Calling-how often?

[sojourner65]

Do you call to attract elk even if you haven\'t heard any? How often should you call (bugle or cow mew)? If one answers do you keep calling?
Thanks!

 

[Swede]

sojourner: There is no set answer to that question. It depends on where you are, how much on the move you are, and what you are trying to accomplish.
For example: If I am moving along, giving out some little cow calls, trying to disguise my movement, and telling elk within hearing range I am an elk; then I will give out a mew every minute or two. I may have a diaphragm and a bite and blow call to sound like a coupe of cows on the move feeding. I advance slowly and watch carefully so I do not bust out nearby elk. Often I will get a response to that type of calling.
If I am \"silent calling\" at midday, then the calling is one short call with about a minute of raking, then I move off a few yards to the side or forward. I will wait there 15 minutes before returning to give another short bugle and do some more raking. I am just trying to attract a curious bedded bull that may be in the area.
For cold calling I bugle, then wait 4-5 minutes and listen, then bugle again. After doing that for a half hour to a full hour, I move off to new territory and do that over again.
Now if I get a response, I move itoward the bull and ratchet up the calling using different calls to try and bring him in, or keep him occupied so my hunting partner can move in on the bull.

 

[cnelk]

I have calling \'circuits\'. I make big loops thru areas and call every 300-400 yds. I keep track of my last position via GPS. My loop can be as big as 5 miles or as little as a mile.
I call for 20 mins then if nothing responds or comes in, I move slowly to the next spot

 

[Swede]

Brad: How often do you normally call while at a calling location during the 20 minutes you wait? Does it matter what time of the day you are calling, when you only wait 20 minutes per setup?

 

[cnelk]

I like to call every 90 seconds or so. If there are 2 of us, we just call back and forth.
Nothing real loud at first, then pick up intensity at the 7-8 minute mark

Time of day does not matter.