Bugles but not much elk sign

[nobull]

Has anybody been in a situation where you're hearing bugles but not encountering a lot of elk sign? The last couple of years in my wilderness hunting area the sign has decreased yet the bulls are still sounding off. Not sure if this means there's a smaller number of cows in the area or the overall herd numbers have decreased? Or maybe the pressure year after year has moved them away from their areas from years past? I've hunted this particular area for 6 years straight and this is the biggest thing I've noticed. Have any of you had experience with similar situations? Thanks.

[WapitiTalk1]

Just curious. Do you hunt in an area where the wolf population is increasing?

[Swede]

I can't say that I have ever been in an area with a lot of bull elk and little or no sign. That is unusual, as elk leave sign wherever they go. Tracks, feces, rubs, wallows. Is it possible that the elk are covering a circuit and therefore a lot of territory, and returning to where you are at the same time by coincidence?

[nobull]

Sorry, let clarify a little further. The first few years we hunted this area the sign was outrageous, you couldn't hike anywhere without being in sign. But as the years have progressed, the sign has decreased dramatically. Not to say there is no sign but very very little in comparison to years past. Thoughts come to my mind, maybe the elk became to pressured and or bulls have been taken and herd size have decreased? Wolves are not an issue as there are none. It's just weird that this area was littered with elk activity 6 years ago and today it's not nearly as active, yet there are still bulls sounding off. Cow numbers have decreased? Just thought I would throw this out there as this conversation always comes up at our elk camp. With what we know now compared to back then, I sure would like a shot at calling in elk 6 years ago.

[cnelk]

Maybe a call to the local biologist? They are typically on top of any major shift in patterns of the animals.
Just a few minutes talking with them could be very helpful in that issue and maybe another area

[elkmtngear]

Seems like the opposite to me....plenty of sign and less bugles.

I attribute it to increased hunting pressure in the areas we go. I just remember the elk being much more vocal in those honey holes.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Maybe a call to the local biologist? They are typically on top of any major shift in patterns of the animals.
Just a few minutes talking with them could be very helpful in that issue and maybe another area

x 2

[>>>---WW---->]

Was this early in the season? Could be you just happened into a bull hole as we call it here. Bulls do herd up somewhat together before and also after the rut. So I wonder if maybe that is what you stumbled into???

Another possibility could be some bugle happy hunters that have already chased the elk out of the area. Ya, it happens!

[WapitiTalk1]

Not sure about the decreasing sign thing if you're referring to a large area friend (minimal sign where there used to be lots). That's a conundrum for sure. I have however, hunted where the elk sign is relatively minimal in most areas, and only found said sign "where the elk are". That's why I asked about the wolf presence.. sometimes they (wolves) will limit the obvious elk presence/travel zones (by their nature) to certain, very thick areas where the wapiti may feel they are safer. No wild canines where you hunt or a significant increase in hunting pressure?.... in my experience, particularly in undisturbed areas (you mentioned a wilderness area), the elk are ingrained in their social behavior paths between feed, bed, rutting areas, and the sign you'll find is in these areas... thus, the bugling bulls with minimal sign elsewhere. If you venture more than a few hundred yards off these particular patterns/paths, you may not see any sign at all or at the most, minimal feces, rubs, tracks, etc. The girls and lead cow, have an internal clock that provokes them to move at a certain time to feed, bed, etc. If their patterns are undisturbed, they'll continue this for many weeks during September into October. Bulls are where the chicks are at during the rut... period. If you're hearing bulls bugle, they are puffing out their chests and competing for the girls.. Just my rambling Wednesday evening thoughts.. RJ

[Trophyhill]

i experienced this to a degree last season. not much fresh sign and tracks were sporadic yet the elk were there. but cover was dense too and i could have just been off by a little bit. when i found bedding areas i found alot of sign concentrated in or around these areas

[welka]

Have seen this before when you have a few satellite bulls left in an area (got their a__ whipped and are looking for love). You still hear bugles, but sign is very low. When bugles are few or none, I quickly shift to wandering until you find sign. You can waste a bunch of time in old areas where you have seen/heard elk before and they are gone for whatever reason. All it takes from one year to the next is for a pack of wolves to wander through or for a cat to take up residence. They don't have to even be around any more when you start your hunt as they pushed or killed the elk and moved out. It can make for some long days, but you have to find sign or see elk to have a chance! Good luck.