Calling over water?

[iccyman001]

I have a question and also ask for your experiences in this thread.


My question is do you call over water holes?
My next question is have you experienced elk talking while near water?





I personally do not call over water. Whether I am on the ground or in a tree stand, I just don\'t call near a water hole.
I have a few reasons for this.

In a few of my experiences, I have watched elk cautiously stand about 70 yards away from the water edge, scanning for danger.
I feel like if I would have been calling, the elk would have heard it, but not seen anything, so it would most likely leave.

Another reason I don\'t COW call over water is because I have never experienced cow elk talking near water.
It\'s not to say this isn\'t possible and that\'s why I ask for your experiences.




I have heard a few bulls playing in the waters and bugling though. Both morning and night.





What do you do and what experiences do you have?




Thanks!

 

[cnelk]

I can honestly say that I have only sat over water a couple times and I didn\'t call.

 

[Swede]

I sit at places where, based on the evidence, tracks, trails, muddy water, elk scent etcetera, I have reason to believe elk will be coming to the water hole where I have placed my stand. Since I have hung my stand where there are trails coming to the water, I prefer to stay silent and wait. I have called in elk, but I have caused them to leave too. I think the worst thing we can do is respond to a bugle, that we hear off in the timber. I have found that bulls will sometimes bugle before they come to water. They are checking to see if other elk are nearby. That was true this season as I waited in my stand. The problem I encountered was, the bull went to a nearby water hole and wallow, instead of where I was waiting. I shot the cow that did come.
I too have observed elk waiting and watching until the deer left the water hole before coming in. I killed a 4X4 bull in 2005 that waited about 15 minutes watching until the deer left the area. As soon as the deer were gone he proceeded down the trail.

Brad I believe you completely explained why you often call from your stand and why I don\'t. You are using the call to attract the elk, while I am depending on the water to lure them. I am sitting in an area with limited water, so they are naturally drawn to where I am waiting.

 

[iccyman001]

I can honestly say that I have only sat over water a couple times and I didn\'t call.

Do you just not have a lot of water where you hunt? Too much water? Or just don\'t use that as part of your tactic?

 

[iccyman001]

I sit at places where, based on the evidence, tracks, trails, muddy water, elk scent etcetera, I have reason to believe elk will be coming to the water hole where I have placed my stand. Since I have hung my stand where there are trails coming to the water, I prefer to stay silent and wait. I have called in elk, but I have caused them to leave too. I think the worst thing we can do is respond to a bugle, that we hear off in the timber. I have found that bulls will sometimes bugle before they come to water. They are checking to see if other elk are nearby. That was true this season as I waited in my stand. The problem I encountered was, the bull went to a nearby water hole and wallow, instead of where I was waiting. I shot the cow that did come.
I too have observed elk waiting and watching until the deer left the water hole before coming in. I killed a 4X4 bull in 2005 that waited about 15 minutes watching until the deer left the area. As soon as the deer were gone he proceeded down the trail.

I like to hunt water holes for the same reasons you mentioned.
When I find an area that I am committed to, I want to be as concealed and quiet as can be.

I missed out on a good bull this year because I failed properly concealing myself.
The water hole I had found was very hot with sign, muddy water, and I had already seen many of elk there.

There was a perfect tree to use my climber, but for some reason I just never took the 5 minutes to clear the tree off and climb up.
I had convinced myself that the little blind I made would be enough.
I went to grab a snack one day and when I moved back up I noticed something was different.
There was a bull hitting in the trees about 70 yards off on the other side just looking at me.
15 minutes later after he decided he didn\'t like my movement, he ran off.

I went over to where he was standing and sure enough, from that spot, at that time (sun shining through), the blind was not sufficient enough.


I should have just hung my stand!!!!!! :x

 

[Guest]

I can\'t say much from experience but I am a fan of the idea that water holes are a inevitable destination that elk will go to and to just let it play out. However, I am hoping to next year try out running branches through water making splashing sounds. The idea behind it is that a bull may hear the splashing thinking it\'s an elk at his water hole. My initial issue was thinking ok, so he moves in and sees no elk, than what? Well apparently bulls may intentionally wait a bit before moving in to investigate. Their intentions are not to necessarily confront this elk, but to sniff around the edges for urine and things like that. So next year I will continue to not call at a water hole, but I may try the splashing method in the later afternoons before evening hunts.h

 

[Swede]

Devil, I think that is a great idea. Let me recommend you go to a waterhole close to a large bedding area. Get there while the elk are bedded, around 2:00-3:00 in the afternoon. Rake a tree for a couple of minutes, then give out a short bugle. Follow that up with some splashing, then hurry up your tree. Try not to stink up the area. I believe your bull, if he is nearby, will come and check out the new kid, (you) when he gets up from his siesta. By that time you will be fully prepared to give him a proper greeting. :mg: I have done that, and once I believe it worked like a charm.

 

[Guest]

Well I\'ll have to give that a try if I pull a tag next year.

 

[Ol' Arky]

I\'ve set on waterholes a lot when I elk hunted and never called BUT I love calling over water here at home... :mrgreen: :upthumb: :upthumb: :upthumb: :mrgreen: And it ain\'t long now... About another month...

 

[iccyman001]

I\'ve set on waterholes a lot when I elk hunted and never called BUT I love calling over water here at home... :mrgreen: :upthumb: :upthumb: :upthumb: :mrgreen: And it ain\'t long now... About another month...

:upthumb: :upthumb: :upthumb: :upthumb:

 

[Anonymous]

...

 

[Swede]

Ryan, You are absolutely right. Hunting over water is suited to areas where there is normally a limited supply. You may find an exceptional place, where the evidence shows elk congregate. It may be at a certain spring or water hole, but I know of areas with just too much water. If you are going to ambush elk in an area like yours, go with saddles, narrow corridors of cover, or other spots where well used trails come together. Mark Kayser\'s video could be helpful there. My comment about preferring the water hole option, from his video is certainly based on a limited water supply. I was keying some on the hot weather which sends the elk to water frequently.

 

[Deertick]

Another reason I don\'t COW call over water is because I have never experienced cow elk talking near water.
It\'s not to say this isn\'t possible and that\'s why I ask for your experiences.

I have too much water where I hunt to make this work, but ... one year in Colorado I did sit on water, and did have 9 cows and calves come in.

And they were talking like a bunch of gossiping teenagers, so I do think cows \"talk\" at water holes.

 

[WW]

Calling over water??????? WHY? If there is sign that indicates elk are using the water hole, the water itself is the attractant. Why mess up a good thing?