24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
Alamosa Offline OP
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
[Linked Image]

I drove out one of my properties early this morning, because I wanted to check on the trail cameras. My youngest blue heeler went on alert and began to point.

[Linked Image]

Three nice bulls busted out of the creek.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

I've watched elk at this location for 15 years or so. Rarely do I ever see anything but bulls here and usually not any other time than January-April.

BP-B2

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
Alamosa Offline OP
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]

Later this morning as I was picking up the mail I waved at a guy wearing orange who was driving by.
A few miles down the road he waved me over and pointed out a bull that was even bigger than these three. Close to the road too, but by that time my camera battery had gone dead so no photo of that one.

Last edited by Alamosa; 01/17/16.
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,214
1
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
1
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,214
If that doesn't get your blood pumping...........youre dead!

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,371
H
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
H
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,371
Great looking bulls, shouldn't they be dropping horns soon?

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
Alamosa Offline OP
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
Originally Posted by handwerk
Great looking bulls, shouldn't they be dropping horns soon?

Around there they shed antlers around mid-March.
The timing of shedding antlers seems to vary by latitude, altitude, and it can vary a little from year to year even in the same location.

Last edited by Alamosa; 01/17/16.
IC B2

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,910
M
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
M
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,910
Bulls with bigger antlers tend to drop them sooner, probably because of sheer weight of bone, but I have seen big 6-points with their antlers not long before Income Tax Day in western Montana.


“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 262
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 262
Last year, here in Utah, about mid April I saw a group of 7 bulls. 2 were still packing rag horns from the year before, 2 were showing about a foot of velvet and the other 3 were bald.
I think its the only time I've ever seen that combo.


Everyone is pretty on the internet!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,371
H
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
H
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,371
Strange those antlers and their drop timing...pretty much all our deer/moose have dropped by now but we've seen them on as late as april here in the great north.
Thanks again for the great pictures, what beautiful animals, I can't wait til October.

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,288
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,288

Looks like the perfect shot for a 223AI...


[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,258
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,258
Originally Posted by Mule Deer
Bulls with bigger antlers tend to drop them sooner, probably because of sheer weight of bone, but I have seen big 6-points with their antlers not long before Income Tax Day in western Montana.


Likewise a few years ago I was going fishing in south central Colorado just east of the continental divide and saw some awesome bulls standing by the pavement on private land with antlers which came about half way to their butts in the middle of April.


Ed

A person who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes the person who never asks is a fool forever.

The worst slaves are those that put the chains on themselves.
IC B3

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
Alamosa Offline OP
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
I'll try to share some documentation and dates from my pics.
Timestamps are good on these.

2009
[Linked Image]

2011
1st bull has shed but the 2nd one hasn't
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


2012
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
Alamosa Offline OP
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
2013
[Linked Image]

love this image
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

a couple here appear to have a couple weeks of growth already
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
Alamosa Offline OP
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,212
March 26 2014
looks like one has shed both and one lopsided with only one
[Linked Image]

stragglers from the same bunch of bulls
[Linked Image]

2015
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,126
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,126
Originally Posted by shrapnel

Looks like the perfect shot for a 223AI with a fast twist...


fixt.


_______________________________________________________
An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack

LOL
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,976
E
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
E
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,976
He meant to post .222 mag, but close enough, smile

Last edited by elkivory; 01/22/16.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,936
D
Campfire Outfitter
Online Content
Campfire Outfitter
D
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,936
Nice bulls. Many months before we can chase them again.

Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 10
P
New Member
Offline
New Member
P
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 10
Awesome bulls big man! Always fun to see them.


Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
89 members (10gaugemag, 99Ozarks, 257robertsimp, akshooting, 15 invisible), 1,653 guests, and 745 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,728
Posts18,400,756
Members73,822
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.098s Queries: 14 (0.003s) Memory: 0.8732 MB (Peak: 1.0004 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-29 08:05:09 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS