Bull:cow ratios...how do you use?

[Idaboy]

Wondering how people interpret the bull:cow ratios when researching a unit? Obviously the higher the ratio the more bulls, but is that always mean bigger elk etc.

Is there a particular cutoff or number guys use? Would you ever not go, or target a unit based on this number alone?

 

[trophyhill]

More bulls mean more action and more vocal elk if bowhunting in Sept and Oct. And the opposite holds true for less bulls. This has been my experience

 

[ElkNut1]

To your question, would I go or not as to the low ratio being a determining factor, no sir! Learn your craft, you will be able to elk hunt anywhere there's elk!

ElkNut

 

[Alder_]

If there’s data for OTC units it would help me refine which ones I would target.
A low population level, with a low bull:cow ratio likely means you’re working harder to get into bulls as there’s just fewer of them on the landscape.
I personally would look away from single digit bull:cow ratio areas unless I had intimate knowledge of the area.

 

[wapitibob]

I want 30+ and have to go out of state to do it.

 

[5MilesBack]

Quite frankly, I've never even looked for those numbers.

 

[CMF]

More bulls mean more action and more vocal elk if bowhunting in Sept and Oct. And the opposite holds true for less bulls. This has been my experience

This has been my experience as well.

Is there a particular cutoff or number guys use? Would you ever not go, or target a unit based on this number alone?

No. I give it some weight when making a decision.

I think you'll generally find that the higher m:f numbers are strongly correlated to trophy units, which are also correlated with hard-to-draw units. They are areas that are sometimes managed to have bigger bulls or are areas known for trophy bulls and most guys aren't slinging arrows at small bulls just to bring home some meat, just some of us, lol.