Early season break up/ bachelor groups

[iccyman001]

This is kind of a tough question to answer, but guesitmates are fine too.

When the early season bachelor groups are moving around or starting to break up, how many bulls would you say could be in a group.
Again, I know this could be tough, but are we taking 2-3 or are we talking 5-6?


To add onto this, when they are traveling in a group, are they all right next to each other, staggered, a 30 yards from eachother, etc?
I know this could also be tough to answer.


How about you just tell me about bachelor groups and how you have seen them move in the woods

 

[Zpd307]

I saw 2 young bulls together in Idaho. this would have been sept 10th. a rag 4x and rag 5x

 

[Jaquomo]

Depends on where you are, elk density, etc.. I\'ve seen 8-10, sometimes spread out around a basin. Seems.like they tend to be in the same age classes, +/- a year or so.

 

[Swede]

Bachelor groups seem to breakup early in the archery season. This is shortly after they shed their velvet and they start determining their pecking order. Except for spikes, it usually see only single bulls after the first of September.

 

[iccyman001]

Bachelor groups seem to breakup early in the archery season. This is shortly after they shed their velvet and they start determining their pecking order. Except for spikes, it usually see only single bulls after the first of September.

What is a spike commonly doing it\'s first year? Are they just running around lost and going to any noise possible? Do they still go crazy for the rut, just lose to any bull that challenges them?

Seems.like they tend to be in the same age classes, +/- a year or so.

If this is the case, I should have some decent groups. With the inventory we have so far, the majority of them look like 3 +/- a year, then a few big boys and a few runts lol

I can\'t imagine having 8-10 sets of eyes looking at me! I need to be careful.

 

[Swede]

Dan, the spikes often will hang around the cows until a herd bull moves in. After that they are orphaned and move on their own. I agree with Jacuomo on bachelor groups age diversity, but have seen larger groups where there are both young and old bulls too. They have a tendency to be pretty close in age, but as Lou suggests, it is no absolute.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Bachelor herds are not a 100% sure thing. Meaning, not all bulls will bachelor. It\'s common to see them in the exclusive \"male only\" gangs but bulls can herd up with cow during the months of July-August. Two years ago I watched a herd of 200 cows and bulls mixed together, feeding out in a meadow. So, sometimes the bachelor herds don\'t break up at all. Instead, the younger bulls get booted out.

It\'s common to see several satellite bulls together all through the month of September.

Last year my son drew back on nice bull at 60 yards but it was out of his range. There was 5 cows and two nice bulls in the herd. This was the 3 weekend of September.

Only one sure to way to tell when the bulls break up.........cow(s) start estrus.

My 2-cents!

 

[iccyman001]

Well, want your 2 cents to grow to $20.... you know what you have to do :wave:

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Well, want your 2 cents to grow to $20.... you know what you have to do :wave:

Lol