elk totally silent

[ak32]

went out this weekend into an area I've scouted this summer. Tons of sign/tracks and I even jumped a few elk in the timber. The only problem is that the elk are totally silent, no responding to calls and no calls in the morning/day/evening. What gives? Is it because it's still too early/hot/weather? I'm perplexed, what is the best way to hunt when they aren't talking and hard to locate? The area I'm in hasn't gotten any pressure either. I'm 99.9% sure I was the only one in that area opening weekend.

[Passin Thru]

I think it's too early. Elk peak is Sept 4, they go by the moon or sun or salt in their diet. No that's not right, I've heard peak of the rut is 1st day of Autumn. It's a pretty warm year so they are lazy and feed is excellent in Southern Co, raining today, Sunday. They will start soon but if you aren't near water then I'd fergettaboutit. Patience Sensei, next week will be better.

Lucille: Will you look at those palm trees? Damn! You know what this means?
Daniel: Yeah. Watch out for falling coconuts!

[husky390]

We heard a locating bugle and mews but that was it. Cows were responding to a locating bugle and cow calls where we were. I'd do what Passin Thru say's and find the routes they take to get water as that's what I would be doing if I was still hunting where I was yesterday.

[Trophyhill]

Pretty typical for this time of year. I like to sit on the edge of a "known" bedding area near a water source and listen for that lazy bugle. Whether I hear that or not I throw out a few pleading cow calls every 15 minutes from about 4:15 pm on. If there are elk in the area and in earshot, they usually respond. That's my Q to close the distance and hopefully "read the situation" correctly so that I am entering the "moment of truth".

[mjblowers]

This was one of the more active days of hunting I had. 5 encounters, 4 with elk. Had 3 bulls bugling one another without me doing thing. Passed on a spike. Normally don't even get that in mid september where I hunt :p

[Mike_Parson]

The unit im fixing to hunt is totally silent in the areas i have been scouting and hiking. the sign has dropped to scarce and the water tanks are not beign used at all. its been raining for alomst 2 weeks up there daily and the tanks have at least a foot of extra water in them since last weekend. The campers and tenters have moved in and im afraid that has pushed the elk off, just got to find them and hope for the best i guess.

[CurlyTail]

I was in Central Colorado. Had a Bull answer my locator bugle late afternoon. He then got fired up and bugled every few minutes for an hour or so. He was with cows and we could not get close so no shot but they were doing some lazy bugling in my area.

[js80138]

All quiet in North Central Colorado both Saturday and Sunday for elk. Heard moose and cows, the milking kind, unfortunately.

[ElkNut1]

ak32, you need to employ a Blind/Cold calling setup & wait in the same spot for 30 min to 45 min. This works pretty darned good when you play on their curiosity but you must allow time for things to develop as they come your way to check out this new group of elk, they generally show up silent.

ElkNut1

[elkaholic]

Had a big six point beating by himself and not showing any signs of interest toward Kells but then went over the ridge and Bam! Herd bull was bugling And chasing off raghorns from a group of about 40 cows.

[ak32]

ak32, you need to employ a Blind/Cold calling setup & wait in the same spot for 30 min to 45 min. This works pretty darned good when you play on their curiosity but you must allow time for things to develop as they come your way to check out this new group of elk, they generally show up silent.

ElkNut1

How often would you call in this setup and I assume it would be best to just setup somewhere in the timber? I've heard conflicting things like if the elk aren't talking then you shouldn't call either, is this true or would cold calling help the situation? If nothing responds or comes into the cold call setup in 30-45 min would you move on?

Thanks!

[ElkNut1]

If you don't call how will you locate elk? You need to call or have open enough country to glass to locate elk. Calling has worked very well for us, we do not wait for elk to talk first instead we either draw them our way with "curiosity" calling or use Location Type bugles to find them. When we use Locator Bugles we are just asking them where they are we are not trying to call them to us, Yet! Don't wait for elk to become vocal or you could hunt 5-7 days & never hear a sound! Calling can draw elk your way as in cold calling setups! We like calling 3-5 minutes being 2-4 cows along with a good Contact/Estrus Buzz on mid volume. Being creative in your elk chatter at this time can really sell the goods along with rustling brush/tree branches with a stick & light foot stomping. Wait 5 minutes & do it again as you wind up & wind down, doing this 3 times is generally enough, then it's sit tight & wait for elk up to 30-45 min to slip in silently!

If no encounters move to another area at least 1/2 mile away!

Have a good setup so elk MUST come in your bowrange before they can see the source of the calling, this will reduce hang-ups! All this & more is in the ElkNut PlayBook & Vol-4 Worse Than Wolves DVD.

ElkNut1