Question To Callers

[OldMan]

A curiosity question for me to all who call in elk. You have to use some imagination to answer this.

Using your imagination...lets say you could wear a costume that made you look exactly like an elk. Easily fooling an elk at close range. You even smell like one with no human scent at all. Could you mingle among the elk, and when you had the perfect shot kill an elk?

It will be my last question, but i\'d like you to answer. I may not post at all in this thread again. I just want to read your answers.

 

[Deertick]

Not for me, Pete.

I know that you don\'t like calling, and have inferred in the past that you think it is tricking the animal ... But that is a reductio ad absurdum.

 

[cnelk]

Isnt looking like an elk, being among the elk still fooling an elk? - same as calling, and make a shot to kill an elk
Or even using an decoy is fooling an elk, same as calling, making a shot to kill an elk?

Many methods = Hunting

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Still hunting, ambush, and calling are all tactics we use to combat an elks instinct.

If one wants to be truly fair, go out in the woods and find a naturally sharp stick. The just walk around( no fair hunting the wind) and throw it at the elk.

My 2-cents!

 

[OldMan]

Research for the book. A yes, or no is fine.


One comment to John. The point of still hunting is to let the elk use all it\'s instincts. I don\'t understand your answer?

 

[AndyJ]

Short answer, yes.

Longer answer, your question is if you could become an elk, could you kill an elk? In defense of calling, when calling you actively engage with an elk in an interaction that really puts the elk in control. You are speaking their language and, much like trying to pick up a woman that speaks a language you do not, you are more likely to get shot down than a phone number.

 

[OldMan]

When you call. Aren\'t you trying to be an elk?

 

[Deertick]

Since I\'ve never used the term on any post on any site until this thread, I\'m going to do it again.

Reductio ad absurdum.

 

[Swede]

When you call. Aren\'t you trying to be an elk?

I would not say that. You are trying to fool an animal to make them believe you are an elk. Generally the purpose hunters do that, is so they can get close enough for a shot. Duh

Pete, buddy, I wonder what your purpose is in asking these questions. Why don\'t you just make your case against calling? Is calling cheating in your way of thinking? How is sneaking in on bedded, unsuspecting elk superior?
I think I have heard every argument in the book against bow hunting. In light of the facts and published data, none hold up.
Bow hunters are not getting more game than others.
Bow hunters are not wounding more game than others.
Bow Hunters are not preventing others from pursuing elk, or whatever. The reverse is actually true. Bow hunters are hunters first. If you take away their bow, then they are in direct competition with the muzzle loader and rifle hunters.
etc. etc. etc.
Ok, I give. Excuse me!
Maybe we do have more fun than the others. Maybe we do have a bigger grin.

 

[OldMan]

I said it was research. What I think doesn\'t matter. I\'m trying to understand how callers think. Yes, or no answers would have been fine, and I wouldn\'t have had to make another post. Not sure why some of you want to argue about it, or bring in still hunting? Still hunting has nothing to do with the question. Neither does how I feel about calling.

 

[Swede]

Pete: You are not annoying me. I am just trying to figure out what your point is. BTW: How\'s that book thing working out?

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Pete, your not annoying me either. Like Swede, I\'m trying to figure out why you\'d ask that question. I can\'t answer it because I would never imagine myself using that tactic. Now if your asking is it possible in a phantasy situation, then sure the answer would be yes.

If on previous threads you\'ve eluded to the fact that calling is unfair, then you should expect a little backlash from posting a question like that. I don\'t ever recall seeing any \"unfair\" comments, but then again my memory gets worse every day.

The reason I posted my comment was to show that I support still hunting, ambush, or calling tactics. For me, all three tactics are equal in terms of success and ethics. To compare would be like comparing apples and oranges.

 

[Russel Reed]

The answer is yes. Been there/done that! Didn\'t look exactly like an elk, but close enough to fool one for sure.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

And why was this question directed at just callers and not all elk hunters? If it was true research, wouldn\'t you want to included data from all hunters?

 

[Jason Balazs]

The answer is yes. Been there/done that! Didn\'t look exactly like an elk, but close enough to fool one for sure.

I did it and got shot.. lol

 

[elkmtngear]

Good luck with the book, Pete.

Your marketing objective would seem to warrant getting many hunters on board with your style of hunting. Making it seem like \"it\'s the only fair way to hunt\" simply alienates those who use other methods.

Hunting forums would be your bread and butter to move this book (any other way would be cost-prohibitive unless you have unlimited funds available...I pay up to 1500 dollars per year just to have the privilege to advertise on a couple high profile Forums...and TV and Magazine ads are about 3 to 5 times that much). Backtrak Outdoors is one of the best deals I ever fell into as a Sponsor, and I certainly wouldn\'t recommend burning that bridge.

Just a realistic outlook from someone in the Industry. You can write it...but how will you get it out there? I\'d love to hear your plan.

 

[OldMan]

Sorry for taking so long to answer. I\'m certainly not trying to alienate anybody. I\'m just trying to get into the head of a caller, and see how if differs from someone who still hunts, or is thinking of still hunting. It takes a certain mindset to devote your career to a method of hunting. Whatever it is.

I\'m trying to come up with what a good still hunter is. How do they think? Do you qualify, and how do you differ from a hunter who calls? I need to understand how a caller thinks, and why he may be better suited to calling than still hunting.

I don\'t think everybody is suited to be a good still hunter. I want to know who is. To know this I need to know who isn\'t too.

It was just research. You all took it way to personally.

 

[Swede]

Pete, in your book, you need to demonstrate that still hunting is a valuable tool to put in a hunter\'s bag of tactics. Tell us why it is good, how to use it, when and where. Assume everyone is a little skeptical, and go from there. You have one thing going for you. Hunters are always looking for an edge to improve on their chances for success.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

I\'m sure many on here would be happy to assist in gathering data to help with your book.

For me, I was taught still hunting as a child but I evolved into calling as a main tactic. Years of duck/goose hunting taught me that game animals can be called in. Commercialization did the rest.

Here\'s a thought, many products can be commercialized to promote the calling tactic but very few actually promote still hunting. Maybe it\'s not the mind set of the hunter but more a result of advertising.

 

[elkmtngear]

Here\'s a thought, many products can be commercialized to promote the calling tactic but very few actually promote still hunting. Maybe it\'s not the mind set of the hunter but more a result of advertising.

In my mind, there is nothing more heart-hammering than calling in a bull, especially if he thinks you are a rival bull and he wants to put a hurt on you. If you\'ve never experienced the frenzy of the rut up close and personal, I feel sorry for you.

Still hunting is still one of the methods I use, as well as treestand hunting, spot and stalk, decoying, etc. To limit yourself to a single method when it comes to elk hunting might satisfy some folks...but they are missing out on some very exciting elements of an elk hunt.

I have a very \"open mindset\" when it comes to elk hunting. Hopefully I\'m not alone here :think: