Bowhunting October Elk

[Backcountry]

Looking for some thoughts and info here.

It's been a great season here in MT so far. No tags have been punched, however. Elk seemed to have went silent in our area, though I did almost arrow a small bull with a few cows yesterday. What is everyone's favorite tactics for October elk (bulls or cows)? Obviously quiet elk are tough elk but I have invested far too much time this season to roll over now.

[Huntrgathr]

Beware the ides of October.




You know about the second rut right ? Potentially still a lot of lonely satellites out there...

NGU ! (Never Give Up)

[ElkNut1]

Glassing, glassing & more glassing from vantage points with a few timely bugles tossed in trying to find location in the thicker un-glassable stuff. This is where a spotter can really pay dividends. The bigger the area you can see & glass the better your odds of locating feeding/moving elk.Bulls are still with the cows & will be until at least end of Oct. The less pressured areas generally yield the more vocal elk, this includes areas you may have pressured yourself already! Good Luck!

ElkNut1

[Backcountry]

Glassing, glassing & more glassing from vantage points with a few timely bugles tossed in trying to find location in the thicker un-glassable stuff. This is where a spotter can really pay dividends. The bigger the area you can see & glass the better your odds of locating feeding/moving elk.Bulls are still with the cows & will be until at least end of Oct. The less pressured areas generally yield the more vocal elk, this includes areas you may have pressured yourself already! Good Luck!

ElkNut1

Not much for glassing in this area Paul. Very very thick and the only real openings are scree patches! What are you're thoughts on cow calls this time of year? I was planning on sitting some likely travel routes and cold calling. I'm open to taking a cow at this point

[Olydog09]

Glassing, glassing & more glassing from vantage points with a few timely bugles tossed in trying to find location in the thicker un-glassable stuff. This is where a spotter can really pay dividends. The bigger the area you can see & glass the better your odds of locating feeding/moving elk.Bulls are still with the cows & will be until at least end of Oct. The less pressured areas generally yield the more vocal elk, this includes areas you may have pressured yourself already! Good Luck!

ElkNut1

Not much for glassing in this area Paul. Very very thick and the only real openings are scree patches! What are you're thoughts on cow calls this time of year? I was planning on sitting some likely travel routes and cold calling. I'm open to taking a cow at this point

Backcountry how about trying to loacte them bugling at night?

[cohunter14]

Bulls are still with the cows & will be until at least end of Oct.

This must vary with location Paul. In Colorado, very rarely will you find bulls and cows together by mid October. Typically the cows will still be hearded up and the bulls will be on their own.

[Ridge Ghost]

x2 on second rut. Dave, in your unit I have seen herds bugling opening weekend of rifle / third week of October. It may turn back on in a few days or so.