king' s outdoor world - Index

king' s outdoor world - Hunting Illustrated Magazine Dec/Jan 2008 - Coyote Crazy! - Index

will usually just bring in the younger
bulls. This is also a rare time when
the cows are typically not as edgy and
observant. With all of the noise and
movements that they are making, the
cows will usually overlook you as
well. With cows in heat the satellite
bulls get bolder and really put the
pressure on the herd bull. He again
is vulnerable because he is not only
trying to stay with a hot cow, but
he is also bugling often and making
runs at other bulls in an attempt
to ward them off. Use the rutting
insanity and herd bull’s jealousy to
your advantage. Now is the time to
get in there and fi ll your tag!
LATE HUNTS
If you have a post-rut hunt,
there are some key points to keep in
mind to help you succeed. Number
one is that the herd bull’s urge to
breed has been replaced by an urge
to survive and avoid danger. Most
big bulls have lost over 100 pounds
of body weight due to the rigors of
the rut. In order to survive the winter
a bull must replenish his body by
feeding heavily and not moving a lot
since running around burns precious
energy.
Big bulls don’t get to be
six years and older by standing
out in open meadows next to roads
during hunting season. Rather, they
are usually going to be away from
the roads and the hunting pressure
where they feel secure to feed and
rest. At this time of the season,
bulls don’t move much at all unless
pressured. This can be a positive or
a negative depending on how you
see it. If you are able to locate a bull
by glassing, he is going to stay very
close to where you fi nd him which
will allow you to make a stalk into
shooting range which plays to your
advantage. However, if you are
having trouble fi nding elk this works
against you since the big bulls are
not running around covering country
and potentially bumping into you
like they do during the rut.
Basically it boils down to this.
On late hunts, you must work hard and
hike into areas that most people won’t
go. Big bulls are usually going to be
a mile or more from the road and on
the backsides of mountains, down in
canyons or in thick cover (if it’s fl at
juniper country). Bust your hump to get
into areas where the big boys will likely
be and then use your optics to fi nd them.
The bulls will be feeding several hours
during the day and not moving much.
Use this to your advantage.
If you are seeing cows and
young bulls, move on. Very rarely will
a large bull be hanging out with the
cows and small bulls during the postrut.
Those same cows that protected the
herd bull during the rut are no longer
his ally. He knows instinctively to stay
away from them in order to survive.
By contrast, the bulls that
were the herd bull’s enemies and rivals
during the rut are now his friends again.
Although bulls don’t always hang out
together, it’s not uncommon to see
two or more bulls together during the
November and December seasons.
Many times on late hunts, if you see one
mature bull, others will be nearby. I
24 HUNTING ILLUSTRATED.com
5ELK5
Two of the author’s guides, Daniel Franco and Mike Hancock,
with Daniel’s 393 P&Y herd bull. The bull was taken by getting close,
infi ltrating the herd, and allowing the bull to make a mistake.
must admit something that happened
to me a couple of years ago on a late
November hunt. My hunter and I
were fortunate enough to hunt hard
and kill a 330-inch bull. But, once
the shooting ended, an incredible 380
to 390-inch 7x7 materialized. All
we could do was watch and admire
him. The big 7x7 had actually come
from the other side of the ridge when
he heard us shooting so I don’t know
that we could have done anything
differently. Anyway, hindsight is
always 20/20!
Well, if you hunted during
the rut, I hope that you are now
reveling in the memories of the
season and already planning for
what next year will bring. If you are
preparing for your upcoming lateseason
hunt I wish you the best of
luck. Do the things that 90% of the
other hunters won’t do and you’ll
increase your odds dramatically. Be
in shape and as always make your
fi rst shot count! Whether you hunt
during the rut or the late-season my
wish is that these tips will help you
succeed on your next elk hunt. See
you on the mountain!