Jason, I hunted the Mussleshell down in the Breaks last year during the peak of the rut last year, it was Sept.25, during the full moon. I never hunted it before but it was a learning experience for me in learning new terriritory and hunting it solo. While scouting late one evening I saw a 6 pointer long this aspen hammock but it was to late for me to stalk so I backed out there and went back out before day break the next day. I had several cows come buy within 20 yds and I was using one as a live decoy as it was continuually making estrus calls and I thought she would lure a bull in. She stayed near me most of the morning. I didn't want no cow having seen the class bulls that I had seen. Walking back to my truck in the afternoon I heard a buzzing between my feet and jumped straight up and almost landed back on the prarie rattler but because of the grass being laid over it had trouble in trajectoring a strike. I played with him for a moment and then scooted him in a little gopher hole with my arrow. That evening I saw herds and herds of elk swimming the missiouri river depending on the hunting pressure. Man some nice bulls also, so close but not in the right spot at the right time. When I got back to my camp after dark and make dinner and drink a couple beers and then sack out. Herds of elk would come by my truck and bugle all night long and cloaking and they were so close I could hear the snot running and snorting. I actually had trouble sleeping as they would keep me up most of the night. During the day they wouldn't be so vocal and they would not respond to ANY calls, there was just so many cows that the bulls were very difficult to pull in. I never did get a shot off at a bull, I did have a 5 pointer broadside at 50 yrds, but that was out of my comfort zone, (wheres my 700?) but I think I got them figured out for this year. Sorry, didn't mean to ramble on. Good luck this year and looking forward to hearing some good stories from you this year, Bobby