RE: Elk Rut
I was out the last two days in the Medicine Bow mountains (southern Wyoming) and no bugling yet. Still alittle early. The elk have or are just ridding their antlers of the velvet and they kind of shut down for a few days. This early in the season, I might suggest cow calling more than bugleing. And sit on wallows if you can find them. The elk take time to "get their voice back" and they haven't even started so if you go in sounding like the bull of the woods, they'll know who you are, and where you are, and they won't be there.
Good luck. They'll start heating up in the next 10 days so keep your head on a swivel cause they'll come in silent more times than not.