Elk Behavior question

[Tigger]

Last year I was on a archery elk hunt in WY. Hunted middle of Sept. Around the 18th plus or minus, we were hunting a big long high ridge that was covered in black timber on both sides. There was a nice saddle above us. It was around 730-8 am. We heard a bull bugle off to the side (east), so we took off to close the distance. About 200 yards into our move, a bull bugles and sounds like it came over the saddle behind us right where we were just minutes ago. So back we head as that one is closer. However, that bull keeps bugling and is moving steadily away. Back to plan A. again we get about 200 yards away and ANOTHER bull comes over the saddle bugling, so we head back west again to try and cut him off. He too, moves steadily away. Back to plan A....we felt like a ping pong ball going back and forth over the same exact area! So my question is this, why were those bulls doing that? They were going from an area of more remoteness (is that a word??) to less remoteness so I really don't think they were headed to a bedding area. Any guesses on what they were thinking? I don't think they had cows with them as I think we would have heard that. They were both on a mission....not running, but we weren't going to keep up with them. I really don't think the majority of the cows in the area were ahead of them, I think the cows were behind them. Bedding areas galore behind them. Highway about 1.5 miles ahead of them although across a creek an up another drainage. Thoughts? I do love that saddle as we had numerous other encounters around there.

[WapitiTalk1]

Sounds like a whole lot of advertising going on! I betcha there was a bunch of rubs, ground thrash marks, and some decent trails on/around that particular saddle and surrounding area. A pronounced saddle on those high, long ridges is oftentimes an elk magnet. Acceptable browse permitting, they like to feed there and, use it as a great advertising platform! A spot like that may be productive throughout the day for various reasons, but, is seemingly the most active right before darkness, throughout the night, and for a handful of minutes at first light. They usually move off them right after first light and move to their more secure bedding areas which may be just a bit down the ridge on each side, across the draw, or even deep down in cool draws a few hundred yards off the creek during extremely hot weather (just depends on the area). The first bull you heard may have been a herd bull moving his cows to bed, but, I betcha the others you heard were solo dudes advertising their lungs out and moving here and there looking for cows to hook up with. It can get pretty exciting “and vocal” when the herd bull moves with his cows to bed. This movement almost always results in the local single dude’s excitement level rising as there are cows on the move! I bet if you can find a location to sit across the canyon from this spot to listen, you’ll hear multiple bulls singing their lungs out each night. The pic below is a lone, very pronounced saddle on a high ID ridge. I’ve experienced exactly what you described many times on this saddle. Sounds like you’ve found a great spot; now to figure out the best way to hunt it to maximize your chances!

[CurlyTail]

I would consider parking myself on that saddle next year and try sitting there all morning, maybe cold calling once an hour. This is assuming that the Elk are quiet and you have not already located a Bull to move in on. A half day of sitting can be a decent easy day if you are getting physically worn down after a few days hunting. If you can locate a game trail on the saddle, that is where you want to be. Some saddles are better funnels than others.

I suspect they were searching for the cows, or a herd with a less dominant Bull in charge. Always hard to know for sure if cows are with them as they are frequently silent. The most common reason for Bugling that time of day is to keep the herd together as they are moving. Most often they move from feeding to bedding areas, but sometimes they are changing drainages due to hunting or predator pressure.

[Lefty]

I would do as Curly mentioned.
Not being an expert,.. I would tend to use cow sounds, That time of the rut some bul dont want to mix it up with a bigger bull and get whooped.
But a hook up with a lady would be fine