Okay I have a unit and location to go to (thanks to a member on this forum)! He has also given me some advice on how to hunt. I would like some suggestions on what works for everybody. I can only relate to turkey hunting. I can call in heavily pressured birds on public land when other hunters give up. It\'s all about creating scenarios and being where other hunters aren\'t. I have been turkey since I was 13, I\'m 42 now so a lot of years of experience. I very seldom sit down until it\'s time to pull up a headnet take the safety off. I don\'t have a solid game plan as of now but I\'m thinking walk to the way points I have scouted (map only) before daylight put the wind in my face and hunt slowly and stopping every ??? yards to do some cow calling and possibly a bugle and then wait ??? minutes. If I get a response rake trees and get aggressive or just play like a coy cow. Also if I use a small sounding bugle does that work kind of like a kee kee run on a non dominant bull. My goal is to shoot a bull with 5 on one side. I\'ll take any suggestions. Thanks.
Hunting Tactics
- Thread starter razorback
- Start date
Bob Frapples
Member
- Mar 10, 2014
- 367
When are you going? early/late archery, muzzy or gun? im a noob but Ive learned that will alter the tactics just a bit from what Ive learned from these guys. Other than that Ill keep my foot out of my mouth for now 
Just put your hunter/predator instincts to use and you\'ll do just fine.
Look for pinch points, go slow, listen and watch more more anything.
Look for fresh elk scat, beds and rubs.
Do not over call.
When you do call, dont be afraid to put some emotion in it.
Other times, call softly.
It all depends on the day.
And when you least expect it, an elk will be right there in front of you.
We have a favorite saying....
Each night the deck is shuffled and tomorrow your are dealt a new hand...
Look for pinch points, go slow, listen and watch more more anything.
Look for fresh elk scat, beds and rubs.
Do not over call.
When you do call, dont be afraid to put some emotion in it.
Other times, call softly.
It all depends on the day.
And when you least expect it, an elk will be right there in front of you.
We have a favorite saying....
Each night the deck is shuffled and tomorrow your are dealt a new hand...
I\'m sure his advice is accurate. He says elk will tend to come in quietly and to give each calling session an hour. If I hear an aggressive bull get after him. I\'m not sure what constitutes an aggressive or hot bull. Just wanted to get different opinions, I feel like I\'m wearing this guy slick with questions. I\'ve hunted all my life but only for whitetails and turkeys. Not sure a lot of that experience will help me out on elk.
americanbwana
New member
- Sep 3, 2017
- 396
If it is who I think it is you will not be able to ask to many questions.
I listened to him at the camp fire and was rewarded with one of my best elk hunting experiences the next morning.
One of the top five elk hunters I\'ve ever known :clap:
I listened to him at the camp fire and was rewarded with one of my best elk hunting experiences the next morning.
One of the top five elk hunters I\'ve ever known :clap:
When you hunt slowly as you indicated, I would suggest that you use your binoculars even in thick areas. Before I started using binos, when I was in thicker to moderate areas, I essentially had a false sense of security, thinking I could see everything in my feild of view with my naked eye. When I started using binos in the thick ares, I would start to pick up an ear, a peice of tan hide, a leg, etc. It was a bit counter-intuitive, as typically one may think since you are in thick or moderate areas and can only see through trees up to say 175yds, that you don\'t need your binos since you are not glassing across a valley. But the thickness of the cover can also be a detriment if you don\'t see the elk first.
I agree with Brad in not over-calling. It sure is fun to call in elk, but it doesn\'t always end up like an elk hunting DVD. Public land elk can get educated quickly. I prefer to still hunt and sometimes call to locate a bull. If I hear a bull, I will typically not call and try to ambush it - moving in silently and using my binos. Others will set up and call, which also works, I just prefer to not let the bull know that something else is out there, as they will know that its either another elk or a human calling based on their experiences.
I agree with Brad in not over-calling. It sure is fun to call in elk, but it doesn\'t always end up like an elk hunting DVD. Public land elk can get educated quickly. I prefer to still hunt and sometimes call to locate a bull. If I hear a bull, I will typically not call and try to ambush it - moving in silently and using my binos. Others will set up and call, which also works, I just prefer to not let the bull know that something else is out there, as they will know that its either another elk or a human calling based on their experiences.
