Nothing happening at the wallow as yet. But, not surprised either.

[windymtnman]

Yesterday, (on Aug. 19th), I rode my horse out back up on the mountain. I stripped his saddle, picketed him in a mountain meadow for his lunch break, and began the 1 1/2 mile climb up higher to where I know of a wallow in the dark timber. Last year, I had a trail camera on this, and got some incredible videos of a 5 pt. and 6 pt. Bulls putting on quite a show in the wallow. (Rolling around and thrashing their antlers in the mud, etc.).
By the lack of tracks, and clear water in the wallow, I determined nothing is happening as yet. I deployed the camera, walked by a few fresh rubs, and got back on my horse.
For the day, I found a dandy 2016 dropped 4pt. Mule Deer antler, and then another really old one. While riding down a trail that never sees a human until hunting season, I saw something orange in the grass. I wondered what's that, so I circled back and got down to see. Turns out, it was a orange handled Outdoor Edge Swing Blade knife that apparently was lost by a hunter last year. I looked them up on the net, and see they are fairly pricey. Bonus for me!
The GPS says I logged 16 miles just to deploy a trail camera on a 6 1/2 hour venture. Hard to beat a day in the mountains astride a Rocky Mountain gaited horse, doing 7 mph through the Quakies.
Thing is, I may not even hunt this area this year. I just wanted to see what visits the wallow. We'll see?

Retirement takes some getting used to, but I think I got the hang of it.

 

[Southern Elk]

Sounds like a good time. Wallow or no wallow. Hard to beat a day in the mountains on a horse.

 

[Reeltime]

I really wish Montana would wake up and allow cameras during the season. I really would love to see what goes on in spots like you described when I'm not there!

 

[windymtnman]

Last year, I had a fair amount of both Bulls and Cows coming to this wallow. Some of the infrared night videos didn't turn out so well, but I had several different Bulls, and then Cows/Calves coming during the day. I put up a treestand, and spent about 5-6 hours/day in it. Never saw a single Elk come while in the tree! I wasn't blowing them out of there permanently though, as they were still coming while I hunted there. Perhaps they scented me coming in, however I wasn't busting them in the dark close to the wallow. (Sometimes a 1/2 mile from it in the dark though). It also seemed like the wallow action tapered off when the expected rut was peaking. By the dates, I had more Elk coming earlier in Sept. than in mid Sept. on.... Anyway, I intend to pull the camera before Labor Day weekend. We'll see what, if anything I get on camera?