Another good day--question session

[MTLongdraw]

Was able to make it out again today. The best part was it wasn't 90 either. What a relief. It actually rained. Long story short about 1:30 I was pushing through a stand of mature lodge pole with good open lanes and plenty of grass. As I went I would stop and bugle every now and then but wasn't getting any responses. A few minutes later something didn't look right so I checked with my binoculars. Nice bull standing about a hundred yards up the hill and a little in front of me. Wind blowing straight up but he was about 40 yards west so he wasn't smelling me YET..I figured he would walk right to the wind but he never did.

I cow called a little bit and didn't get a response. I then started bugling at him. I did an immature bull bugle all the way up to the nervous grunt. He never so much as blinked to any of it. Finally he started making his way towards me. Luckily the wind was still straight up hill and he never smelled me. After a while he was within about 80 yards and started raking a tree. I thought for sure it was going to happen. I started raking and chuckling. But then he just turned and walked away. I cow called him which stopped him but he eventually moseyed off. Then I picked up more movement behind him. It was another bull. He wasn't curious at all. Could care less about what was going on.

I dogged them up to another ridge where I was able to close within a 100 yards again. Same results. I think I only cow called the second time but I'm not sure. After they left again I just let them be hoping to not blow them out now that I have found them. Not sure if I can go again on Thursday but my hopes is they will still be there for a while. If not, it will be a week from Saturday before I get back. Just got a new position at work which I'm excited about but the school is the week of my vacation....go figure. Found tons of beds and about a dozen seeps, wallows, and dried up wallows. Saw some sign in the mud but nothing indicating they had wallowed where I had been. Lots of fresh rubs too. The second bull was muddy so I'm sure there is one close.

For you experienced guys. I think the first bull saw me so maybe that's why he was so cautious. I was just so surprised the cow call didn't even really phase him. Due to the fact he couldn't smell me maybe he played it safe knowing something wasn't right but not sure why. Did I do something wrong? What would you have done? OR maybe they just aren't rutting yet (hard to believe but I have heard this area is sometimes a week or two late) Or are these elk maybe gay? Is it normal to see two bulls (I'll call one a five point and one a six point-not for sure but both capable of breeding) together this late in the year?

Sure am having fun this year....Getting off the beaten path is really paying off.

[BRazz]

I won't claim to be the 'experienced guy' you are asking about, but I can sure relate to your story. Particularly this season, I have had a couple occasions where a bull completely ignores my calling, almost as if he didn't even hear me. But I know they could, and I also believe that I was in enough cover that they would not expect to see a cow without coming closer to investigate - which of course did not happen. I've been attributing it to a rut that is yet to really kick in (I've only heard a couple bugles in 5 days of hunting), but I can't help but let it phase my confidence in my ability to call.

I imagine I'm too in the open, calling too much, using the wrong calls, something... Even in the early season folks say they can pique an elk's interest. But this year, I apparently cannot (yet!).