I recently checked my trail cams and have 1000's of photos of average Bulls, spikes, rag horns, and a couple 330+ Bulls. I am extatic about having so much success with my cams but a little worried as well. I have heard that once the Bulls start shedding their velvet they will completely leave the area in search of cows? I have done my share of scoutingthe area and glassed many Bulls in the area but have yet to see any cows. Should I leave the area and find another in search of the cows? Thanks
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Lots of Bulls but no cows.
- Thread starter Chayce
- Start date
northernalbertaElkaholic
New member
- Feb 28, 2016
- 31
get in there in bow season and not a day before or after. they will be there still or some what in the area if you have that many bulls, use your early season tactics lots of raking and bugling until the rut starts to kick in and bulls start looking for cows. Your camera has to be between a feeding/bedding/water areas if theres that many bulls and no cows. id suggest getting cams out in other areas and locate the cows too, because if the bulls are not in your original spot you have a good idea of where they will be going.
good luck
good luck
Yeah, that's a terrible spot. Just send me the GPS coordinates and I'll go pull that camera down for you so that you don't waste any more time scouting that fruitless area [emoji6]
To be honest, I've read the same things as you but I've never actually found a bunch of bulls like that for it to ever be an issue for me! With that said, my comments are purely speculation. Others with more experience may disagree...
I'm guessing that you live relatively close to the area if you are checking cams? Hopefully this affords you the opportunity to hunt opening day/weekend of archery season. I'd bet there is a decent chance some of those bulls are still hanging around in there at the start. But I would also have a plan B lined up as well. If you have to opportunity to scout and locate cows before opener then I'd say you are pretty money!
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To be honest, I've read the same things as you but I've never actually found a bunch of bulls like that for it to ever be an issue for me! With that said, my comments are purely speculation. Others with more experience may disagree...
I'm guessing that you live relatively close to the area if you are checking cams? Hopefully this affords you the opportunity to hunt opening day/weekend of archery season. I'd bet there is a decent chance some of those bulls are still hanging around in there at the start. But I would also have a plan B lined up as well. If you have to opportunity to scout and locate cows before opener then I'd say you are pretty money!
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We used to scout for bulls and would find them every year but when the season would start they would be gone. We started looking for cow groups right before the season would start and that seemed like that's where the bulls we had been seeing before had gone.
There are probably cows not that far away that will be attracting the same bulls you are scouting.
If the bulls are still there alone in the early season and there are no cows then cow calling would probably work well if the real thing isn't available.
I hunt an area that has had a big bull in it for about 6 years now. I go there the weekend before the elk opener to hunt deer and can usually find cows scattered all over the hillside but no bulls or at best some spikes. Then when opening day for elk gets here I go to the same spot and the cows will be gathered up and he will be right in the middle of them. It's been like that the last 3 seasons. Our season starts Sept. 6th so at least in my area it seems like that bull gathers his herd between Aug. 30th (archery deer opener) and Sept 6th.
I went into another area to pull a camera late Aug. last year and could hear a bull above me bugling fairly often that sounded like he was keeping his cows in line but I didn't see them to verify that.
When does your season start?
There are probably cows not that far away that will be attracting the same bulls you are scouting.
If the bulls are still there alone in the early season and there are no cows then cow calling would probably work well if the real thing isn't available.
I hunt an area that has had a big bull in it for about 6 years now. I go there the weekend before the elk opener to hunt deer and can usually find cows scattered all over the hillside but no bulls or at best some spikes. Then when opening day for elk gets here I go to the same spot and the cows will be gathered up and he will be right in the middle of them. It's been like that the last 3 seasons. Our season starts Sept. 6th so at least in my area it seems like that bull gathers his herd between Aug. 30th (archery deer opener) and Sept 6th.
I went into another area to pull a camera late Aug. last year and could hear a bull above me bugling fairly often that sounded like he was keeping his cows in line but I didn't see them to verify that.
When does your season start?
My hunt boundaries are about two hours from my house. Close enough to be able to scout every weekend when the wife permits! I appreciate the help and info.FlyGuy said:Yeah, that's a terrible spot. Just send me the GPS coordinates and I'll go pull that camera down for you so that you don't waste any more time scouting that fruitless area [emoji6]
To be honest, I've read the same things as you but I've never actually found a bunch of bulls like that for it to ever be an issue for me! With that said, my comments are purely speculation. Others with more experience may disagree...
I'm guessing that you live relatively close to the area if you are checking cams? Hopefully this affords you the opportunity to hunt opening day/weekend of archery season. I'd bet there is a decent chance some of those bulls are still hanging around in there at the start. But I would also have a plan B lined up as well. If you have to opportunity to scout and locate cows before opener then I'd say you are pretty money!
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My hunt starts Aug 19 - Sept 15. I'm hoping that the case that the kills are in the same general location. We have found lots of rub from previous years so I am thinking that they will stay in the same general area. On top of that I have a couple very small spikes that have been hanging around the trail cams. They always come around when the bigger Bulls aren't there so my thoughts are, the cows are there but the Bulls are pushing them off the salt rock. Thanks for your help!ribo451 said:We used to scout for bulls and would find them every year but when the season would start they would be gone. We started looking for cow groups right before the season would start and that seemed like that's where the bulls we had been seeing before had gone.
There are probably cows not that far away that will be attracting the same bulls you are scouting.
If the bulls are still there alone in the early season and there are no cows then cow calling would probably work well if the real thing isn't available.
I hunt an area that has had a big bull in it for about 6 years now. I go there the weekend before the elk opener to hunt deer and can usually find cows scattered all over the hillside but no bulls or at best some spikes. Then when opening day for elk gets here I go to the same spot and the cows will be gathered up and he will be right in the middle of them. It's been like that the last 3 seasons. Our season starts Sept. 6th so at least in my area it seems like that bull gathers his herd between Aug. 30th (archery deer opener) and Sept 6th.
I went into another area to pull a camera late Aug. last year and could hear a bull above me bugling fairly often that sounded like he was keeping his cows in line but I didn't see them to verify that.
When does your season start?
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E
Elk101 Admin
Guest
You are in the right area my friend. Look for bull elk rubs as well. If you are finding frequent rubs, then that is a good sign too. Bull will mark their territory for breeding. If you are finding bedding area's and or wallows in the timber you will be sitting pretty good for the season as well.
Keep up the good work, and like mentioned above, move some camera around a bit lower elevation and or if you find these areas I mentioned above. Precaution: To much actively in there will drive the elk out of there. A small tip, I like to rake or smooth out an area (or trail) going in to possibly identify other foot traffic. (See who else is putting in the work in my area) and or identify cow/calf track in your case.
Keep up the good work, and like mentioned above, move some camera around a bit lower elevation and or if you find these areas I mentioned above. Precaution: To much actively in there will drive the elk out of there. A small tip, I like to rake or smooth out an area (or trail) going in to possibly identify other foot traffic. (See who else is putting in the work in my area) and or identify cow/calf track in your case.
