Elk Hunting Forum - Elk Calling 101

S

Swede

New member
Mar 4, 2014
1,722
\"New hunter here.\" We have read this line in one form or another many times. Often that lead is followed by a short introduction that includes a plan to go on \"my\" first elk bow hunt. When I get to Colorado I would like to be the Pied Piper of elk, but I really don\'t know which call to buy or what sound to make in the woods.
What is your opinion. I have just a few months to get ready to make those magic sounds. I want a reasonably simple calling plan and I would like your help selecting the right equipment. Since this site is not trying to sell anything, you should be able to direct me in the right path without offending anyone. I want instructions simple enough that even Swede could follow them. Okay, you can step it up a notch above Swede\'s level, but don\'t get carried away.
 
This was posted by WW on another thread. I think it\'s a must-see for the new elk hunter...very simple approach that is very effective!

Proves you do not have to have a P.H.D. in elk language, or be the \"Dr. Dolittle\" of elk to kill them. ;)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzWh3KCoIXE[/youtube]
 
For elk 101 I would ask the opinions for the 2 best open reed cow calls. Then order two different ones. Once they arrive I would learn to use them.
After a couple weeks I would PM someone on elkmentors and see if they would listen to me via a phone call.
Once my cow calling was determined effective, I would also be working on where I was going to hunt

To be continued
 
I would learn to chirp and mew, but especially chirp. If I\'m on my first elk hunt, my number one goal is to see an elk that I have a reasonable opportunity to shoot. I\'m not messing with bugles, I\'m going right to the cow sounds and I\'m going to call a cow or rag horn in and I\'m going to skewer him or her.
 
No Question Corey is putting out some Very Good Info there. I have killed quite a few like that myself. I remember doing the exact same thing, I called in 2 different herd bulls the same day doing exactly the same thing. I shot the 2nd one he just looked cool to me.
 
Troy, you are a pretty dang good caller yourself. We appreciate you dropping in and look forward to hearing your thoughts.
 
I really wanted to call against some of the best out there, this year at the RMEF World Elk Calling Championships.... but my Boss at my real Job will not let any of us off in the month of December... Peak season and all. Oh well. Not the end of the world.

I have helped countless New Elk Hunters start elk hunting and especially calling.

1. Learn to blow a bite call there are many good ones. Mine is the High Heel Hottie. I can show a newbie how to use it in less than 3 minutes.
2. Mouth calls... some people pick them up pretty fast some never seem to get it.
3. If you can learn the high pitch of the calf. on a mouth call, you can also do a small bugle.
4. I Never leave home during Sept and Oct. without a good mouth call and a bugle tube.
5. It is my opinion that most people that only cow call are not a confident bugler.JMO but... you are leaving home without the Aces. If I could NOT use a mouth call I would Learn use some kind of an External Bugle call for Location bugles at least. It is Just too important to leave home without. Where I live it is More important than your Binoculars!

6.If you leave home without some of my calls, You ARE missing out on opportunities! They sound just enough different that Elk can\'t help but answer them. RED ROBIN... YUM!
See what I mean>> The only reason you are not using them now, is because you have not tried them...YET!! LOL
7. As Cnelk points out above , you should have several different calls from various manufactures. Do you take a tackle box when you go fishing or just 1 hook?
 
Troy: What you have added is fine, but I still have a problem. Imagine it is September 4th or 24th. You have called in a nice bull for me already and my tag has been filled. I have your cow call and a couple of your mouth reeds, I have practiced with them for over a whole month. Just call me \"Mr. Experience\". I am feeling I can make a decent sound. It Is now my turn to call for you. What do you want me to serve up? Just keep it simple as I don\'t have a lot of judgment to add to my whole month of practice. Did I mention my wife hates those calls in the house or car, and the cat dives for cover as soon as I blow on one, so my practice has really been somewhat limited too. :lol:
 
Archery Bum ask how often to give location bugles. I\'ll do a locator once and wait several minutes for a reply. If I don\'t hear one, I will try again. If no answer that time it\'s off to greener pastures.
 
