Gila 2nd Rifle elk question

Ltsheets · Aug 31, 2017

So it's looking like I might end up with a 2nd season rifle elk tag for this year in the Gila. I've only had archery hunts down there so far but have done very late archery hunts in 34 when the bulls are all back in bachelor groups. Couple questions for those of you who have spent time down there late Oct...

Is it likely they'll still be talking any during the day or will it only be the occasional bugle?

Are they more likely to be back up high away from the cows or still with the cows?

Thanks.

RabidRattleSnake1 · Aug 31, 2017

I have been on one 2nd rifle hunt in 16D helping my buddies dad. Some bulls were still with the cows, but quite. Other bulls were by themselves. Mixef bag, but they were all quite.

baerman · Aug 31, 2017

>I have been on one 2nd
>rifle hunt in 16D helping
>my buddies dad. Some bulls
>were still with the cows,
>but quite. Other bulls
>were by themselves. Mixef bag,
>but they were all quite.
>

Have not been to Gila during post rut but in general the post rut herd bulls will go find solitude in some deep nasty canyon that will hold food, water and security. Check out Randy Newburgs post rut hunting tactics video here

Ltsheets · Aug 31, 2017

thanks gents

leftturnabq · Aug 31, 2017

Some cows don't take the first time around and will go into estrus a second time, close to this hunt period. If you happen across this situation, you can find bulls chasing those cows...take full advantage of the situation. As it will likely be brief.

However, there has been a lot of hunting pressure by this hunt, so my advice is to find animals away from the roads.

Mfresh222 · Aug 31, 2017

We drew the 2nd elk rifle hunt in 16a probably about 3-4 years ago, I was October 23rd or 24th and we found pockets of elk that were screaming like it was late September, so it's definetely possible to run into some hot cows and bugling bulls that time of year.

Ltsheets · Sep 1, 2017

that would be fun to find!

>We drew the 2nd elk rifle
>hunt in 16a probably about
>3-4 years ago, I was
>October 23rd or 24th and
>we found pockets of elk
>that were screaming like it
>was late September, so it's
>definetely possible to run into
>some hot cows and bugling
>bulls that time of year.
>

Bowdeadly · Sep 4, 2017

Ya a few years ago that last hunt was around the 23 ish and the bulls were still with a few cows and screaming, now that hunt is pushed forward another week and by that time the big bulls are long gone. The little bulls are with the cows trying to get a poke. Been in 16a for 3 of those hunts. Get up high and glass glass glass. Those big bulls are exhausted and will feed for a bit then bed all day.

Ltsheets · Sep 5, 2017

Getting high and glassing is my Plan A and already have a place picked out for that. I'm just trying to get a solid plan B because with only 5 days to hunt, I don't want to waste more than a couple on plan A if I'm not seeing any bulls worth shooting.

>Ya a few years ago that
>last hunt was around the
>23 ish and the bulls
>were still with a few
>cows and screaming, now that
>hunt is pushed forward another
>week and by that time
>the big bulls are long
>gone. The little bulls are
>with the cows trying to
>get a poke. Been in
>16a for 3 of those
>hunts. Get up high and
>glass glass glass. Those big
>bulls are exhausted and will
>feed for a bit then
>bed all day.

Ltsheets · Sep 5, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Sep-05-17 AT 09:58PM (MST)[p]I keep hearing people saying it looks like it'll be a late rut in the gila now. How's this going to affect a 2nd rifle hunt? I'm thinking they'll likely be more talkative. What do you guys think?

baerman · Sep 6, 2017

The rut will happen the same as it always does. you'll be fine. Just get away from the crowd and cover country with your glass and boots. Good luck!

Bowdeadly · Sep 7, 2017

It's not a slam dunk for a monster bull. Me and my buddy have been there 8 out of last 9 years on deer hunts in Sept covering ground and looking over new area hunting deer all while hopefully drawing a bow elk tag. Never happened but my wife drew the rifle hunt 2 years in a row. So we decided with her luck maybe we will get a rifle tag and guess what we drew it. Long story short she killed a 300 ish, 368 and passed up everything on her 3rd hunt because it wasn't bigger. Me and my buddy searched from Bear wallow all the way to sheep basin looking for at least a 350. On day 1 we passed a 330ish nice bull and on the last day we brought home freezer bulls.

Ltsheets · Sep 8, 2017

Well that's awesome you're wife did so well. I know it's never a guarantee that you'll find a 350+ but that's my goal for at least the first 3 days. Were you finding the bulls up high or down in thick canyons, or both?

>It's not a slam dunk for
>a monster bull. Me and
>my buddy have been there
>8 out of last 9
>years on deer hunts in
>Sept covering ground and looking
>over new area hunting deer
>all while hopefully drawing a
>bow elk tag. Never happened
>but my wife drew the
>rifle hunt 2 years in
>a row. So we decided
>with her luck maybe we
>will get a rifle tag
>and guess what we drew
>it. Long story short she
>killed a 300 ish, 368
>and passed up everything on
>her 3rd hunt because it
>wasn't bigger. Me and my
>buddy searched from Bear wallow
>all the way to sheep
>basin looking for at least
>a 350. On day 1
>we passed a 330ish nice
>bull and on the last
>day we brought home freezer
>bulls.