Herd talk?

[iccyman001]

When doing your call sequences, are you trying to sound like one bull? one cow? Or are you trying to sound like multiple elk?

Please tell me about your sequences and scenarios.

 

[cnelk]

Depends.
If I am working a bull, I want him to think I am one of two things
1- A cow in heat
2- Another bull
If one dont peak his interest, I will switch

Sometimes multiple elk calls will be effective when \'cold/blind calling more than a single call

It all depends on the day!

 

[AndyJ]

What Brad said.

My hands down, most productive calling sequence is when I have located a worked up bull. A bull that is blowing rank bugles every time I blow a cow mew. I blow a few mews then get about fifty feet closer to the bull and blow a bugle. A lot of times that bull can\'t stand the idea of another bull getting a cow he has been talking to. I blow a small sounding bugle. I want the bull to think he can destroy the bull that I am pretending to be. I have had more bulls sprint in to this sequence than all other sequences combined.

 

[Glacier Country]

I agree with cnelk here.... It depends upon what picture you want to paint in the elks mind, to make him REACT to the calls you make. I am not afraid to use whatever sound or sounds to paint a picture in an elks mind to try to make them come to me. There are no hard and fast rules.
Just think to yourself .... What is the elk you are targeting? A cow ,a raghorn, a 3 1/2 year old 6pt or a big old 330 class herd bull. Or is the herd bull just a decent 5x5. What calls do you think might might get each of these individual elk to React. What Scenario would you make each elk believe to have the best chance for that elk to React to your calling and come to you? I don\'t just go out there calling willi nillie after I locate them. Depending on the situation I am given and what type of animal I am targeting I use whatever sounds I believe will give me the best opportunity.
Troy glaciercountryhuntingcalls.com

 

[iccyman001]

Ok, I like it. Being flexible for the situation or for what your goal is.


Andy, that seems like a cool sequence. I hope that I can find a worked up bull sometime and try it out.


So no one will just do it as a cold call? I can understand why you three wouldn\'t because it seems like you are either trying in a certain bull or have something in mind.

What if you have been having an issue finding elk?
Would random herd talk bring in something like a satellite or younger bulls who is curious?

 

[Glacier Country]

In Colorado your seasons open earlier than ours do in Montana. Therefore you guys hunt more of the prerut than I do. So I do far less cold calling. I typically hunt from Sept 5th ish , but get more serious around the 12th-24th. Where I locate a bull then try to paint the picture etc.
If I was doing a cold calling sequence in the earlier season late August early September.I would do it just like rattling for a whitetail. Find a likely spot then try to project an elk party of some sort , Raking stomping, excited calling or a breeding sequence. You are hoping to bring in an elk with curiosity here.

What Brad said.

My hands down, most productive calling sequence is when I have located a worked up bull. A bull that is blowing rank bugles every time I blow a cow mew. I blow a few mews then get about fifty feet closer to the bull and blow a bugle. A lot of times that bull can\'t stand the idea of another bull getting a cow he has been talking to. I blow a small sounding bugle. I want the bull to think he can destroy the bull that I am pretending to be. I have had more bulls sprint in to this sequence than all other sequences combined.

I have used AndyJ scenario above many times in mid Sept to early October with great results as well!
Troy glaciercountryhuntingcalls.com

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

I never think of it it terms of bull or cow sounds. Many guys are elk killers and have their own tactics that work for them. One thing I\'ve learned over the years is that every area, unit, and state can be different in terms of successful tactics. While simple cow calling may work for you, it means tag soup for some of the areas I hunt. So instead of defining what calls or sounds to use, I define 3 objectives one should consider before they start calling.

1) How can I peak the bulls curiosity?
2) How can I present the impression that a bull is about to gain an opportunity and therefore must react?
3) How can I present the impression that a bulls is about to loose an opportunity and therefore must react?

My 2-cents!