I am heading there to hunt elk in the bob marshal this weekend and am hoping by then they should be in full rut. Have they been rutting yet?

I don't know about Montana, but the bulls in eastern washington, well atleast in my area, aren't really screaming yet. I've been hunting hard for the past week and I have heard two bulls.. The weather has been so hot..

All day and all night.

Are you DIY or are you with an outfitter?

I am using an outfitter seeing that I dont own a horse. I am going on a rifle hunt for Elk and Muleys. They pack you 20 miles into the Bob. It should be fun. Thats good to hear there bugling.

That's a sound that I miss every year around this time! One of these days I'll get back out there during elk season.

Good luck guys.

Yes they are!

I was out last weekend and it was still pretty quiet. I called a bull in for my brother-in-law second day of the season and we now have meat in the freezer, but he came in quiet. You can still hunt effectively even when they aren't very vocal- it's just a lot more fun when they are screaming.

You should have fun in the Bob. I have heard there are some monster bulls in there. The weather has cooled this week, so hopefully it will be enough to get them going.

I thought rifle season for deer and elk in Montana didn't open until October 21st?

Must be why most people are using a bow right now( although there are "backcountry" units that open for rifle earlier...like the "bob")

Nice Bull eatsleephunt. Way to go elkbane.

Hllbillyhunter is right. The Bob Marshall, along with a few other wilderness areas here,allow for rifle hunting beginning September 15th.