So I just got back from my first DIY elk hunt in unit 62 in Colorado for 3rd rifle season. No bulls were killed, but it was a great trip nonetheless as I learned so much about this style of hunting in just 5 days. We saw a lot of cows, a couple mule deer, and a pronghorn, but didn't lay eyes on any bulls. We did however, hear a few bugles and tried to locate those bulls. The first bugle we heard came on day 2 about 7PM as we were walking back to camp in the dark. The bugle came from down in the canyon, about 300 yards from the trail, and we could hear some animals shuffling around in the dark. The next morning we found a group of cows in that area, but no bulls. That evening with about 2 hours til dark, we heard another bugle coming from the same approximate elevation but farther down the canyon. We tried to locate that bull and again saw a few cows in that area, but didn't find the bull. Finally, the following morning we were staked out where we first saw the big group of cows, and I head a bunch of bugles coming from higher up on the adjacent mountain side.
The first 2 single bugles didn't seem strange to me. I figure a bull might bugle occasionally for some reason out of breeding season, but the string of bugles on the third morning made me wonder if that might be some hunter who didn't know what he was doing. However, I know for a fact that in this area, there were only me and my buddy, and 3 other guys who were hunting with an outfitter, and I don't think either of them would think to bugle that much in the late season.
So what has been you're experience? Has anyone experienced bulls bugling much in November?
The first 2 single bugles didn't seem strange to me. I figure a bull might bugle occasionally for some reason out of breeding season, but the string of bugles on the third morning made me wonder if that might be some hunter who didn't know what he was doing. However, I know for a fact that in this area, there were only me and my buddy, and 3 other guys who were hunting with an outfitter, and I don't think either of them would think to bugle that much in the late season.
So what has been you're experience? Has anyone experienced bulls bugling much in November?