Late Sept./Early October?
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
I drew a tag in SW Montana. One of the slots offered on the place I am hunting straddles last week in Sept into 1st week October. I've never hunted that late in the season and this is my 1st Montana hunt. I've been in NM a few times in that time period and the elk were absolutely on fire! Please share your experience and thoughts on this time frame. Thanks!
I've only elk hunted Montana once...and that was 2017 in the Breaks...same year as the big drought and fires. Stayed at Bigdan's place on that hunt. Timed the two week hunt based on Bigdan's recommendation...last week of September and first week of October.
When I lived in MT in the 90s, I killed a couple bulls in the first two weeks of October. Still bugling up a storm.
There’s no question things quiet down by about the 25th. Lots of cows are bred and bulls are tired. So mid day action can be minimal. Start really early, in the dark, and be in a prime spot at the end of the day and stay after dark awhile to listen. On the bright side opportunities for bulls are fewer so I find that if you locate the right bull he can come marching right in for what might be his last chance for love.
One thing I have noticed is bulls are lazy. They might bugle from their bed but never get up. If that’s the case move in silent and try to actually lay eyes on the bull if possible. Then a couple light cow calls and wait. The idea is to present him with an offer that requires minimal effort. I killed my biggest bull doing just that on October 4th.
My wife has killed 8 cows during the mid October rifle hunt over the years in AZ. We just chase bugles. I think that last week of Sep-first week of Oct is a good time to be out there. You don't know what the weather will be like so you may get real lucky.
Hunter, do you like it? :-)
I hear bulls screaming well into 3rd rifle season in Colorado.
I have had a lot of action in WY 10/1
I trust Hunts judgement. He likes it!
Thanks for the input. Who else likes that last week bowhunt?
Just gotta ask— “WWSD”? What Would Shug Do??
With all the critters that Hunt has killed .... I would go with his judgement, after all .. "Hunt likes it". LOL
He likes it. He likes it A LOT!
There’s a big difference between October 10-20 and the last week of September. Those dates in October are the second rut.
Last year I killed my bull Oct. 7th, they we're rutting all out from Sep 25th on. It was still the first rut and didn't show any signs of dyeing down.
I'm usually done by then but in 2020 I killed my bull on the last day of Colorado's season. They were still bugling like crazy and hunting pressure had dropped off.
Depends how you like to hunt. Plenty of bugling early Oct. but you're not likely to call in a decent bull. I like to spot/listen/stalk so it works for me, but if you're into run and gun calling then earlier in Sept. is going to be way better. Also, Sept. is going to be more consistent. Oct. can be lights out all day bugling or it can be dead quite. Way more hit or miss. I would base my decision mostly on how you like to hunt. You might be frustrated if you're not ok with more stalk/ambush type hunting and less calling.
AZ- it’s Ki-Ke. Seriously. What’s on your mind?
Nick! In your honor, Lego man will be posting soon about his latest adventure, then he will retire.
OCD- I’m more of a stalk/ambush elk hunter than run/call and gun, which will likely be the right strategy on the place we are hunting. I’m leaning towards that late date….
"OCD- I’m more of a stalk/ambush elk hunter than run/call and gun, which will likely be the right strategy on the place we are hunting. I’m leaning towards that late date…."
Sounds like you're on the right track then. Good luck! So many folks these(youtube) days just wanting to run around the Mts blowing calls all day. Ain't gonna work in Oct., but if you're a stealthy, patient hunter it's a beautiful time to be in the Mts.
That’s definitely the gameplan at that time of year. They’ll give up their location but they don’t come running. Good luck!
AZ go be an idiot on your favorite thread ok….
I guess I'm the odd man out. We went to Montana elk hunting a Gen tag a few years back in late Sept- as we did a drop camp for moose in AK and wanted to squeeze in an elk hunt.
Not good. I think we got there 9-30 or the 31st. Elk were almost all on private. The 3 spots we hunted you could tell they had been pestered, a lot. We tried calling them off of private- no dice. We had horses, kept moving around- all we saw was closed trails that had been pounded by 4 wheelers....and a couple uncallable bulls.
Thanks Bruce. I’m hoping since we will be on private, that the previous weeks of pressure on adjacent public may work in our favor.
Elk are usually screaming here in SD during that time as that's when I generally do my mule deer hunt and have had great elk encounters. I say go for it!
Private… you didn’t say that!!! I’d hunt like I was trying to kill a whitetail. I’d take a couple tree stands. Whatever you do make sure you don’t bust them out of that property.
I figured out years ago that the best day to go hunting or fishing is the day you can go.
You book the hunt, Steve? Looking forward to the story.
Hi Steve, Those are my favourite dates for moose up here, lol, but seriously, wishing you a great hunt!
Steve, should be good! I’ll be waiting to here all about.