Test Your Elk Hunting Knowledge

[JohnFitzgerald]

Take the BTO Elk Hunting Challenge. How did you score?

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*Note: The challenge is not supported on iDevices.

 

[WW]

Dang! Missed the very last question. Aced the rest of it

 

[cohunter14]

I struggled a bit, only went 50%. For those who haven\'t taken the quiz yet, don\'t read on as I discuss my answers. Figured I would open the debate a bit

Here is where I went wrong:

- Newborn calf weight? Didn\'t know, took a guess and guessed high.
- Calves in summer months? I was a little confused by the answers. They hang with their mothers and can also be babysat I would think.
- Spike quarters? Is that correct answer based on all four quarters? That just seems low to me.
- Cow bugle? I thought I saw a video on here where a cow did that based on being agitated with the herd...? Could have been elsewhere that I saw that, but I swear I have seen a video on that.
- Bugling at a water hole? I am not a bowhunter and don\'t typically use calls because of that, but why not bugle after sitting over a water hole and not seeing or hearing anything for over 2 hours? Couldn\'t you draw a challenging bull in?
- Subspecies? I had no clue, but didn\'t think there were elk and turkeys with the same subspecies :think:
- Wallows? Don\'t bulls use them to also cool down? I thought they served both that purpose as well as covering themselves in urine. But they can cover themselves in urine without rolling around in a wallow.

Everything else I got right, and the good news is that the second time I went through it (to write down what I got wrong) I scored 100%!!!! :haha:

 

[cnelk]

Thanks for participating WW and Derek :clap:
There will be more to come

 

[F M]

I got 8 right. Had some of the same thoughts as Derek.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

I struggled a bit, only went 50%. For those who haven\'t taken the quiz yet, don\'t read on as I discuss my answers. Figured I would open the debate a bit

Here is where I went wrong:

- Newborn calf weight? Didn\'t know, took a guess and guessed high.
- Calves in summer months? I was a little confused by the answers. They hang with their mothers and can also be babysat I would think.
- Spike quarters? Is that correct answer based on all four quarters? That just seems low to me.
- Cow bugle? I thought I saw a video on here where a cow did that based on being agitated with the herd...? Could have been elsewhere that I saw that, but I swear I have seen a video on that.
- Bugling at a water hole? I am not a bowhunter and don\'t typically use calls because of that, but why not bugle after sitting over a water hole and not seeing or hearing anything for over 2 hours? Couldn\'t you draw a challenging bull in?
- Subspecies? I had no clue, but didn\'t think there were elk and turkeys with the same subspecies :think:
- Wallows? Don\'t bulls use them to also cool down? I thought they served both that purpose as well as covering themselves in urine. But they can cover themselves in urine without rolling around in a wallow.

Everything else I got right, and the good news is that the second time I went through it (to write down what I got wrong) I scored 100%!!!! :haha:

2nd possible answer is \"always\" stay with their mother. Trick question!

When a cow bugles, its more for contact. Hissing and whinny sounds are more for agitation.

If you\'re sitting by a wallow, then you\'re ambush hunting. Why muddy the water?( no pun intended).

Elk will lay in water to cool down, but elk \'\'wallow\" to cover themselves with urine. I know, another tricky question.

Just my 2-cents!

 

[bowhunter]

I missed question 2 , I put 25lbs, and question 5 , I put allways stay with their mother. Not bad and those questions have nothing to do with hunting elk in September.

 

[WW]

John wrote, (Elk will lay in water to cool down, but elk \'\'wallow\" to cover themselves with urine. I know, another tricky question.)

That\'s the answer I missed because, elk are perfectly capable peeing all over their underside from their belly to their neck mane. Guess it\'s a macho thing! :crazy:

 

[elkmtngear]

Missed 2... :evil:

 

[Tdiesel]

yep missed the wallow one I mean I know they roll in their urine but I\'ll have to do some reseach about not cooling down I swear I read they start running a temp as the rut gets closer and want to cool down but thats ok I don\'t have to be perfect.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

This is why the challenge is so benifical! It gets the conversations flowing. Who\'s right on the wallowing questions? Maybe everyone is. But now when someone says \"wallow\" we know that some might mean a place for elk to get covered urin and sling mud everywhere or a place for the elk to cool down. Hunting a bull in rut vs hunting a bull not in rut. Different approaches?