Think about how big an elks antlers are and then think about the size of trees they tackle.
Sometimes I like to use a branch at least 2in and 3ft long that won\'t break. And really give a tree a work over.
Last year when I called in my bull, I just took my hand (had glove on) and rubbed the bark and broke smoke lower branches. But the bulls were close.
Try it all
Sometimes I like to use a branch at least 2in and 3ft long that won\'t break. And really give a tree a work over.
Last year when I called in my bull, I just took my hand (had glove on) and rubbed the bark and broke smoke lower branches. But the bulls were close.
Try it all
Glacier Country
New member
- Nov 13, 2013
- 177
I can tell that I hunt elk somewhat differently than, some of the guys here. It is obvious that there is more than one way to get it done.
I hunt elk like this.
1)Check the Wind! I try to put myself in the best wind situation, if at all possible before I call.
2) Locate bugle ... When he answers, I get the Wind, cut the distance at least in half, before I call again.Check wind again! This time if I call it may be a cow call,because it is non threatening?and a herd bull will gladly accept another cow. Dan Moore would tell you that this is a mistake! So I am not afraid to bugle here either... it just depends upon what I think will work best here.When the bull answers cut the distance again, this time I am trying to get within about 80 yards or closer of the bull. At the same time I am looking for a great setup position with the wind in my favor and good shooting lanes . I also want enough timber or brush behind me to make a bull believe there is an elk back there that he can hear, but still can\'t see. I want him to have to break 30 yards to see what he is hearing. This way I put him in shooting range, now I just have to get a shot once he is in range. Yep I will rake a tree, do a bull moan, cow estrous, Bulls bugling at each other cows fighting,Elk party...throw whatever scenario at them when I am in the Zone. I am also not afraid to walk away and not push an iffy situation.
This is what I do in a nutshell over and over to take elk in areas I have never even looked at on a map. Of course the more info you have on an area the better! The bull I shot last year, for example, I had a guy mention that they hunted an \" area\" that they saw a few elk 5 weeks earlier. I bugled a bull earlier that morning and left him. I have hunted that spot before and he had the advantage in that particular spot. So we went where I never had been. It worked that time. I left several herds alone that weekend that I knew had been pressured by me and others. My wife Rifled one of those bulls the opening day of the MT rifle season. I bugled in that bull as well. In a heavily hunted area. How heavily hunted you ask ...well 9000 guys hunted yes 9K and 24 elk taken. in 10 weeks. I only hunt here because we live here. The hunting is not good here. So I bugle... I can cover sometimes 3/4 to a mile with a bugle. So I am loud when I call to get a response. Then fine tune Tone , intensity and pitch from there once we locate one. The hardest part for us here is just finding one. Good habitat here may be void of elk. Wolves may have just killed some or other hunters may have put on a lot of pressure. So we are mobile and try to key in on Vocal Elk. Sometimes you just gotta Let er Buck! Don\'t be afraid to try something new.
I hunt elk like this.
1)Check the Wind! I try to put myself in the best wind situation, if at all possible before I call.
2) Locate bugle ... When he answers, I get the Wind, cut the distance at least in half, before I call again.Check wind again! This time if I call it may be a cow call,because it is non threatening?and a herd bull will gladly accept another cow. Dan Moore would tell you that this is a mistake! So I am not afraid to bugle here either... it just depends upon what I think will work best here.When the bull answers cut the distance again, this time I am trying to get within about 80 yards or closer of the bull. At the same time I am looking for a great setup position with the wind in my favor and good shooting lanes . I also want enough timber or brush behind me to make a bull believe there is an elk back there that he can hear, but still can\'t see. I want him to have to break 30 yards to see what he is hearing. This way I put him in shooting range, now I just have to get a shot once he is in range. Yep I will rake a tree, do a bull moan, cow estrous, Bulls bugling at each other cows fighting,Elk party...throw whatever scenario at them when I am in the Zone. I am also not afraid to walk away and not push an iffy situation.
