unit 13 Muzzy bull hunt questions

AaronHanson · Sep 27, 2024

I have a unit 13 Muzzy bull tag. the Hunt is Oct 12 to 16. I have access to private land for this hunt. there is water on the property. We set up trail cams on the water and we are seeing lots of really nice Bulls coming into it. At first it was Bulls only, now its bulls with their little herds. it appears the same bulls are using this water hole for several weeks, and they continue to do so. Can I expect them to remain until my hunt? this property is surrounded by private. it appears that not many people hunt anywhere near it. Did not see any camps or traffic during the archery season.
will they still be herded up? will the big bulls leave the herd? what do you think I can expect.

Elkoholic87 · Sep 27, 2024

I wouldn't "expect" anything. It's still hunting. What you have said is encouraging and would have me optimistic, but it's not a guarantee these elk stick to their current pattern. I would plan on targeting the area, given all of the activity you have seen.

billc · Sep 29, 2024

some of the big bulls could move on by the time of your hunt. I know I would hunt that area though if you have that much info on it. There will be bulls around cows in oct still for sure. Pressure those elk got will decide more if there still doing the same thing. JUst dont blow them out by hunting with wrong wind or something stupid and you should see elk by the sound of what you posted here

AaronHanson · Sep 30, 2024

billc said:
some of the big bulls could move on by the time of your hunt. I know I would hunt that area though if you have that much info on it. There will be bulls around cows in oct still for sure. Pressure those elk got will decide more if there still doing the same thing. JUst dont blow them out by hunting with wrong wind or something stupid and you should see elk by the sound of what you posted here

thanks for the reply. We are starting to see busted up bull on trail cam as of this weekend. so far 3 of the bigger ones are busted up good.

yotebuster17 · Oct 23, 2024

How did it go?

AaronHanson said:
thanks for the reply. We are starting to see busted up bull on trail cam as of this weekend. so far 3 of the bigger ones are busted up good.

AaronHanson · Oct 24, 2024

The elk were only coming into water after dark. and leaving before sunup. Probably due to the bright moon. they were still herded up, still chasing cows. I shot this guy minutes before 7;00 pm. earlier in the day, we chased bugles into the BLM. to what I think was their bedding areas. Between 1 and 4 in the afternoon. we decided to walk through the bedding area, and we bumped a bunch. My hope was to get them moving earlier. went back to sit the water hole, and this guys makes his way in with 2 cows around 6:45 and the rest is history. Shot him with my Bow. he did not drop blood. took several hours to find him in the dark. He was the only elk we seen during shooting hours. we heard plenty from 10 pm till 6 AM. dead silent all day.
he is all busted up, had several healed scars on his body. was a fighter or got hit by a bus. I have never seen anything like it before. he had several 2-3" healed over scars around his neck and front shoulders, had some on his rump area as well. I have a trail cam pic of him in his glory ( un broken). it was a 500 mile each way trip for me. my trucks (f150) transmission gave up once i got home. (Colorado) I am headed out this weekend to try and fill my Colorado bull tag in my Hyundai Tucson.