Situation, game plan?

[Muskeez]

New here, and learning a ton! Thanks guys! My hunting partner bought Paul's DVD's and I am watching them and trying to retain what I can. So here's a situation we had a couple times last year, our first year of elk hunting. Late September (We leave in 3 more days) in CO, valley between 2 pretty darn steep mountains, river in the valley with some boggy areas, and a few small meadows, but generally very thick vegetation. Sides of mountains are thick and nasty with blowdowns, etc. Early am we can hear a bull below us in the river bottom and downstream 1/4 to 1/2 mile. We are only 25' above the river on one side or the other. Hard to tell which side of this small river he is on. As the sun comes up he bugles at other bulls in the distance and also to our locate bugles. Shortly after sunrise he starts going up the mountain, bugling occasionally. At this point we can't keep up with him. So, assuming this happens again, what should we do? Go right down in the riverbottom with him and try to close the distance before shooting light? Wait to see which side of the mountain he is headed up? If we can't catch him, what can we do? Calling advise for what to do when we get close either in the bottom or part way up the mountain an hour after sunrise would be really appreciated. I am assuming these bulls were loners. Thanks for any advise for the rookies!

[ElkNut1]

If the wind allows you to get close & not be winded then you bet get in next to the guy in the river bottom, he's most likely the herd bull, the others above & around him are the satellites. Do not use any calling as you slip in towards him while still dark other than a faint low volume cow mew if needed if you have to make too much noise because of ground clutter. Try to slip in on him with no calling if possible & kill him. Leave your buddy back a few hundred yds to bugle at him now & then only if needed, this means if the herd bull isn't bugling often enough on his own so you can pin down his position.If you cannot get close enough for a shot for whatever reason be prepared to bugle at him with a powerful course scream once in the 75 yard range or closer. Rake a tree brush stomp & bugle right over the top of him as he responds to your first bugle, be ready & have an arrow nocked, things can happen fast!

If the bull leaves the bottom before you can get to him then use the Call & Stalk approach, keep your buddy back several hundred yards & keep the bull vocal once again with bugles of his own so you can dog the group to their bedding area, that's where you can kill him with the same method mentioned in the above paragraph! There are occasions once I get close to the bull I will toss out 2-3 whiny cow mews in hopes the bull will call me to him, once he responds I can then scream a challenge right over him to back off, that there can seal the deal as he plows his way towards you! Make sure you have enough cover & the wind in your favor & good things will happen as he storms towards you! Good Luck!

ElkNut1