Just my 2-cents.

 

[cnelk]

If someone that took the challenge and would like to discuss a certain question, let\'s hear it!

Also,
Would you guys/gals want more of these challenges?

 

[cohunter14]

If you\'re sitting by a wallow, then you\'re ambush hunting. Why muddy the water?( no pun intended).

As I said, I am not someone who hunts with calls, but I don\'t see hunting a wallow as ambush hunting. I would see it more as stand hunting, whether you are on the ground or in a tree. If you haven\'t seen or heard anything, why not make a call to get another bull in the area thinking someone is using HIS wallow? Give him a reason to come check out the wallow. Just a thought for discussion...

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

If you\'re sitting by a wallow, then you\'re ambush hunting. Why muddy the water?( no pun intended).

As I said, I am not someone who hunts with calls, but I don\'t see hunting a wallow as ambush hunting. I would see it more as stand hunting, whether you are on the ground or in a tree. If you haven\'t seen or heard anything, why not make a call to get another bull in the area thinking someone is using HIS wallow? Give him a reason to come check out the wallow. Just a thought for discussion...

Good point! I\'ve always been one to call but also realize that at times letting the elk know your there is not always a good thing. Our good buddy Hootie(Swede) taught me that one. ;-)

 

[Stringunner]

Swede and CNELK have slightly differing perspectives on calling from a stand. I know in Swede\'s book he talks about the negatives associated with calling from a stand and it makes perfect sense. Though he is also sitting water primarily. Where as CNELK often talks about calling from a stand location and the success he has with this tactic. I\'m wondering if CNELK calls from stands that are placed over water? Is there a difference in calling from a stand when sitting say a transition zone or fringe bedding area vs. calling from a wallow or water hole?

 

[cnelk]

I haven\'t sat over a wallow or water enough to make a determination about calling at them.
But I have had good success calling in transition areas.
Heck, this fall I even called in a bull while I was watching elk carcasses waiting for bear.

 

[Zpd307]

10 correct answers here.

 

[mainebrdr]

10 here as well.

Missed the weight of a calf. I have weighed baby elk calves with a friend of mine that raises them and his average between 30 and 35 lbs. I figured surely calves in the wild would weigh slightly less.
Missed the bugling from a water hole. Can\'t wait to here why.
Also missed why a bull wallows.
Was going through them too quickly and missed the \'All\' before elk herds migrate.

Enjoyed it.

 

[flystrait]

14 here as well BTO Master. I don\'t know about that.

 

[Swede]

The question in the quiz addressed three situations where \"bugling\" from a water hole was not a good idea.
Stringunner killed a bull this past season after he cow called. In that situation the elk were going to past his water hole without coming in. That is a great time to give a little cow call. I have also called while walking in to my stand, or when I just arrive.
I have called in elk when I knew they were bedded nearby. I do not have enough observations to be dogmatic about that situation, but I believe cow calling was helpful. The point on not calling after waiting 2-3 hours, and not seeing anything, was don\'t get impatient. Calling is not something you do to alleviate boredom.
What I have noticed over the years is that some bulls are very nervous as they approach a water hole. Anything can spook them. I don\'t recall spooking them away with an occasional cow call, but the question addressed bugling. I would exercise caution with cow calling too. Don\'t ever cow call when the elk can see where the call came from. Still, cows are not perceived as a threat.
Bulls with cows are not coming to another bull. Bulls that have had their butt kicked by other bulls will want to avoid another confrontation, so bugling is not usually a good plan.
In summary: Brad has had some success cow calling from a stand. I remember bugling in one bull too, but I also know I have run off several bulls by making even nonthreatening bugles. I certainly also agree with Stringunner\'s use of his cow call this past August.