Calling/Hunting Elk with Three?

[WapitiTalk1]

It's been called the triangle method. Have you used this method during the fall elk rut, and, did it work for you? How do you set up your trio of hunters and does only one, or more than one of the trio, call? Let's talk about the triangle method when hunting/calling elk and perhaps offer some proven tip and tricks!

[olympushunt]

Rory, running the triangle requires the expertise of a guy like Phil Jackson. Just ask the New York Knickerbockers. He has that team running as smooth as the Michael Jordan led Bulls of years ago. LOL
Not helpful? Sorry, couldn't help it.

[WapitiTalk1]

Somehow I knew that was coming......

thCAKA3OVD.jpg (15.21 KiB) Viewed 4999 times

Ref throws a flag "blatant thread diversion"; one Wapiti Talk demerit for olympushunt

[Brendan]

Haven't used it - but as of now it looks like I will this fall... And I normally hunt solo, so not sure how this is going to work

[olympushunt]

LOL.....I deserved that fer sure.

Ok....in alllll seriousness it is like that age ol question "Boxers or briefs?" For me it's Depends.
Depends on the terrain mostly. Hunting 3 in certain drainages I don't mind a bit having one in front and having one guy (or gal...im not picky) behind a ways. That might sound funny but the last bull I killed tried to sneak in from my backside while I was calling. It didn't work out so well for him. I think it happens A LOT and a shooter back set away can get more action than a guy might think.

[ElkNut1]

Rory, we've used the Triangle & similar methods in the past, don't really use it any longer as they are best suited for calling in cows, spikes & raghorns. But it's pretty simple, we'd get 30-40 yards apart & go through a blind/cold calling routine. We'd use it whether we knew elk were there or just felt elk should be within earshot! Called in lots of elk with it as one would expect. Our sounds would vary from cow/calf & some bugles, thrashing lightly/raking, foot stomping & such imitating elk feeding or milling around. We'd do this for 15-20 minutes at times. we'd wind it up & wind it down. (grin) If an elk were to approach a caller he'd pretty much stop calling & that gave the others the clue something was coming. We'd then call softer bringing the elk in closer. Hunters can get pretty creative in their calling, it was a lot of fun!

The calling was a big asset to the routine but I really believe the rustling of brush & foot stomping was a huge part of its realism. Because of the type of elk that show up we pretty much stay away from it these days since we are after 5 & 6 point bulls. For those who are interested in any legal elk this is a great sequence in "trolling" mode! I believe I wrote about it in the PlayBook 6-7 years ago?

ElkNut1

[Swede]

I suppose no one would ever guess who Oly is related to.

[WapitiTalk1]

I suppose no one would ever guess who Oly is related to.

Yep, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

[TimeOnTarget]

I'd love to learn more about this method. I'll have to review Paul's playbook.

[stringunner]

Except Oly wouldn't ever think about taking a wizz on poor young Booboo!

We have tried this tactic many times, and I agree with what elknut has said about how to use it and how it can have mixed results for cows, young bulls, etc.

I think it's definitely one for the tool shed.

[ElkNut1]

I should have also mentioned that triangle can be applied in reverse. This means one caller two shooters. The caller at the point & the two shooters left & right. The caller will call pretty much the same along with the moving around representing a milling around small group. When instituting a setup as these in either manner we've not needed the use of a decoy. We setup well, this implies plenty of cover & favorable wind where an elks approach will most likely come from. This can come from present trails, gut feeling or from past calling setups there. It's a very simple yet effective approach to have the elk moving & coming to you instead of us moving & risking being seen.

ElkNut1

[N2mywake]

We tend to run the triangle, we use herd talk when we get started but shift the two shooters to the front then the caller (normally me) falls back, calling with different cow calls/sounds OR bugles depending on the situation, raking tree's ect. it's worked pretty good if I can visualize the opening I'm trying to call the bull through. It's tough with three guys sometimes but others it just comes together.

[Lefty]

Nobody wants to hunt with me. Dave once and he got heat exhaustion. and my daughter.

A group of fellows from California use to hunt where I hunted in the desert. I watched them set up some good stalks with their group.
The one time including two wives and a bunch of kids. Well done and planned but i dont believe they called,
When the group was large they would split up and glass from points 6-15 miles apart, then regroup if they found elk.