Have you called in a bull opening weekend?

[Marc_350]

Just wondering how many of you have had luck opening weekend cow calling in a bull. last year i called in a 5 pt but wasn't ready at all because i was hunting a new spot i hadn't hunted before or seen sign yet. learned to always have a arrow knocked in elk country.

 

[turbo1967]

I do little calling opening week end , most years opening is on labor day week end lots of people out. Its a heavily hunted area and the less activity opening day the better chance people will leave to a diff area. A little calling early morning and late evening an usually get good reply's. After opening day all is well, let the games begin.

 

[Bullhunter]

Only once did I have a raghorn come in opening morning. This was on the oregon coast and was around 85 degrees. Caught me off guard.

 

[wapiti_will]

sometimes opening weekend can be pretty damn good.  hiking in the friday before opening day last year I was surrounded by bugling bulls.  i kept thinking it was a bunch of stupid hunters blasting away as they hiked in.  so i tossed out a cow call for fun...had a bull close a 300 yard gap in about 10 seconds...lucky for him it was still friday.  the same area the year before was dead quiet, and caught they me eating my lunch with my bow ten feet away... just had to sit and watch the herd walk by.  i usually like to stay quiet if the elk are quiet and stick to spot and stalk.

 

[Wrayzer]

Opening day (Sept 10) Last season I pulled a herd right to me, I had 8 cows come to within 20 yards of me as I was cow calling.  I spotted the bull trailing behind so I unloaded on cow calls.  Brought him to 8 yards.  He wasn't legal to shoot, so I took the camera out and got some video of him right beside me.
After he left, he went to my partner who was 300 yards up, and started raking trees about 30 yards in front of him.  Even thought we couldn't take him, it was a very cool experience.
Cow calls work.  Remember, its the herd cow who will dictate where the herdgoes, bring her in.

 

[Idaho_Elk_DIY]

last year was a crazy year for me. i had bulls talking to me from opening day august 30th till the last day of the season september 30th. the biggest bull was the third day of the season and i never heard him come in because i was focused on the other two bulls that were going crazy bellow me. i got caught with my pants around my ankles a few times last year. never sealed the deal either.

 

[Marc_350]

That's cause your hunting in Idaho lol. Thanks for the info this is super interesting to me.

 

[nclonghunter]

We go out around Labor Day and or the next week and we have had no bulls bugling at all in Colorado, however some local friends that hunt every weekend has had bulls bugling opening weekend, then they stopped. It seemed like they did start to pick up again towards the last week of archery. Several people have said that they will often bugle around opening weekend and then get quiet, but no one can say why. Maybe it is just people pressure.


First year we went out they were crazy bugling and got better as the weeks progressed. We hunted them hard and it didn't seem to slow them at all. Hasn't been like that again, but first year it was colder and greener (lots of berries everywhere). Last few years it's been hot,dry and poor grass with little sign of berries.


Hoping this year will be one of the early starts for the rut, just know way that I know of to know. Maybe some one does?

 

[Marc_350]

Last year I didn't hear much of OTC colorado  bugles either. I sure hope they are just screaming this year.

 

[MATT STRAW]

I heard one bugle opening day but it was very obviously a hunter, I didnt hear a bugle until about sept 18th last year out here in Co.

 

[coloelko]

So do ya think a locater bugle in the morning is pointless early in the season?

 

[ribo451]

I would still try it. Especially early in the morning.

 

[Marc_350]

I wouldn't use a locator bugle on opening weekend. The only way ill bugle is at night at camp or if one bugles at me first. Chances are your not going to get a response, but what you will do is let every living thing in your area know exactly where your at. I plan on just shooting a few cow calls in the early mornings and late evenings. Do what you do I'm not saying your not going to call in a bull bugling open weekend but the bulls are usually splitting up and gathering there harems making it a good time to cow call in a monarch before he gets all his cows together. Once that happens its tough to sneak up on the big ones.

 

[Heath74]

Went out this weekend with the wife and 4 month old to check some trail cams. I checked 1 then went up on a point above the camera and did a few cow calls over about 20 mins. then 1 locator bugle an got an answers right away. I was .8 miles in and he was about another 1/4 mile away. It was 7:30 am. The wife and baby did not go on that hike. Later that afternoon heading in to put out another camera I jumped this bull. I cow called and stopped him about 100 yds. away. After about 20 mins of cow calls and bugles he came in to 45 yds. and I took these pics. He was looking for what was calling but couldn't see any cows so he walked off. I was in my street clothes but I had the wind in my favor. Opening day is 8/30 and yes I will bugle some.

 

[Bogey]

We usually hunt the second and third week, but work is getting in the way, so we will be hunting opening day.  Never have called in opening day, but hopefully they will come in this year.

 

[nclonghunter]

No velvet and responding to calls...that's all good. Thanks for sharing the story and photos.

 

[Marc_350]

Awesome! thanks for the pics and the info. Goodluck to you on the 30th.

 

[Fullabull]

Yes, I call from the moment I am 100 yards down the trail. I usually cow call when walking. Last year on the second day of WA season, I called in a bull with a lazy sounding bugle. He answered my first call, then a minute later answered a second one and was coming in. He came in silent looking for me and I put him on the ground. Elk will always answer if you get the curious enough to want too.


The season is early and big bulls are not gathering cows so young bulls will be hanging with the cows thinking they are king of the hill. You can easily get a bull to come in but most likely quiet so keep on your toes.

 

[farmboy]

Here in southern oregon my partner and I have called in bulls on opening weekend 5 yrs in a row like clockwork.  Last three years they were answering bugles and much more vocal than you might expect, and I'm sure its because we have begun to add more bugling to our early season routine.  Sure its more common for them to sneak in silent that early, but not always.  Jim Horn's silent calling routine works great because it has a mix of herd talking, a little estrus calling, and a locator bugle with each sequence. Sometimes they come running in silent and sometimes they immediately answer the bugle.  Ya just never know

 

[billsansom]

Archery usually opens on Labor day weekend in Montana (not this year though).  I've usually had good luck calling opening day, and that first week.  Cow elk are starting to come in heat and bulls are on the prowl.  I've had good luck with wimpy bugling through the season and cow calf calling.  But, I advise not getting too energetic about it. Remember, bulls aren't looking for trouble, they might come in to a weakling sounding bugle, but the girls are what they are mostly interested in.  Also forget all that bunk about frosty nights and cool mornings making bulls bugle.  I killed a nice bull in Arizona in 95 degree heat, in middle of day. Cow called him in.  I killed a bull in Montana's Missouri River Breaks on a beautiful and hot morning, cow call stopped him broadside...and nearly killed myself with dehydration and heat exhaustion getting him up out of that oven like coulee.  Keep the bugling low key, and the cow calling too.  Give 'em a chance to sneak in on you.  If you got an answer,  hunker down and wait....he knows where you are.  He'll come and look......or not.