Ready, set, charge..or maybe not.

[WapitiTalk1]

All right campers, you've gotten within XXX yards of a bull in archery season during the September rut. In what situation(s) would you go right at the bull? What known factors may affect your decision process?

[Tigger]

If he is alone and he starts chuckling. I would let him call me right to him. Throw out a few cow calls on the way. Then fffffffftttt. The arrow, it zips right through both of his lungs.

[Swede]

I do not leave my stand to go after a bugling bull. It would be a rare situation that I would make any sound. I would probably just continue to read or do my Sudoku puzzle. I might get out of my stand to give a chuckle from a hidey hole near my stand tree. This would be my experiment. I think that would be fun to see what happened. I would expect to wait for up to two hours to see it he would get interested in checking in on me.

Tigger's way has not worked in my experience. Maybe Tigger has had some success drawing in a bull that way. I have observed when a bull chuckles for a cow (me), he expects me to come. I may not have waited long enough. I wish I had some redo opportunities. I think I was not patient enough and did not have the best setup.

[>>>---WW---->]

Too many variables !!!! How many XXX yards is he! Is he tending cows? Or is he looking for cows! Has he just had his tail licked by another bull? Maybe he is layed up just giving out a lazy bugle once in awhile. Or did you just glass him on a far distant hill side? Is he challenging you or trying to call cows? Is he a herd bull or a satellite. Maybe he's just blowing smoke.

Each of these situations and many others may call for a different tactic. HMMMMM!!! I think I may just sit in a tree with Swede until I figure this thing out!

[Tigger]

My first bull, in my avatar. Worked like a charm. He chuckled us right to him. Caller in the back, me in the front. Did have to coax him a few yards for a shot, but he cooperated. Just like Elknut said it would.

[Swede]

Tigger, I do not doubt your success on your avatar bull. It is great and I congratulate you on it.
Some things work once in a while. Other things can be repeated fairly frequently. I was showed how to cow call using surveyors' plastic tape. It makes a funny sound, but I have called bulls while working in the forest. Personally, I would not recommend it.
I have heard of bulls responding to a squeaky gate or door hinge. I had a bull bugle once when I stumbled and fell over a bunch of dried limbs. Someone even wrote somewhere that they got a bull to answer a fart.
My point is that just because something worked does not mean it is a good technique or tool for bringing in elk. I have tried your trick multiple times and had no success.
I wonder if your situation was different than mine or you just got lucky. I do not remember all of the times I have heard bulls chuckle at me and responded. Once when I was alone, I tried to bring one into me for over an hour then I broke off and went out to have lunch. I came back in a couple of hours. The bull was still in his bedding area but had moved about 100 yards away. Still, he would not come. He answered but I could not move into him and he would not come to me. Another time I tried to get a herd bull to leave his cows but had no success. He would chuckle but left with the cows.
Remember, not every trick you hear about works everywhere. Good luck.

[Lefty]

Too many variables !!!! How many XXX yards is he! Is he tending cows? Or is he looking for cows! Has he just had his tail licked by another bull? Maybe he is layed up just giving out a lazy bugle once in awhile. Or did you just glass him on a far distant hill side? Is he challenging you or trying to call cows? Is he a herd bull or a satellite. Maybe he's just blowing smoke.

Each of these situations and many others may call for a different tactic. HMMMMM!!! I think I may just sit in a tree with Swede until I figure this thing out!

Tigger, I do not doubt your success on your avatar bull. It is great and I congratulate you on it.
Some things work once in a while. Other things can be repeated fairly frequently. I was showed how to cow call using surveyors' plastic tape. It makes a funny sound, but I have called bulls while working in the forest. Personally, I would not recommend it.
I have heard of bulls responding to a squeaky gate or door hinge. I had a bull bugle once when I stumbled and fell over a bunch of dried limbs. Someone even wrote somewhere that they got a bull to answer a fart.
My point is that just because something worked does not mean it is a good technique or tool for bringing in elk. I have tried your trick multiple times and had no success.
I wonder if your situation was different than mine or you just got lucky. I do not remember all of the times I have heard bulls chuckle at me and responded. Once when I was alone, I tried to bring one into me for over an hour then I broke off and went out to have lunch. I came back in a couple of hours. The bull was still in his bedding area but had moved about 100 yards away. Still, he would not come. He answered but I could not move into him and he would not come to me. Another time I tried to get a herd bull to leave his cows but had no success. He would chuckle but left with the cows.
Remember, not every trick you hear about works everywhere. Good luck.

Or all the time

My first order. Whats the wind going to do, and can I get there in time to work or look for him.
Then other considerations cows , other bulls , other hunters, and well I admit,, What else is down there.

Simple example the bull I ve been chasing the past 3 years was within 60 yards of me Great cover and maybe an easy stalk though the thickets of willows, Minutes left of LST He wouldn't go into the willows, nor the bull in front of me,,,
Simply some willow thickets I wont enter alone,,, Im a fraidy-cat of grizzly bears