Whats a rookie to do #2

[Fridaythe13th]

Date Sept 13th, Time noon. Wind in our faces as the 3 of us walked a 3/4 top trail. No bugling today yet, the day before we had 5 or 6 bulls screaming there heads off from 9 to noon in this 3/4 mile by 1 mile valley. We got done with lunch and let a bugle rip through the valley no answer. As we were walking into the wind on the 3/4 top trail no more than a 100 yds from were we bugled I let out a cow call instant bugle less the 60 yrds away. Cover was pine trees and some tall trees (don't know my trees) fairly thick with 2 shooting lane out to 30-35 yrds one was straight down the hill and the other was looking right down the trail I was on. WHAT SHOULD WE HAVE DONE????? Do most people cow call as there walking real slow or set up to call?

[Mikeha33]

I'll give this a shot, but I've never been in the situation, but here is how I would have played it out. STOP!!!!! You've got an interested bull essentially in bow range. Find the closest immediate thick cover between your position and the bull and have a shooter very cautiously move in front of it, ready to shoot, while the caller (you), runs back up the trail a little bit, making a little noise, gets hidden behind the shooter, and lets out a soft mew, and wait. At noon, the thermals and wind could be swirling. I'd hope the shooter could be set up looking into both shooting lanes, because with my limited experience, I couldn't be sure where the bull was coming from. If he sounds like he is on the same trail as you, inside of 60 yds, then I'd imagine he's going to be on top of you, fast!

[Lefty]

Being a 5th year rookie myself. Same thing as Mike; Place the two shooters on the lanes , the caller should run upwind 30-50 yards making some noise and call right away . Doing this quickly would be the key for me
Get the caller in the timber and have him walk back and forth making some noise walking, more sticks breaking from foot steps than calling I would want to sound like a couple cows and calves

I'll give this a shot, but I've never been in the situation, but here is how I would have played it out. STOP!!!!! You've got an interested bull essentially in bow range. Find the closest immediate thick cover between your position and the bull and have a shooter very cautiously move in front of it, ready to shoot, while the caller (you), runs back up the trail a little bit, making a little noise, gets hidden behind the shooter, and lets out a soft mew, and wait. At noon, the thermals and wind could be swirling. I'd hope the shooter could be set up looking into both shooting lanes, because with my limited experience, I couldn't be sure where the bull was coming from. If he sounds like he is on the same trail as you, inside of 60 yds, then I'd imagine he's going to be on top of you, fast!

[Fridaythe13th]

Here's how it play out. After the response from the bull I walked 5 yds ahead to find those 2 shooting lanes the bull was there in less than 30 sec. he stop behind a big pine tree quartering towards me at 30 yds bugled again, stood there for 1-2 minutes. I looked at one of my hunting buddy asked him if he could see the bull he could not so he walk back slowly, kicking rock and cow calling (hoochie mama) The bull back straight up, turned and walked up the hill broadside in front of me behind the same tree stop just before my shooting lane (how do they know) less than a min. he turned around and starting walking away down the hill I had 1 very small lane the bull stopped in, I let a arrow fly hit a twig and just went under him; bull gone.
I just wanted to see what the elk world thought I should have done before the bull was there, during and after..
That was my very very 1st encounter in the wild with a wapiti. I hope it happens again this year.

Thank you for the replys

[zpd307]

eric, I have yet to have one of those encounters...... hopefully this year

[Fridaythe13th]

It' crazy!!! Haven a 600 - 700 bull screaming his head off at 30 yds

zpd this is your year
Maybe after the season we should have a beer at the VF

[zpd307]

It' crazy!!! Haven a 600 - 700 bull screaming his head off at 30 yds

zpd this is your year
Maybe after the season we should have a beer at the VF

I am definitely down for a beer at the vf! we then can swap war stories with the wapiti....

[Screaming_btf]

A 600 - 700 Bull would be something to encounter

[Deafirishman]

It was a fun scenario to watch. I was the second shooter and I could not even see this bull let alone hear him We all learn from these scenarios. This year we are gonna connect with one ZPD - I will defiantly be joining for a beer at the VF and sharing our war stories !!

[Fullabull]

Learned that lesson a few years back. Had the same thing happen, I always call as I go just in case we are passing any elk up. My dad and I were walking back to our truck and I was doing some cow calls every 50 yards or so when all of a sudden a bull screamed at probably less than 100 yards. Being a rookie at the time I pulled my father further down the trail and tried to do a setup (bad idea), I learned real quick that they come directly to where they heard the call come from. If i had set my dad up a few yards back from where we came from and sent 30 yards or so further down the trail and waited for the bull to arrive my dad probably would have got a shot.
Won't make that mistake again

[zpd307]

fred, good tip. I will keep that in the back of my mind. I have yet to call while walking. elk were never vocal anyways. aaron, I will reserve another seat for the vf. either of you eaten gunner's burgers yet. his chipotle plum sauce is really good....

[Deafirishman]

It's been a long time since I have been to the VF....long overdue possibly ??? After swapping hunting stories, maybe we should throw some elk steaks on the grill ?? 31 more days !!!

[ElkNut1]

Eric, sounds like you did just fine in your outcome with the bull at 60 yds! Consider using the Nervous/Popping Grunt if in that situation again to stop the bull in your shooting lane, use that sound exactly when his vitals are open, it will freeze him in his tracks! If your bow is not drawn then wait till his head is covered & vitals are exposed then give the grunt & draw simultaneously, that's your shot opportunity!

So many times our opportunities at close encounters are few so we need to maximize our efforts towards those good ones & not let them slip away! (grin)

As far as walking & cow calling there are pros & cons to it, if early season such as the first 10 days of Sept. it is likely you will receive little response therefore you move on calling. What can happen is elk could come your way as they leisurely head towards your calling but your now long gone! As the Rut picks up & cows are coming in & out of Estrus this tactic of walking & cow calling at various levels of volumes & pitch can trigger a more readily response when within earshot of bulls. No guarantees here on either thought but the odds say be selective in your calling & times to do it!

ElkNut1

[zpd307]

thank you paul.

[Fridaythe13th]

Thank you Paul. We leave the 5th of Sept start hunting the morning of the 7th I well see what the elk are doing. I need to learn all of this calls or the top 5 anyway