Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
Foggy along the river today. Glaased a bunch of cows from the viewpoint but no bull with them, so i make the quick 1.5 km hike down to where i saw the bulls and cows yesterday..
Come out of a willow pit to the edge of the river.. cow and calf feeding at 60 yards..
Waited for them to feed away and went all the way to the main channel.. just as i got there i heard cows in the timber, across the river. Dove into a log jam to wait.
No need to wait long.. within 5 minutes cows were coming out and swimming the river. As they moved thru the timber i could see the bull..
After a couple dozen cows passed by me, at 40 yards, i was SURE the bull would come.
He did. About 5 minutes later and you guessed it.. clean 5. Spotting scope on him at 110 yards.. no 6 th point..
He hung around for a few then went back into the timber.
To me that says lull between estrous cycles.. aka "the rut"
Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
Wow, exciting - that must have got your heart going! So in your experience, will the bigger bulls (aka 6-points) start wandering between doe herds looking for some in heat or do they go deep to feed and get their strength back?
Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boilerroom
Wow, exciting - that must have got your heart going! So in your experience, will the bigger bulls (aka 6-points) start wandering between doe herds looking for some in heat or do they go deep to feed and get their strength back?
Things will slow down for a little bit here and start to pick up again part way through next month. It's a great time to be in the elk woods.
Go get 'em Rock!
Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
I find the big bulls get picky..
Rest vs. Following cows that are not in heat.
Big bulls will chill and be fairly laid back keeping an eye on the herd. Young bulls will think they are the big boss with hopes of getting laid, but the cows hooves tell them "No means No".. whereas big bulls know to be patient and they will be getting lots of loving..in a few days or a week
Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
Boileroom..
Elk dont know how to count ;)
Its about antler and body size. I have seen small 6s getbtheir butts kicked by big 4 points that have huge bodies (genetics)..
It is a rush chasing all of these elk, trying to outsmart them, be 3 steps ahead of them, with the hope that one will have 6 on either side...
I really get amped when the bugling us non stop and intense. Makes the hair on your arms go KaBoing..
Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
With your in field experience and observations, do you think the pred numbers have dropped in the EK, therefore hopefully allowing the ungulates numbers to start recovering???
Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rocksteady
Boileroom..
Elk dont know how to count ;)
Its about antler and body size. I have seen small 6s getbtheir butts kicked by big 4 points that have huge bodies (genetics)..
It is a rush chasing all of these elk, trying to outsmart them, be 3 steps ahead of them, with the hope that one will have 6 on either side...
I really get amped when the bugling us non stop and intense. Makes the hair on your arms go KaBoing..
Fair enough lol... I've seen some big-bodied 3-point muleys that I couldn't grow a 4th point on.
I've always thought of Elk hunting as a higher level than deer hunting, like flyfishing... once I figure out a bit more on deer I'll offer some help to someone to pack out their Elk and learn a thing or two.
Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HarryToolips
With your in field experience and observations, do you think the pred numbers have dropped in the EK, therefore hopefully allowing the ungulates numbers to start recovering???
I dont think predator numbers have dropped.
No opinion on wolves. I have only seen 2 in 30 years.
No grizzlies being legally taken.
Not many dedicated coyote hunters around anymore.
Lots of cat hunters, but a lot do not kill them, just tree and take pics.
Black bears, i have not seen an interest in bears from any of my friends
Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
Well, yesterday saw 11 cows and a 5 point cross the river.. drove to another area, saw 2 herds. Both with bigger bulls and 3 spikes, so 6 bulls in total..
Today hiked for 2.5 kms downriver and had 3 bulks on the far side, screaming like banshees.. unfortunately heavy fog by the river so could never see just hear... second estrous is pending....
Re: Rocksteady 2020.. Year of Corona
Always love following your daily fall diary Rock!!
I think you d convinced my to make an effort on elk even though I can only commit to weekend warrior status with my job.
You are inspiring!
Keep it up!
SSS