i know there might be ALOT of differant factors that might effect this..SO,what is the latest you have heard them..john
I have wittnessed them bugling into mid november only a very few times.
Had a friend who heard one screaming on Saturday. I have heard they bugle every month of the year but I haven't heard it myself?
Bulls may bugle any time during the year, rare but I have heard them bugle in the summer not near the rut.
I have heard bugles in late November and watched rutting activity the same day. I believe what I saw was a result of late born cow calves coming into estrus late.
It is true they can bugle in every month. I was refering to rutting activity in my earlier comment.
Oh how I miss that sound..........
Once, when I was on a backpacking trip above timberline, I heard a couple of bulls bugle at cows after they saw my brother-in-law and me. It seemed they were warning the cows of danger. That was in July if I remember right. I just heard several elk bugle yesterday where I live (in Estes Park, Co. the elk seem to do whatever they want and they can't be hunted on most of the land in the area so they feel safe). It appears that most of the big bulls in this area have now gathered into their bachelor herds but the small bulls are hanging out with the cows (and bugling), I imagine to try to catch a late estrus cow. In other areas that I have hunted the elk pretty much stop talking (cows and bulls) by mid October. You will ocassionally hear cows and calves talking after that, but not like they do during the rut.
I've heard them going off into early December, but it's pretty well a done deal by mid November for the most part.
Ohh I have heard them as late as two or three in the morning...
I bet helped huh? :-)
mid november a few times