What Did This Bull Say?

[ElkNut1]

In light of the past Diaphragm Thread it seems like thoughts pop up regularly about being a good caller. Then comments are shared about elk themselves at times not being the best callers. What most don't appreciate is that when an elk bugles or cow calls a message is being sent! It may not be the classic TV Bugle or Cow Sound we are used to hearing but they are in fact communicating to their ranks in most cases! It's up to us as hunters to understand their language. In doing this it will help us to become much better hunters as we accept the challenge in hunting them on their turf!

Listen to this Elk Sound, if you had bugled & heard this response 400 yards away above or below you in thick timber, what is your next move? Did you understand what this elk was saying? If not chances are you will lose this encounter! This is a common sound heard every year by hunters & most blow it because they treat it like any other bugle! What would you do once you heard it?
https://soundcloud.com/elknut1/unusual- ... le/s-Z9EM2

ElkNut1

[2MANY]

Herd bull cowed up and warning you to stay away?

With out time of day it's hard to say but I'm assuming bedded?

If it's mid day I would keep the wind in my favor, get in tight, wait until later in the day when he is up and getting lippy, get in tighter, scream in his face, and let the games begin.

Lots of assumptions made off just a sound.

[wapitibowman]

This bull is giving a warning bugle, warning me, the intruder to keep out. He has cows of course!

[WapitiTalk1]

I've got a pretty good idea what's going on with Barney bull but will wait a bit to offer my thoughts

[Swede]

Since he is 400+ yards away, he is not threatening or warning me. He is instructing his cows, or a satellite.

Or maybe he just said to me, "You're fat and ugly. You can't get me".

[wapitibowman]

I didn't realize the bull was 400 yards away...that might change things. I'll wait to see some other responses. I like where you're going with this Swede.

[ElkNut1]

OK guys! Thanks for responding & thanks Rory for not giving it away to soon! I know you knew exactly what was happening!

When a bull responds from our bugling with a lip bawl bugle he is doing his best to gather his cows for possible escape. He responding because of us but not to us! The more lip bawls inside a minute generally means multiple cows. As hunters when we hear this sound we must act pronto & get as close as possible to re-direct cows away from him or challenge him once close! Of course we can get inside 75 yards & give a whiny cow call & as soon as the bull calls her to him challenge him with a coarse bugle. Get ready when in tight, he can come fast! Time is of the essence when hearing the lip bawl or we will lose big time!

ElkNut1

[twinkieman]

I just logged on, and I wish you hadn't said what it was Paul, I did have it nailed!

[ElkNut1]

Ha Ha, Marc, I have no doubt you would have been spot on with the correct response! Thanks man!

ElkNut1

[2MANY]

Sounds like I would of been sitting there a while then.

So even if left unpressured moving forward he WILL continue to gather his cows and make good on his escape or will he gather them and remain in what I was assuming was his bedding area?

[ElkNut1]

Once the Lip Bawl is given you can tell he's not happy with a bull close by. He can still gather them & move off from wherever they are. They are not necessarily in the bedding area. They could be in feeding, transition between feeding & bedding or where ever. It's all where you catch them depending on time of day.

Here's the Challenge/Warning Bugle! https://soundcloud.com/elknut1/chapter-04/s-Ggk6p

[Heartwood]

Love hearing the lipbawl. To me it always sounds like the bull is gargling water in his throat while bugling. Very distinctive sound in the elk woods.

[Fullabull]

A few years back I watched a bull we surprised in a clear cut do the same exact but without the lipball. But he made that same fairly short bugle that ended on a short higher not. All his cows responded and started coming together, then started moving by him back into the timber

[WapitiTalk1]

A few years back I watched a bull we surprised in a clear cut do the same exact but without the lipball. But he made that same fairly short bugle that ended on a short higher not. All his cows responded and started coming together, then started moving by him back into the timber

That "uptick" last short, higher note at the end of a bull's bugle is a great observation/point fullabull. I use that same bugle variation oftentimes when in close to a cowed up bull. It can really get his goat to think another bull is trying to call his cows away!

[ElkNut1]

Thanks for the input guys!

Rory & Fred, listen to these bulls here, is the 3rd lip bawl similar to the one you are referring to hearing? That higher pitch on the end can vary in length depending on the bulls urgency to regather quickly! Thanks!
https://soundcloud.com/elknut1/chapter-05/s-eUH5y

ElkNut1

[WapitiTalk1]

Thanks for the input guys!

Rory & Fred, listen to these bulls here, is the 3rd lip bawl similar to the one you are referring to hearing? That higher pitch on the end can vary in length depending on the bulls urgency to regather quickly! Thanks!
https://soundcloud.com/elknut1/chapter-05/s-eUH5y

ElkNut1

Yes sir!

[Fullabull]

That's awesome! The bull I spoke of above was below us in the early morning so thermals where moving down to them. Once he got our scent he got a little more desperate with his come hither bulges. It was a great learning experience and if I hadn't listened to Paul's sounds of the elk before this I would not have known what the bull was saying!

[Sask.Elk.Guy]

With reading these posts, it would appear that most of you's are hunting the Rocky Mountain Elk, as I hunt the Manitoba Elk and have never heard this "lip Bawl" that everyone talks about. I've called in over 100 bulls, harvested 16, and have hunted for 25 years, so if they made these sounds, I think I would have heard it by now. It's amazing how there can be so many variances even within the same species....conversely, I have heard sound made by the Manitoba Elk, that I have never heard on any production videos, all which would have been filmed in the USA, so likely not any Manitoba elk. I think it would be an interesting venture for someone to explore the differences between the sounds and personalities of the elk sub-species.

Just some food for thought

Gary

[WapitiTalk1]

Hey Gary, welcome aboard; glad to have you at our campfire. Please, pull up a log by the fire, a beverage of choice, and chime in early and often. I haven't studied much on the fine Manitoba Elk you have up your way but am way interested in hearing more about them. I've hunted both RM and Rooseys pretty extensively and find a lot of similarities, and, some differences between their habits and mannerisms. Again, thanks for swinging by and welcome! RJ

[ElkNut1]

Gary, welcome sir! Good thought about the Manitoba elk! Do you or have you mainly rifle hunted or hunted elk closer to pre-rut or post rut? I ask because all 4 species of elk have the same language. The sound herd was a lip bawl bugle for rounding up or calling cows to come to the bull or gather up. All 4 species are capable of this Bugle. Thanks!

ElkNut1