When I hear a bugle....

[cnelk]

I\'m going in that direction in a hurry to cut the distance and probably nocking an arrow on the way.
Who wants to go with me?

Or
What do you do when you hear a bugle?

 

[Swede]

Most of the bugles I heard this past season caused me to want to holler out SHUT UP. I was polite, but I still wished the guy would SHUT UP, and go away. The knot head snuck in above my stand and would try to make a multitude of elk sounds. They were lousy and definitely human.

 

[cnelk]

I will specify that the bugle you hear is definitely an elk.
And you aren\'t in a tree stand

 

[Stringunner]

knowing that it is definitely an elk, I\'m going to get the wind in my favor and move closer. Ideally he keeps sounding off without need of my intervention (i.e. bugling/calling back to him). This allows me to adjust my approach based on his movement and really get a feel for what he is doing, where he is heading and get a good read on the situation.

In our area, hearing a bugling bull not being harassed by other hunters is not the norm, so yeah I\'m moving in and hoping I get to him before the 100+ other hunters in the area. :eh:

 

[Swede]

I too would move in as close as possible and try to call in the bull. Likely my first sound would be a cow call if I heard a location bugle.

 

[Baby Huey]

Same idea here - If I hear a bugle, I\'m going after him! I will avoid doing any cow or bull calling, as I don\'t want him to know anything is in the area, wether it is a real or fake elk. If he hears a call then he knows something is out there and will be looking and on alert. I prefer to go in stealthily paying attention to the wind as others have suggested - looking to head him off or ambush him.

 

[otcWill]

I move in fast. If he won\'t keep bugling to let me know where he is I\'ll bugle when I think I\'m close. When I think I\'m within 100yds I\'ll knock an arrow and wait to hear something to disclose his position. If he bugles and isn\'t coming my way I rush him as best I can without busting the herd. When I get within about 60 yards I\'ll cut off his next bugle. I should add where I hunt you can\'t see very far once the elk hit the timber. I\'ve found that alot of times they won\'t commit until I cut em off with a bugle from VERY close. I often get well inside bow range before I can see the elk. Cut em off from inside 50 and GET READY.

 

[Swede]

The answer to what you should do will vary a lot depending on your hunting area. Where I hunt it is easy to send the elk off to the ranch. They are used to being chased. There are a few times I would get real aggressive, but very few.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

And to compliment my last thread I would note any accompanying sounds the bull gives. None.....close the distance and possible work the bull as a loner satellite. Later season maybe work some estrus sequences.

Chuckles added to the end..... Work him as a herd bull or satellite looking for cows.

Either case, close the distance a give him what he wants. Then and if he becomes defiant or turns out to be a lover, give him what he doesn\'t want. Force the fight!

Only Swede would bring a tree stand to a bugle fight!

 

[Swede]

I consider my tree stand location to be the greatest of prime real estate. The best in the elk woods. I plan to stay put. Just don\'t start tooting in my neck of the woods.

 

[otcWill]

The answer to what you should do will vary a lot depending on your hunting area. Where I hunt it is easy to send the elk off to the ranch. They are used to being chased. There are a few times I would get real aggressive, but very few.

Man Swede, no offense but your area sounds tough. I will do anything to avoid places like that. If you ever decide you want to hunt CO, I\'ll put you on some spots where the grass is most definitely greener. Of course I\'ll want some treestand hunting lessons

 

[elkmtngear]

Depends on the time of day/ location of the bugle/ wind behavior, etc.

If it is later evening, I may just back out, and return in the very early AM to try to get a close encounter.

Consequently, if it is very early AM, and the bull is already way up in the timber like a quarter mile, I know my chances of getting to him before he shuts up for the day are very slim. The terrain is grueling where I hunt, and oftentimes getting to a vocal bull can be a very long, slow process.

I want the conditions to be as good as possible if I am going to cut the distance on a vocal bull.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Depends on the time of day/ location of the bugle/ wind behavior, etc.

If it is later evening, I may just back out, and return in the very early AM to try to get a close encounter.

Consequently, if it is very early AM, and the bull is already way up in the timber like a quarter mile, I know my chances of getting to him before he shuts up for the day are very slim. The terrain is grueling where I hunt, and oftentimes getting to a vocal bull can be a very long, slow process.

I want the conditions to be as good as possible if I am going to cut the distance on a vocal bull.

Jeff - Sound like you hunt the same areas as I do! Only difference is we usually have 3-4 bugling bulls to choose from. Number on factor, which chase will be the least abusive to our bodies! Lol

 

[F M]

In the area we hunt now when you hear a bugle all it really does is let you know one is in the area. If you look at the pic of the bull I shot in the meat pole thread, the bull died in a little opening. What you see in the background is mostly what we move around in. I honestly don\'t know how the bulls move in that stuff. One good thing is you can hear them coming through it.