\"archery bum\" said:
how often should one keep blowing off location bugles if nothing is answering back?
Click to expand...

Only 3 things cause that scenario...
1. There are no elk in the vicinity to answer back.
2. You are using the wrong end of the call, it is either upside down and or backwards. LOL
3. You are using a call that the elk has heard a zillion times and associates with a human or just doesn\'t sound quite right.

OK Seriously

So when I do a location bugle I wait maybe a minute, but I fully Expect an elk to answer back within the first few seconds. If he doesn\'t I point my tube a different direction and do another bugle just like the 1St one ... no grunts or chuckles. just listen. If I still don\'t get an answer I might bugle again 1 more time. This time putting a few chuckles at the end maybe?? If still no answer, I am probably moving on. I should say that I am looking not just for an elk.. I am looking for Vocal elk. I am not saying that is the best strategy for everybody... That is just how I like to hunt them.
 
\"Swede\" said:
Troy: What you have added is fine, but I still have a problem. Imagine it is September 4th or 24th. You have called in a nice bull for me already and my tag has been filled. I have your cow call and a couple of your mouth reeds, I have practiced with them for over a whole month. Just call me \"Mr. Experience\". I am feeling I can make a decent sound. It Is now my turn to call for you. What do you want me to serve up? Just keep it simple as I don\'t have a lot of judgment to add to my whole month of practice. Did I mention my wife hates those calls in the house or car, and the cat dives for cover as soon as I blow on one, so my practice has really been somewhat limited too. :lol:
Click to expand...

Ok I have been down this road a lot of times. So I know what to do... first off I will send you back to the truck to retrieve a couple of pack frames and a couple bottles of gatorade... and a few granola bars.maybe a few of your cookies too. Then I will bugle in the bull and kill him on my own... Only 2 guys have ever called in a bull for me.... So hurry back with the pack frames, cookies and gatorade! LOL If you didn\'t practice calling enough ,and you want to help out, NOW ...I will hand you my knife! Please be careful with the cape! ROTFL :lol: :lol:
 
\"Glacier Country\" said:
Ok I have been down this road a lot of times. So I know what to do... first off I will send you back to the truck to retrieve a couple of pack frames and a couple bottles of gatorade... and a few granola bars.maybe a few of your cookies too. Then I will bugle in the bull and kill him on my own... Only 2 guys have ever called in a bull for me.... So hurry back with the pack frames, cookies and gatorade! LOL If you didn\'t practice calling enough ,and you want to help out, NOW ...I will hand you my knife! Please be careful with the cape! ROTFL
Click to expand...

So how is that being a elk mentor? :lol:
 
In all fairness, in your scenario he did call one in for his buddy already :) Now he is mentoring him on how to pack it out! :lol:
 
OH NO! Looks like Swede has found someone else to pick on! :wtf: :lol: :clap:
 
\"cohunter14\" said:
In all fairness, in your scenario he did call one in for his buddy already Now he is mentoring him on how to pack it out!
Click to expand...
But I have already learned to pack out elk. I had to pack half of my own. Now I want to learn to make a few good calls so I can call one in instead of having to just be the shooter and packer. Does anyone here have some relatively easy elk calling tips a relative newbie can use, or does a guy have to go to one of those other forums to learn that information? :problem:
 
An old Swede told me he liked to get near a bedding area in the late morning or early afternoon. He sets up down wind, usually along the edge of the bedding are up the uphill side, All he does is rake a small tree and hit it with a hard limb. He may give a short bugle, then he goes off a few yards and waits to see if anything curious comes sneaking in.

Another stunt he told me about is similar. He will get in close to a bedding are at the same time of day as I just described and just give out a series of whiney little bugles. He does that for 2-3 minutes then moves away and waits.

I think all the old Swede ever gets are dumb elk. Are dumb elk ever fat? I really don\'t care much about their IQ.
 
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