Hunting in crowded areas

[tcolagrossi]

I'm a newby elk hunter....that being said, I'll probably be hunting somewhat crowded areas during archery season because it's all I know at this time.  Is there a way to accurately determine if a call is coming from another hunter or an actual elk?
your comments are appreciated!
-T

 

[tcolagrossi]

....I guess I should say that I would probably be able to differentiate between a bad call and an elk, but what if the caller was really experienced?  Also, glassing the area to try and located the call would be tough because I will be hunting very thick cover in W WA areas.....

 

[MT_mulies]

I don't know if there is a great answer for this. I say that because I have heard some pretty "terrible" sounding bugles that unless I was watching the bull I would have thought it was another hunter. Then I have heard some pretty good bugles that were from hunters that you cant differential from. The thing I usually pay attention to is if the bugle changes a little bit....meaning if it sounds like it is being directed in a different direction from time to time and if it is moving around. Lots of people bugle in the same direction when they think they have "located" a bull(me) but in my experience a bull that is coming in will be in a canyon then on a side hill then behind a ridge then right there. Or if a bull is answering but not interested it will bugle from the same area but facing a different way from time to time because he is chasing cows or smaller bulls off. I learned last year as well that bulls don't always respond to a bugle. They might respond every other bugle or for a couple in a row then nothing. A person usually bugles back everytime. Thats just from my experiences, but I"m sure its different for every person.

 

[lvlk8541]

Good way to find out is if you bugle and suspect it's another hunter replying, try a cow call. Most hunters won't respond to a cow call but bulls will. Just something I've learned and heard from friends.

 

[turbo1967]

NO good way to know,there is not really a bad elk bugle.I have seen elk bugle back and forth with the exhaust from a d9 cat before  if there in the mood they will respond to most any thing,but may not come into it.I have also walked away from what I would have bet money on was a hunter because it was coming from the midle of the road and then say it was a 7 x 8 bull.Some times I will intentionaly sound like a young bull all crackly and off key to make the bigger bull want to kick my butt.Main thing is dont spend alot of time from far away get in close.

 

[COelkaholic88]

Good way to find out is if you bugle and suspect it's another hunter replying, try a cow call. Most hunters won't respond to a cow call but bulls will. Just something I've learned and heard from friends.

You nailed it LVLK, bulls will usually bugle when cow called to. Hunters 95% of the time will always answer with a response bugle when they hear a bugle in the distance (my self included). If there's ever a question when using a location bugle, try a few cow calls. See what happens.

 

[tcolagrossi]

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated!

 

[BrentLaBere]

I wish I had an answer for you. The best one may be to not give up on it until you are sure. last year on my 5th day of the hunt I decided to throw some locator bugles out right before sunset. To my surprise I got an answer, and it sounded perfect? High long toned bugle with chuckles after it. So, I answered back with another locator bugle and again this perfect bugle came back at me, twice! More and more sounds began ringing off so I stepped out of the drainage I was in to see if I could spot it with my binos. As I reached the top of the hill I noticed a vehicle roughly a mile away in that direction. I figured it was some road hunters or even some rifle hunters scouting for the season. So with it nearing the end I started back to my truck. The next day I was tired and bored so I decided to head over to that vehicle and see what they were up to. The hunter heard calling off in the distance of an elk the night before. haha, well I started laughing a little and told him we were more than likely calling back and forth. He had a weird look on his face saying he was out there after coyotes and mt lions. I pointed in the direction I was and said yes, I heard calling there to begin with, and then 5 minutes later a nice 6 point came running from the next drainage behind him in my direction bugling like crazy! To say the least I am happy I stopped over, I got on that bull two days later......the bull in my avatar was the one making all that racket

 

[Jeremiah Johnson]

As noted most peeps will not bugle to a cow call....and I as well have heard some very bad bugles made by elk.....additionally many hunters will give themselves away with a bad grunt...if in doubt check it out better to be called in than lose an opportunity

 

[Bullhunter]

I hunt in a crowded area and have had people bugle at me when i crack of a locator bugle.  So if i think its a person i will make some turkey calls and then they will realize hey its probably a person down in the drainage and not a bull.  But i always check it out whether its a person or not.  you just never know until you close the distance.

 

[Fullabull]

My dad and I hunt in a crowded area and every year I call in hunters. The best way for me to tell is how the answer comes back and if the sound they are making makes any sense. Our season is early here in WA so if I send out some soft cow sounds and I get a hard challenge bugle back, that doesn't make sense or I send out a location or lazy bugle get back a bunch of estrus cow sounds and whines. Make them respond to you how you would expect. Most of the hunters I run into do not call at all because they are afraid of not doing it right. If you are new to elk hunting, check out everything!

 

[Bugle Em In]

Good advice above guys.  Never let your gaurd down though.  I missed the chance at a decent bull one year thinking it was a guy (he sounded terrible).  I learned from my mistake and take nothing forgranted.

Good luck this season.

 

[ribo451]

I don't know of a good way to tell definitively one way or another. I have been fooled by elk and by hunters. With enough time in the woods you will be able to make educated guesses. If the area you are hunting is really crowded then you probably wont here a lot of real bugling anyway. They seem to know the difference and it doesn't take them long to go silent when pressured. I would try some locator bugles but mostly I would stick to cow calling.

This is the time to be out scouting for new, more secluded areas unless you are traveling long distance to your elk hunting area. Even then you can find some pretty good areas scouting online.

 

[DIRK DURHAM]

As noted most peeps will not bugle to a cow call....and I as well have heard some very bad bugles made by elk.....additionally many hunters will give themselves away with a bad grunt...if in doubt check it out better to be called in than lose an opportunity

X2 JJ.


A weak bugle from a long distance is pretty tough to judge unless it sounds like a flute.  Many hunters wont have the cadence exactly right with their grunts and chuckles. Also, the the high note that drops to the low note, and the low guttural notes are VERY hard to duplicate exactly for most buglers. There are just some sounds that we cant replicate exactly. Once you hear several bulls in comparison to other hunters you will notice a fair distinction between them.

I like to take note of other parked vehicles. Note where roads and trails lead, and also where I've ran into people before.


If you have a hunting partner, you should split up and call back and forth listening to the tones. This may help tuning your ear......


But like what was said earlier, if there is any doubt you better check it out

 

[nclonghunter]

I do not get to elk hunt as much as turkey hunt, but I can almost tell you what type of turkey call a hunter is using. They each have a distinct sound. I would also think someone who gets to hunt elk a lot will be able to tell a lot about the sounds they hear. An elk reed call I can tell what it is, but a good diaphragm caller can be difficult to know for sure.


Practice and getting to hunt a lot will be the best teacher.....Good Luck!

 

[newmrc]

Good question and replies. I'm a rookie elk hunter also.


So if your in Co 49 this year and you hear a bugle that sounds like an inmature bull, tangled up in a fence, that is stepping on a dying rabbit, its just me.