Full moon + no clouds + 80 degrees = no elk

dryflyelk · Sep 22, 2008

Hunted south east idaho last week, and it was a tough one. Found some buglers early in the mornings but they shut up by 8:30 and were in their beds. Literally we didn't see a cloud for 4 days stright. Middle of the week had two consecutive days with no bugles at all, even in the night. Had the best action on Friday, when things started to heat up. Heard tons of bugles from lots of different elk but calling got me nowhere. Wind busted me several times and I wasn't able to close the deal. Ended up sitting active wallows, but I think they were active all night long. So, tag soup for me.

Anyone else have similar experiences?

bigbull1 · Sep 22, 2008

RE: Full moon no clouds 80 degrees = no elk

It was tough in New Mexico as well.

They buggled a couple mornings but mostly were quiet. We ran into them coming into beds a couple of occasions and I ended up having one opportunity at 63 yards at a 300" bull. I thought the bull was going to move into the 40 yard range and he winded us. Saw a nice 350ish bull coming down to water (he quietly left when he saw us) and we sat in a blind the next evening with no luck.

Ed

www.huntpacks.com

HuntElk4Fun_ · Sep 22, 2008

RE: Full moon no clouds 80 degrees = no elk

Same thing in SW Wyo. I was brutal conditions at best! Hot, dry and quiet. The rut was non-existant. A week earlier my bro-in-law had prerut bugling and elk running everywhere, NOTHING this last week. Ended up sitting a waterholes to have success. Some small rags and the last evening had one decent 300 6 pt come in to a large waterhole. Of course, he came in on the OTHER SIDE... similiar to Ed, 60 yds, tried to close in, busted. Found other elk in the trees, but playing the cat and mouse game with them in the dry thick timber was a nightmare. Everything we did was silent. Calling of any kind didn't do much of anything.

ODDNUT1
Kirt C.

steelheader · Sep 22, 2008

Same in lemhi zone, got one bull going a little mon. but after that nothing the rest of the week. trail cam's had elk hitting water at 12:30 at night. with that moon we should of hunted at night!! I have three more days this weekend, so we'll give it hell.