My brother in law leases a ranch that right now is packed full of Elk. Last weekend we saw close to 130 head with two nice bulls. Now if this isn't something to get excited about I don't know what is.

Here is the problem. This is very typical and has happened to us for the last three years. We see alot of Elk in this area while the rut is in full swing. However, general rifle season doesn't open until the middle of October, after the rut is pretty much over. About a week before the season the elk start dissapearing. By the time the hunt opens, there may only be a couple of small heards still left in the area, with only a few small bulls in the herd.

Do you think that perhaps the elk go to certain areas for breeding and then after the rut they move back out of there. Could this be a staging area or just a breeding ground.

After the season opens and the weather turns bad and it snow's up above, then the Elk will start coming through this area. But so far it has been hit and miss. We haven't been able to figure out why this is. We have found a couple of places where they go after they leave the ranch, but is has me baffled.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I guess its dependant on area but around here I see bugling bulls well into the 2nd week of Oct... and yes the bulls stay with the cows. The problem here though is that most of them had busted off their antlers.... well thats one problem, the other is that most of Utah is Spike Only.


-DallanC

I guess that's what throws me. There is still a nice bull with the cows that we see. But they are in a different area now. I don't understand why they don't just stay there. Hay fields, water, everything they need right there. No hunting pressure on the ranch except when we go in there. Other than that there is about 100 head of cattle. But it never fails, it's like they know, a week before the season and they are gone.