Silvertine's Elk Rut Report History 2017-2005
The Information below is an Overview of how the past hunting seasons have gone as far as Rut Activity and Hunting. The information can be used as a guideline to allow you to get an idea of how things "Might" go as far as rut activity based on trends of years past.
August 29, 2011, Bulls were very responsive to bull sequels and bugling.
Sept. 20th, lot of bugling located this bull and closed the distance.
This Bull was so busy trashing brush we were able to get into position for a shot.
Tail end of the rut, this bull was shot in his bed, exhausted from the rut.
This was one of the bulls in 2009 that was still rutting into November.
This bull met his demise while retuning to his wallow.
Classic moment, call 'em in and shootem' 450"
Tough shooting through the early season brush and trees.
We held this bulls interest long enough to get set up for a shot with archery, could not have been pulled off without calling and the rut.
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2017
Intensity Rating: INSANE 1010 Pre Rut Start: August 18th Start: August 25th End: Approx Oct 15th Gathering: October 20st Weather: great weather. Rut Hunting Success: 100% Rut Mortality: 1 Overview: 2017's season started out different than all others with the transition to the new 800 acre Silvertine property. The introduction of Cow elk made all the difference! We had bulls screaming their heads off from mid August to end of October,and the weather was amazing all the way threw! Cow calls brought them right in. Bow Hunter success was low after the rut and dropped down to 50%. Rifle hunters enjoyed a 100% success rate all fall. Sorry I dropped the ball on doing my Rut Hunt reports in 2015 and 2016.2014
Intensity Rating: Moderated 7/10 Pre Rut Start: August 24th Start: August 30th End: Approx September 19th Gathering: October 3st Weather: We had lots of rain. Rut Hunting Success: 100% Rut Mortality: 0 Overview: 2014's season started out good loads of rut activity early, and it maintained its great intensity right up until early September, then the rain moved in and things got cold and snow flurries. Hunter success was good for bow hunting with the sparse vegetation and we were 75% for our bow hunters. Although they did not fight much, bulls did strut around the ranch constantly trying to pick a fights. 2013
Intensity Rating: Poor 3/10 Pre Rut Start: August 20th Start: September 5th End: Approx September 15th Gathering: September 20th Weather: warm, warm, warm and zero rain. Rut Hunting Success: 100% Rut Mortality: 0 Overview: 2013's season was the slowest we have ever seen. We never really had a rut. The bulls started to make wallows and rub trees around Mid August, but no calling was heard. The bulls still polished their antlers thank goodness and had the dark antlers with polished tips. The weather was extremely warm this year and throughout the rut you would find the bulls laid up in the thick brush out of the heat. Some minor rut activity showed up and the odd bugle in the early evenings was all that transpired. Bull Talk was the only thing that worked. Brush was thick due to the large amount of rain in the spring, and lack of rut curiosity to calling, so bow hunting success was low but everyone still got their elk just had to high grade to a rifle. Although they did not fight the bulls this year seemed to all be buddies, and often times through the rut you would find bulls still hanging with each other. 2012
Intensity Rating: Moderated 6/10 Pre Rut Start: August 20th Start: August 25th End: Approx September 20th Gathering: October 3st Weather: We had rain and record snowfall in October. Rut Hunting Success: 100% Rut Mortality: 1 Overview: 2012's season started out good loads of rut activity early, and it maintained its great intensity right up until early September, then the rain and weather system moved in and things got cold and snow flurries. The fighting was slower than other years and we only suffered one death. Bull Talk was the only thing that worked as always. Cow calls scared them. Moderate rain in the spring had the water holes at at an all time low so water was a concern right up until September when they filled back up and the springs started to flow again. Hunter success was good for bow hunting with the sparse vegetation and we were 75% for our bow hunters. Although they did not fight much, bulls did strut around the ranch constantly trying to pick a fights. 2011
