Well just got back last night from a 3 day hunt near the frank church in idaho. Saw one bull, little 4x4 rag horn but he didn't want nothing too do with us, elk were very tight lipped, never heard a bull all 3 days. Saw some awesome country and will be going back there next year.
D-S

http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/Duc...nt=100_1658.flv

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/Duc...es/100_1655.jpg

Is that what you guys call mountains? I think KS has bigger hills than that.....ROFLOL......

I Just came back from the crowsnest pass in Alberta after being there for 2 weeks and had very similar experience. We only saw 1 bull the whole time and only talked with one bull. The weather was extremly warm and windy, which makes it hard to hear responses after bugling. It is awesome county and fun to be there. I think it maybe a late rut this year. What do you think?

I couldn't agree more. This year I was having to put silent "whitetail stalks" on elk who were: 1) Not vocal; 2) Groups of cows without a bull in sight; and 3) Non-vocal bulls who were spread-out among a typical rut area and without cows. I had a few super close encounters, but it wasn't your typical elk hunt with lots of that great elk talk...it was more like hunting oversized whitetails.

Same thing happened last year...not quite as silent but comparatively silent for September compared to previous years. However on opening day of rifle last year (Oct. 26), they were yellin' and ruttin' like it was September 17th - I found them quickly and I took a bull.

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks from now for the '09 rifle opener...it is time for the elk to wake up. Best of luck to you in Canada...I'm actually writing this post from Sparwood, B.C. this evening getting ready to do some work in the area, so I guess I should be straining my ears to hear a stray bugle, as they might be finally waking up with this early cold snap!

Same story from me. I was out there the 3rd week of september and only got into bugleing elk on two hunts. Luckily I made good on one of them.

The elk were there. Just not talking.

I got on the same bull 2 times but he would only bugle every once in a while. Called in a raghorn on my last day but some illegal atv's messed it up. I hunted 6 days and it was near 90 everyone of them. Not what I expected the last week of Sept.

Same here, was hot every day we hunted in September. Temp dropped the last two days of the season and the switch flipped on in the area we were hunting. Unfortunately I had to work. Counting down to next year already.

Yea those last two days i'm sure were the best of the whole archery season, too bad it was a Tues. Wed. hopefully next year.
D-S