This is what I do in a nutshell over and over to take elk in areas I have never even looked at on a map. Of course the more info you have on an area the better! The bull I shot last year, for example, I had a guy mention that they hunted an \" area\" that they saw a few elk 5 weeks earlier. I bugled a bull earlier that morning and left him. I have hunted that spot before and he had the advantage in that particular spot. So we went where I never had been. It worked that time. I left several herds alone that weekend that I knew had been pressured by me and others. My wife Rifled one of those bulls the opening day of the MT rifle season. I bugled in that bull as well. In a heavily hunted area. How heavily hunted you ask ...well 9000 guys hunted yes 9K and 24 elk taken. in 10 weeks. I only hunt here because we live here. The hunting is not good here. So I bugle... I can cover sometimes 3/4 to a mile with a bugle. So I am loud when I call to get a response. Then fine tune Tone , intensity and pitch from there once we locate one. The hardest part for us here is just finding one. Good habitat here may be void of elk. Wolves may have just killed some or other hunters may have put on a lot of pressure. So we are mobile and try to key in on Vocal Elk. Sometimes you just gotta Let er Buck! Don\'t be afraid to try something new.
Thanks Troy. I wished I could sit down with you and get some tips on making my cow sounds better. I have some audio clips of you on my phone. Listen to them about every night and then try to repeat them. Bugles, no problem. All of your reeds do very well. The cow sounds are tough for me I keep wanting to break the note over like a yelp. Sometimes I get it right and sometimes not so great. Last time I talked to you I didn\'t think I would be going this year. Looks like I\'m going to get to go after all!
The tactic you just described seems very similar to something I use on pressured gobblers. I called a bird in on the last weekend on of season that had hunters in the immediate area every day of the season. He never gobbled at daylight nor to anything I through at him until I created the \"scenario\". Used that many times on pressured birds. Just hope I can find and bull and remember the \"wind thing\".
The tactic you just described seems very similar to something I use on pressured gobblers. I called a bird in on the last weekend on of season that had hunters in the immediate area every day of the season. He never gobbled at daylight nor to anything I through at him until I created the \"scenario\". Used that many times on pressured birds. Just hope I can find and bull and remember the \"wind thing\".
Pay close attention to what Troy says. He knows how to hunt elk.
When calling, do what the elk are doing. If they are really vocal, lay it on them. However if they aren\'t saying much, neither should you. As far as raking goes, I try to find a club just a little smaller than a baseball bat. The first thing I do is haul off and actually try to break it over a tree. Then I start rubbing up and down. I want to make a lot of noise and get their attention.
When calling, do what the elk are doing. If they are really vocal, lay it on them. However if they aren\'t saying much, neither should you. As far as raking goes, I try to find a club just a little smaller than a baseball bat. The first thing I do is haul off and actually try to break it over a tree. Then I start rubbing up and down. I want to make a lot of noise and get their attention.
Glacier Country
New member
- Nov 13, 2013
- 177
This is SOLID Advice WW is giving right here.\">>>---WW---->\" said:
If you can mimic the bugles of the bulls Do it. Try to cut him off, and try to mimic him as close as you can. That sometimes just drives them nuts! Do you like anyone to mimic you? I think They take it like you are mocking them. Yea they don\'t like you to tell them you are going to take his girlfriends and kick his A$$.
razorback,
For cow sounds maybe slow them down into parts. Since you can do bugles, then start with the high pitch of the calf EEEE Now transition into the cow sounds,Maybe try Knee YAW or
EEEE Ahhhh ...instead of EEEE- YOW . Your tongue and especially your jaw will drop less in this transition. Also Remember that cow sounds will generally be the best with a single reed cow call.
Most double and triple reed calls that can get the best bugles are going to give chirpy... high pitched cow sounds. Not necessarily a bad thing . Just create a scenario in the bulls mind where a chirpy higher pitched \"Demanding\"... Come here now call is what he wants to hear. Now you know why I like a good bull call to have \"Chirpy\" cow sounds. They do require a little better tongue control. and start all cow sounds with your tongue right on the latex.Then blow the air from your diaphragm in a controlled manner.
If you don\'t like your calls as chirpy you can slightly pull on the long reed of the call . This will give the call a lower pitch, and usually some more mid tone by sacrificing some of the top end scream of the bugle, usually you will get a little better cow calls, but at the expense of the top end of the bugle. Be very careful here though you run the risk of ruining the call, if you overstretch the latex. Hope this helps. Troy GCHC