Intensity Rating: Very Good 8/10 Pre Rut Start: August 15th Start: August 25th End: September 25th Gathering: October 1st Weather: Hot, only 2 days of rain during rut. No snow or cold weatehr and very few days of wind. In general very hot and dry year. Rut Hunting Success: 100% Rut Mortality: 1 Overview: 2011's rut was very good and bulls were very vocal throughout the rutting season. Although the bulls were not responsive to bull talk or cow calls sequels seemed to be the magic ticket and was the biggest reason for success amongst our 11 bow hunters we had during the rut, only one did not get an arrow in a bull, but he did shoot and sent all his arrows into the bush, just cold not connect. If I could have every rut season like 2011 I would, great weather, low mortality and lots of noise kept things very exciting for the guests. During the heat of the days when it was very warm the bulls would shack up in the thick timber and swampy areas. 2010
Intensity Rating: average 5/10 Pre Rut Start: August 30th Start: September 8th End: October 2th Gathering: October 10th Weather: Warm and wet fall. Never had any snow until mid October, but we did get a fair amount of rain then heat which made things quite muggy at times. Windy as well. Rut Hunting Success: 100% Rut Mortality: 2 Overview: 2010's Rut was what i would call average. The bulls did have an intense few days in early September but that was due to a three or four day spell of nice hot sunny days with no wind or rain. The above average amount fo rain made it difficult for out hunters in a sense that the vegetation was thicker than normal and the grass was waist deep though the preserve. The bulls did get very nice dark colouration to their antlers that year becasue of the abundance or water and wallows in areas that are normally quite dry. 2009
Intensity Rating: Great 9/10 Pre Rut Start: August 20th Start: August 25th End: Approx September 15th (a few bulls rutted until Nov) Gathering: October 1st Weather: warm and dry until September 15th, then we had a few snow flurries and rain and weatehr started to deteriorate. Rut Hunting Success: 100% Rut Mortality: 4 Overview: 2009's season started out like great guns and loads of rut activity early, and it maintained its great intensity right up until mid September when the weather system moved in and things got cold and wet with quite a bit of wind. The fighting was more than I ever seen and we havd many bulls with broken antlers and death losses. Bull Talk was the only thing that worked. Cow calls were thrown in the trash as the bulls would run from them, and if you hit the bugle you better get ready you would have to make a decision on which bull you wanted to go hunt as many would answer. Brush was thick due to the large amount of rain in the spring, so bow hunting success was low but everyone still got their elk just had to high grade to a rifle. We had a few really stubborn bulls that just did not want to quit so many of our October hunters go to hear bugling thanks to these two bulls. Although they did not fight they did strut around the ranch constantly chasing the other bulls around and trying to pick a fight with anyone that would be interested. 2008, 2007, and 2006 No data was collected sorry.
2005
Intensity Rating: Poor 5/10 Pre Rut Start: August 27th Start: September 5th End: September 30th Gathering: October 10th Weather: cold and wet fall. First Snowfall September 1st, had many days of snow flurries and rain. Windy as well. Rut Hunting Success: 100% Rut Mortality: 1 Overview: 2005's Rut was very poor, as the weather played a huge factor in the intensity as bugeling was poor and bulls were not aggressive at all. On the few nice sunny days we had here and there the calling was good but not great. Cow calls were of no use as bulls seemed to know there was no cows on property. Bull talk was OK but bulls were not aggressive enough to want to fight. Found bull sequels was effective technique to get closer to bulls in thick timber. |
Key:Intensity Rating: How Hard the animals Rutted. Judged on fighting, vocals, and rubbing, scrapes or wallows, and amount of travelling/moving around.
Pre Rut Start: First sign of rut activity stating to show by rubs, wallows, or bugles heard. Start: Date things really start to amp up. End: Date things really start to slack off. Gathering: The date the bulls or bucks start to associate with each other in bachelor groups again. Weather: A overview of the weather for that time frame. The weather can have a HUGE effect of the rut activity. Rut trends tend to be similar when weather patterns tend to be similar. Rut Hunting Success: Hunting success that year during the rut time frame. Rut Mortality: Number of animals that died as a result of Fighting during rut. Direct reflection of rut intensity. Overview: A description or overview of how the season went with relation to rut activity. 
Cow mew held this bull long enogh to thread a crossbow bolt through the trees.
This Bull made the fatal mistake of looking back to check out the bull that was me calling to him.
We were able to hold the bull in the area with cow calls just long enough for Andy to get a shot.
This is what can happen when the hunted becomes the hunter, the rut causes curiosity.
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