When the elk aren't bugling

[grizzmoose]

Hi Guys,

I have been up on the Wasatch unit with a muzzle loader tag. It seems like all the elk have stopped bugling. When this happens, what strategies would you suggest? I'm new to elk hunting and have no idea what to do now. Will the bulls still respond to cow calls? If I were to sit on some water, what time of day would you recommend?

I'm kind of at a loss right now and could use any suggestions yall have.

 

[archerycrazy]

I had the same tag and the elk were bugling early and late. I sat on water to pass the time from 11:30 am until 4:15 pm when bulls started coming in to drink. My bull came to water around 4:30. With the heat, they will want to water before heading out to chase cows again in the evenings. Good luck and don't give up on hearing bugles yet. They are still rutting!

 

[ForkWest]

Bugling is for sure a "nice to have". With that said, calling should never be the number one strategy. Locating elk, i.e. glassing them up is alway where I start first and where I would be focusing in the situation you described. If you can't hear them, you're going to have to see them.

Water is OK too in the dead dog hot afternoons. But always, first, make sure you're looking over alot of country to identify where the elk actually are. No sense sitting water, still hunting timber or calling in a canyon that dosent even have elk in it. Once you have a good idea of where they're hanging, get in there and find em. Then, when you're in close, maybe a few cow calls, MIGHT work.

 

[LiveFree]

I just got back from the Wasatch muzzy hunt and you are right, there wasn't as much bugling going on as I was expecting. I thought they would be going crazy right now, but they weren't. I think it is because of the really hot temperatures up there right now. The only time I got them to bugle back to me was really early morning right as the sun was coming up. Right around 7:00AM. And then again in the evening right before the sun went down. Around 7:30PM.

With that being said, you can find them if you get into the woods before the sun comes up and try a few locator bugles. We were able to get on 2 bulls opening morning and then I shot my bull the 2nd morning at around 8:00AM. We heard him at about 7:15 and then snuck in on him until we got within about 150 yrds. Of course, he had to be sitting at the top of a really steep ridge. Then we set up and called him in for a 60 yrd shot.

Basically what I did was walk on a game trail in the early morning and give out a locator bugle and a few basic cow calls every time I came to a ridge or a valley. Then I would just listen for a response. If I heard one, I would go straight at the direction of the bugle as fast and as quiet as I could. Watching your wind of course. Once you locate a bull, you should be able to get close enough to see him if you move fast and watch your wind. I would try to go in silent until you get within 100-200 yrds of where you "think" he is. I know that is easier said than done, because sometimes it is hard to know exactly where the bugle came from. If you have to, give out another locator bugle and see if he responds again to give you a better idea of where he is. Then move in silently again without calling until you get within 100-150 yrds. Then set up a caller behind you about 50 yrds to start calling him in.

Hope that helps.

I know I was getting a little worried because of the heat and the little bugling I was hearing. But if you get in there early and locate them before they shut up you should be able to get it done.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[DBG3285]

Grizz sent you a PM give me a call.

 

[rutnelk]

My son and I both have muzzy Wasatch tags and are experiencing the same problems. The first two days of the hunt were incredible. A lot of bulls bugling. Saw and called in a lot of 5x5 and small 6 point bulls. But since then it has been dead. I have hunted every day of this hunt and we have put in a lot of miles on our boots, but we are not seeing or hearing much of anything since last Wednesday. I have hunted the Wasatch for elk and deer for 25 years and feel like I know where the elk like to hang out, but this has been the most frustrating hunt I have ever been on. We will be heading back out tomorrow so hopefully things have improved a little.