It is good to know when to get aggressive with elk.  Especially when  they have a healthy herd of cows.  Something confuses me though, I thought the wolves ate all the elk here in Idaho    :rolleyes:

Great story, you never stop learnin' when it comes to Elk hunting.

   COME ON SEPTEMBER !!
 

nurayb:  I notice a drop of about 30% of elk here since last year. ( elk winter here) I can count the elk; they are out there now laying around; but when they are below me on the river- I count 100 elk; and 6 or7 will be calves and no bulls.
The fish and game has not to my knowledge done the aerial yearly count- we shall see what they come up with.  
 My neighbor shot at a group of 3 wolves the other day- but we are still at 11 kills and have more to fill the quota.
 The wolves eat the elk; but they are also reducing calf survival by stressing the elk year round.
 The bulls ( except spikes once and a while and the very occasional rag bull) will not stay down low with the cows.
They stay up higher; and it is there that they are in most danger; as they can be driven up ravines and killed.
What our bull cow ratio is: I don't know; but if we really knew - it would shock us. IMHO.
 Cow season where I live opens August 1 for anyweapon season near any irrigated land. The ranchers think of them as vermin; as they eat the alfalfa while their cattle are up in the hills eating elk food and leaving noxious weeds untouched.
 So - with an Aug 1 opener - by the time the bow season opens there are no cow elk that are not looking for long range hunters; or wolves.
 I really question your statement of 'a healthy herd of cows'. Healthy ? Respectfully :I don't believe so.

From my research; how the health of a herd of elk is determined by many factors.

In most areas it is FACTS x KNOWLEDGE - OPINION OF CATTLEMEN + - OPINION OF FISH AND GAME= HEALTH OF HERD.

In other areas; it is by determination of cow calf ratio: which is fairly easy on level ground - but in mountainous country it is SPEED OF AIRPLANE + HOURS FLOWN+ ABILITY TO TAKE PICTURES+ PROBABILITY = NUMBERS + OPINION.

For instance a herd of 600 elk were counted; with 33% calves; and a herd of 200 counted with a 23% calves. So the estimate of calves was based on the higher number of cow elk which = 33%.

If you want to see letters instead of words; and then try to figure out what he heck is going on- then try Arizona ( have aspirin ready ).

Generally though the areas with no wolves; that have been monitored over decades is 35-56 calves.
In areas that were monitored over the same time but with wolves; the calf ratio is 25-27%.
Healthy= 35-56% calves
Low = 33 to 34 % calves
minimum = 25 % calves
little opportunity to hunt= less than 20 %.

So - when I can see a group of 100 antlerless elk grazing in easy view; and can only count  6 or 7 calves.... I am not convinced we do not have an elk population problem !

Paul,

You are a class act!  

If you haven't bought Paul's DVD's I highly recommend them.  I've watched them over and over and still learn something new.

I've gotten confused about a situation on the DVD's and called Paul on the phone.  He has patiently answered my questions and gave me more information/tips.  Incredible customer service!

Thank You everyone for taking the time to check out the story! Heck I was just thinking of it & the next thing you know I was writing about it! (grin) It was a great morning of hunting for sure & my son & I built a memory together we'll both remember forever! You gotta love elk hunting!

 Rappstar, thanks!

 Brian, you have no idea how right you are! Others without such experience would be very wise to heed your advise & be prepared when getting ready to call or calling during a setup because yes bulls can literally explode into action especially so when you're close & they feel threatened or challenged! Many of our setups are designed strategically to put herd bulls in this frame of mind! Can you say major adrenaline rush! (grin) Maintaining ones composure is truly tested during this type of high energy technique! Thanks!

 ElkNut1

Thank you Paul. I would like to have a fraction of your experience hunting elk. Well, I guess I do have a fraction, just such a small fraction it doesn't amount to much.

Allan

Learned about not being ready to shoot the hard way the first time I went elk hunting. Cow called below this dark timber bull showed up at 45 yards with me in the open by some rock. Looked around and left. I wasn't ready or in position.

Awesome story, Thank you

Great story and lesson!  Congrats to your son on making a fine shot on a great bull!  Keep the tips coming, I need all the help I can get, LOL!

There's no substitute for expertise. Thanks

Great story Paul!! Great bull, great tactic! Congrats to your son, and yourself. How about some more stories with different situations? A lot of new guys and us older elk hunters could learn from these. Thanks.

Great story. Thanks for sharing it. Someday, maybe someday.

what a gorgeous, nasty bull!

Congrats on a fine bull.Thanks for sharing your story with us.