Do I need to bugle.....

[iccyman001]

For all you callers.
Can you still be an effective caller without bugling?


Are there certain times where you may not bugle and other times you would? (pre rut/ rut/ post rut)

I plan on using this next year to really step up my call game, so I am interested in what everyone has to say.


:train:

 

[cnelk]

Dan
last week, we heard very few bugles and they didnt respond to any of my stuff.
When I go next week, I will be doing bugling to see what the temperament is.

Mainbdr just stopped by on their way home, they heard very few bugles too this past week.
A strange year

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Some people follow blindly, even when the \"tactics\" are less than productive. Over the past couple years, I\'ve come to the conclusion that not all elk are the same. Their attitude can change greatly depending on geographical location, time of year, and hunting pressure.

So with that I have a hard time saying......\"use bugles for x and cow calls for y\". Be your own elk hunter/caller and don\'t try to imitate anyone. Listen to experience and learn different sequences. Only then can you make a proper decision for the area you hunt.

For starters, you need to learn the different elk sounds and what they mean. Then apply learned sequence or ones that you created on your own. But in doing so, remember several key rules. I call them the Golden 7.

1) Elk are curious.
2) Elk are social and herd animals.
3) Bulls would rather you go to them.
4) All bulls have the instinct to rut.
5) Bulls will try to keep every cow.
6) Bulls will try gain any cow but not at the risk of loosing one they already own.
7) Herd bulls can be challenged for dominance, but only when you\'re within their comfort zone.

So for example, one sequence might be that you work in on a satellite bull that is just screaming for you to come to him(#3). Stop at about 80 yards and give some whinny cow sounds. Then if he doesn\'t come to meet you, given short screaming bugles, lots of ground noise, and very whinny mews. This is what I call the hooked cow sequence and gives the other bull the impression that \'his\' cow is being hooked by another bull(#5).

Just my 2-cents!

 

[iccyman001]

Some people follow blindly, even when the \"tactics\" are less than productive. Over the past couple years, I\'ve come to the conclusion that not all elk are the same. Their attitude can change greatly depending on geographical location, time of year, and hunting pressure.

So with that I have a hard time saying......\"use bugles for x and cow calls for y\". Be your own elk hunter/caller and don\'t try to imitate anyone. Listen to experience and learn different sequences. Only then can you make a proper decision for the area you hunt.

For starters, you need to learn the different elk sounds and what they mean. Then apply learned sequence or ones that you created on your own. But in doing so, remember several key rules. I call them the Golden 7.

1) Elk are curious.
2) Elk are social and herd animals.
3) Bulls would rather you go to them.
4) All bulls have the instinct to rut.
5) Bulls will try to keep every cow.
6) Bulls will try gain any cow but not at the risk of loosing one they already own.
7) Herd bulls can be challenged for dominance, but only when you\'re within their comfort zone.

So for example, one sequence might be that you work in on a satellite bull that is just screaming for you to come to him(#3). Stop at about 80 yards and give some whinny cow sounds. Then if he doesn\'t come to meet you, given short screaming bugles, lots of ground noise, and very whinny mews. This is what I call the hooked cow sequence and gives the other bull the impression that \'his\' cow is being hooked by another bull(#5).

Just my 2-cents!

You know you are turning me into a freak. I look at calling as this huge feat that I want to master. I know I am not always just going to luck out with finding an elk right away. So I want to use this to my advantage.

I will look at your golden 7 and start listening to some elk noises, then try to mimic the scenerios!

Dan
last week, we heard very few bugles and they didnt respond to any of my stuff.
When I go next week, I will be doing bugling to see what the temperament is.

Mainbdr just stopped by on their way home, they heard very few bugles too this past week.
A strange year

That\'s odd. My unit is just south of Colorado and they were going pretty crazy (at least in my opinion)

When are you heading out next?






Thanks guys

 

[Zpd307]

not much bugling or talking where i was at in Idaho..... but, we also heard wolves nearby everyday and all day...

 

[elkmtngear]

Dan,
I can honestly tell you we have killed quite a few bulls over the years, just using cow calls.

However, every encounter is different, and it is possible that in certain scenarios, bugling can work in your favor.

Getting out into the elk and getting a feel for what\'s going on is the key for me. It dictates how I will proceed with my calling. I like to get \"tuned in\" to the elk, and I go from there.

All you can do is proceed with your best guess as to what they want to hear. The more time you spend in the elk woods, the better you get at it.

My bull this Season was killed without any calling at all. But, I used both cow calling and bugling in other encounters before I finally sealed the deal.

I think it helps to be ready for anything, just my two cents!