Rutting rifle elk?

[Edelweiss]

I have heard Mike allude to units outside the wilderness areas of Wyoming that have rut rifle hunts.

Does anyone know what states and areas those are?

I gratefully appreciate any knowledge you pass.

[buckbull]

I know this isn't the response your looking for but in 2010 in the big horns of wyoming during rifle season the bulls were still bugling. It was unseasonablly warm during that mid October hunt so I think the bulls were confused and thought the rut was still going on.

Of course, many states have muzzeloading rifle seasons that are closer to the rut than centerfire rifle.

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I believe Mike was referring to the Thoroughfare Wilderness hunt. I don't think it is what it once was. I have heard some good things about the rut rifle hunt in the Scapegoat Wilderness in MT, however.

[RUTTIN]

Utah's rifle hunt starts early enough that you can get into bulls that are still bugling.

[IdahoHombre]

Idaho's general rut rifle hunts are pretty much in wilderness areas, but those zones are not 100% wilderness, and there is some access to them by vehicle.

All other hunts during the rut are controlled hunts, and are obviously pretty hard to draw. Idaho doesn't use preference points, so you always have a chance!

[Umpqua Hunter]

I believe nearly every western state has a certain number of firearm (rifle or muzzleloader) hunts during the rut. I am aware firearm rut hunts in Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. Of course these are pretty tough to draw.

[Bitterroot Bulls]

UH,

MT has three units with general tag, rifle rut hunts as well. You draw a general license, you can hunt them.

[Edelweiss]

Idaho's general rut rifle hunts are pretty much in wilderness areas, but those zones are not 100% wilderness, and there is some access to them by vehicle.

All other hunts during the rut are controlled hunts, and are obviously pretty hard to draw. Idaho doesn't use preference points, so you always have a chance!

The hard part about Idaho, is that as a non-resident I can only apply for 1 species. So Idaho is not in my elk vocabulary. At least I can apply for mountain goat, antelope and deer.

[mntnguide]

In Idaho, If you choose a trophy species (moose,goat,or sheep) you only get to put in for that specie. If you dont put in for a moose, goat, or sheep you can put in for all 3 (elk deer and antelope.) An exception is, if you put in for a Trophy animal, you CAN put in for a controlled Elk, or Deer as long as that hunt is an unlimited tag quota hunt.

[Umpqua Hunter]

In Idaho, If you choose a trophy species (moose,goat,or sheep) you only get to put in for that specie. If you dont put in for a moose, goat, or sheep you can put in for all 3 (elk deer and antelope.) An exception is, if you put in for a Trophy animal, you CAN put in for a controlled Elk, or Deer as long as that hunt is an unlimited tag quota hunt.

mtnguide is right on. in Idaho, I've alternated between applying for sheep one year and elk/deer/antelope the following year.