2015 Elk Bugling Rundown

[WapitiTalk1]

When did you hear most of your bugling this year (dates/time of day)? Was there a break in the action at any time (dates)? If you experienced a lull in the action, what do you contribute it to (wolves moved into area, hunting pressure, weather, no elk in the area-LOL, etc.)?

[otcWill]

Much earlier than normal this year. The best days were Sept. 5th and Sept. 9th. On those days I heard 75-100 bugles both am and pm. After that things were pretty normal or maybe just under normal for bugling. Not sure what to attribute that to. Normally the best days have been between Sept. 10-17.

[ElkNut1]

Lots of bugling this year for sure! We heard bulls going from day one & through most of the month despite wolves in our areas. Not sure of the more quiet dates but it was pretty normal for the most part. Knowing the country is a huge benefit & doing lots of bugling on our own helps to trigger a few more bulls to respond, it all helps! All in all a great year with lots of call ins! Bugling was good but the nod went to cow calls when it was time to put elk down! That was unusual for us as we generally rely mostly on bugling! We will adjust & use what works, this means reading the situation & adapting to it!

ElkNut1

[Dr. Rx]

This may come as a surprise..but I may have heard 1 single bugle..maybe far, far, away..otherwise very quiet late season Sept archery.

[Fridaythe13th]

We had a poor year the weather was hot and dry. We had heard more bugles in one day in 2014 than the whole year of 2015. Friday the 11 was the best day we had 4 bulls going for a couple of hours 40-50 bugle total between all of them. Sat the 12th was the worst day, zero bugle all day very frustrating. Monday the 14th we called in 2 bulls but very limited bugling. The rest of the time was 5-15 bugles all day.
My biggest lesson to learn is, HOW TO HUNT SILENT BULLS?

We seen more elk this year just because we covered more ground, new areas looking for that magical valley that the bull were screaming there heads off. But in hind sight all we were doing was bumping elk around.

[Rangerz]

First week of Sept. got a couple of responses to a locator bugle, later in the season we got into some good bugling on the 14th?. Rest of the season very quiet. Had one bull I heard chuckle to his cows when I let out a location bugle, but never saw him.

Overall fairly quiet.

[Heartwood]

I started my seasonwith an early season backpack trip (first week) and got into some good bugling with a few bulls called in but none on the ground. For the second part of our hunt, 12th to the 24th, we were hearing many bugles per day and good rutting activity but I still feel it was not at peak activity. It seemed like rut activity was picking up as we were leaving. I would say I heard as many bugles as other years.

[2Rivers]

For northern Colorado. I heard bugleing at all times of the night and day starting sun 13th. through tues 15th. When I tagged out. The best time of day to hear the most bugleing was at sunrise and sunset though.

[Swede]

I heard the most calls on September 9th and later in the season.

[WapitiTalk1]

I'm surprised at how quiet it was for some of you cats? I got into a very small handfull of singers (but not many) on my WA hunt from 12-16 SEP. By far, the most bugling I heard came from out of the trap of a young upstart 4X4 that I called in. I monkeyed around with him for nearly 20 minutes before he finally had enough of our on-going discussion. He "really" liked the PAG cow face decoy and wanted to date me I think. During the ID hunt, I'm sure I heard 20 different bulls (low estimate) over the course of my time in the elk woods there (19-29 SEP). There was a lull in the action after I shot my bull, starting on the 24th if I remember correctly, and running for a few days. It packed back up after that. Didn't hear any wolves this year and were not aware of any griz working the draws we hunted. Most significant vocalization was before daylight to 0900ish once they reached bedding areas, and, right before dark continuing through the middle of the night or later in some spots.

[Fullabull]

Where we hunt here in WA I could not get a bull to answer till the 19th. After that I called in bulls every day, one bull three times in the same day. Was by myself so every time I would zig they would zag but had a blast.