Elk Hunting Forum - Call him, or go to him?

[Deertick]

Mid-September, 9 a.m. and you\'re moving in a dark-timbered drainage.

You hear an unsolicited bugle downstream, probably on the other side, maybe 300 yards (maybe less, maybe more, you can\'t tell) away. Wind is nil, and thermals seem perpendicular to the line between you and the bull. You suspect this is not a herd bull by the wimpy nature of the bugle, but you know you can\'t count on that.

You wait for 10 (long) minutes and hear no further activity.

Next move?

 

[americanbwana]

Me. I would find a good setup spot, and throw out a couple of soft mews, every few minutes.

Wait about 20 -30 minutes, then move on.

He is either on his own looking for love, or dogging another herd.

AB

 

[bowhunter]

Me. I would find a good setup spot, and throw out a couple of soft mews, every few minutes.

Wait about 20 -30 minutes, then move on.

He is either on his own looking for love, or dogging another herd.

AB

I would probably do the same thing. I would set up and give a few calls. I might still hunt toward him to see if I could sneak in on him if he didn\'t respond. I would want to stay low toward the stream to hide my scent. Not much time left before the thermals change if it was sunny. I would check out the area where he was but wouldn\'t chase after him if he had moved up already.

 

[cnelk]

300yds is a loooooong way

Here would be my POA (Plan Of Attack)

Since the bugle was not prompted by you, I would send out a loud hyper hot cow call.
Be ready to pinpoint direction and location if he answers.
A regular volume cow call may not be heard at that distance.

If he answers, I\'m on my way right at him. Not another sound until I see a good, closer place to setup.

If he doesn\'t answer, I\'m on my way right at him. You know there is at least one vocal elk over there. I\'m going over there to go \'play\'

 

[elkmtngear]

Not much time left before the thermals change if it was sunny.

This would be my main concern. Gonna be tough to call him down and back up across that drainage at this time (although crazier things have happened).

I might try a big circle to get above him, and slowly move toward his position after the thermals switch. Cow call when I think I may be close, or stop him with a nervous grunt if I jump him out of his bed.

 

[Swede]

If the terrain and vegetation allow, I would try to get us within 100 yards or less before calling again. If the bull has not moved on to bed somewhere else, and one of us gives out a cow call, I would expect the bull to try to call us in. Then what do you plan to do?

 

[bowhunter]

You are right Brad. 300yds is long. Maybe a person should close that gap to 100yds or a bit less before setting up to call.

Good topic Deertick. Helps us learn by throwing out these what would you do posts.

 

[trophyhill]

:crazy:

 

[Swede]

In the scenario where you have the bull answer the cow call, with a \"come over here sweetie\" chuckle or other \"come to me babe\" call, you have a great opportunity to do what Corey Jacobson was doing in his video. Just scream back at him a challenge to tell him \"this cow is mine and she ain\'t comin. If you want her, come and git her.\"

 

[Deertick]

Swede! How un-treestand-like of you! Good to see you on the ground with the rest of us tail-less primates! :lol:

Actually, that\'s one of my questions.

You may get close enough that you establish a \"conversation\" between the bull and a cow (you) ...

How would you decide to go from that conversation to adding a \"bull\" to the mix?

I know -- Corey Jacobsen does it de rigueur. His idea seems to be that that is his \"base\" sequence, which he might vary from, but he\'s going to do that unless something tells him differently.

Is that how you all would approach it?

 

[cnelk]

Since its 9am, I think the fevor of the days rut my be winding down. I wouldn\'t get too aggressive

 

[Swede]

I would do just what Corey was advising. I would let Brad sit this one out in his tree stand. As long as the bull is willing to talk, we are engaged.

 

[archery bum]

I bought coreys video also. I like what he says in the video, keep it simple. Get in as close as you can and do not bugle until he does then challenge him. If he is correct if you bugle first then he challenges you he stays put and wants you too come to him. I like simple I\'m a simple man.

 

[WW]

In the scenario where you have the bull answer the cow call, with a \"come over here sweetie\" chuckle or other \"come to me babe\" call, you have a great opportunity to do what Corey Jacobson was doing in his video. Just scream back at him a challenge to tell him \"this cow is mine and she ain\'t comin. If you want her, come and git her.\"

Swede, I dare you to make that same post over on another forum :lol:

 

[Swede]

WW: I am not looking for trouble, but I think Corey has a good point. I agree with him. I like simple. Here is one thing I won\'t do. I will not pack a book into the woods and read about different options for calling when I get a response to my location bugle. I am not going to stand there and flip through the pages and try to decide, \"was that a location bugle or an advertising bugle\"? Ain\'t happening.

 

[Deertick]

Not looking for trouble, eh?

Well, simplicity is key to many things in life. I like the idea of having a \"base plan\" ... from which I can audible, but I know that I have a plan.

The game can\'t be played well with only \"audibles\" from the line of scrimmage.

 

[Swede]

Not looking for trouble, eh?

Dear deertick: lol I do not know just what you are referring to there, but I do occasionally harass. Two or three of my favorite targets are here on this forum. I just don\'t want to start a fight I can\'t win at least once in awhile.

 

[mainebrdr]

I see it now Swede. You don\'t pack the book with you, It\'s already in your stand, and your not standing, you\'re sitting! I got it now!!

 

[WW]

Not looking for trouble, eh?

Dear deertick: lol I do not know just what you are referring to there, but I do occasionally harass. Two or three of my favorite targets are here on this forum. I just don\'t want to start a fight I can\'t win at least once in awhile. [/

LOL! I love it Swede. Would I be able to guess who your favorite targets are? :lol: OK, who wins the tie breaker, Me or Brad :crazy:

Swede lives up in the great northwest. I think Bigfoot steps on Swede\'s prehensile tail every once in awhile and it just makes him want to pick on some individuals. I\'ve always wanted to meet Swede face to face and shake his hand. That will happen someday. Right brother?

 

[Deertick]

Hey! Don\'t drag me into it!

By the way, Swede, maybe I should listen to you more ... the only archery elk I ever killed was from a tree.