! it does sound early for rutting behavior to be going on. Anybody in CO hear or see similiar stuff lately?
Jeff

 

[KO]

I was out on the Rim tonight in AZ and heard a few bulls sounding off right at dark. Cold weather is definately helping them get in the mood.

 

[bullwidgeon]

In the White Mountains of Arizona last week I heard a bull bugle and watched 2 little bulls spar for a few minutes. The rut is coming soon and the "cool weather" is non-existant down here. Hopefully in a week or two it will be going full swing.

Bret M.

 

[Elkchasin_fool]

Hey Jeff - I just spent a week in the San Juans of southern Colorado and although I saw lots of elk I didn't see any unusual early activity there? Most of the cows and calves are still above timberline and the bulls are still in groups in the north facing dark timber. Should start seeing the transition any time now though? Plenty cool up there - got down to around 30 one night and always some frost in the early morning! Good Hunting!! Mark

 

[cohntr6]

Thanks Mark for the info. It has been tough sleeping lately! lol! Cant wait for saturday!
Jeff

 

[archerelk]

TB,


I am catching up to ya. I moved to Baltic SD, have a nice 10pt white tail keeps comming up to our house. Plan on eating him here in a couple months. I still prefer the Muley, or the Bull, but at least I have critters at my house now.