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Full Rut Fest!

Camelcluch

Camelcluch

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2020
Messages
1,577
Well it happened. I finally hit a full on rut fest this past week. It started the evening before with bulls starting to scream right at dark. I was helping a few guys from out of state and we got in early the next day. With about 15 minutes to shooting light, a bull cracked off about 800 yards across the valley. The winds were blowing pretty good and we worked down incase there was a bull on our side of the valley. As we worked several more bulls started to scream. I got the guys set up on the edge knowing it was a long shot but a bull popped up 600 yards across the sage flat valley.
I bugled and the bull stopped, turned and screamed right back. I hit him with a cow call and the bull came unglued! He pointed his head down the hill and ran towards me. With 6 or 7 other bulls now in the area running and scream, this bull took no time to cover the 600 yards bugling, chuckling and screaming the entire way. I was set up about 50 yards up the hill and lost sight as a bugle rattled my chest. I turned and ran up the hill cow calling. I then hear it… the thunder of hoofs running away. Not sure what happed but I cow called again and a new bull was now closing distance. Two bull in close and about 6 more on the other side.
I finally got the waive from the shooters and head down. Shots fired!! A 42 yard shot but things got weird. The arrow showed bubbles but the bull was standing on the ridge across from us. A 5 hour wait until searching and 4 hours of searching gave us nothing. We never found the bull but was definitely in the rut fest. So cool to experience but crappy and the same time. We think it was a one lung and maybe only clipped. Elk are tough survivors.
I love September!!
 
I will say, if you want to elk hunt, do it asap. It’s getting harder to play. It’s not hard with a little help but good opportunities are being less available.
 
Camelcluch said:
I will say, if you want to elk hunt, do it asap. It’s getting harder to play. It’s not hard with a little help but good opportunities are being less available.
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I think I would work with an outfitter for my first trip. Too many things to work out and I don't have a group of friends I could rope into going.
 
Outfitters are good if you have the money. However, it’s easier to do than you think. I’m always available to help. I won’t give any spots but help with logistics and planning. I will help look at the area you choose and talk through what it would look like also. Nothing major just some thinking.
 
Bowmanmike said:
I think I would work with an outfitter for my first trip. Too many things to work out and I don't have a group of friends I could rope into going.
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No different than doing an eastern hunt really. Hills are a little bigger and air is a lot thinner but everything else is pretty much the same.
 
Camelcluch said:
Definitely a lot of similarities.
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Food, water, shelter, weapon, clothes. Backpack or truck camp will determine the specifics. Get a tag and get after it. Mountains are just big hills, you get to the top the exact same way, one step at a time. Most every thing else is semantics. ;)
 
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