What makes for a yodeler?

[Swede]

I have been intrigued By Simplelife's Yodeler thread. It has been somewhat like a song that gets stuck in my mind. The problem I see is, that there could well be a lot of different definations, for what makes an incompetent caller, or in other words a yodeler. No one wants to be just a yodeler, but like it or not, many are. In fact far too many are.
My question for you is; what do you think makes a "yodeler" and how can you spot one?
Like WW did on his thread; I will take a shot at the question, though I know my answer is no where near the quality WW's was.
I never thought of the term "yodeler", but that fits when I see a hunter wearing about eight different cow calls on a neckless, while in the forest hunting. These hunters also have a couple of different bite and blow bugles. I have always called them, the "Pied Pipers of elk", as they seem to think they need to make a lot of noise so the elk will come in on the run. The Pied Pipers have it about 1/2 right. The elk are definitely on the run, but it is in the wrong direction.

[planebow]

One area I hunted several years ago had one every morning we were there. He was camped below us and avery morning you could tell right where he was. He would bugle three times real quick and then about 100 yards futher you would hear him again all the way up the mountain. I had him walk by me at about 10 feet and he never knew I was there.

[elkmtngear]

Last time I went out with my regular hunting buddy, he just wouldn't shut up with the locator bugles.

It was hot and dry, and the elk had gone silent. Hearing my buddy walking around trying to be Louis Armstrong didn't help the situation.

I believe there are "non bugle days"....and the elk know when it's OK to sound off. Bottom line: Tune in to what is going on, and adjust your calling game accordingly (IMHO)

[JohnFitzgerald]

My definition of a yodeler is someone who calls without understanding what they are saying or what the responses mean when they get them.

[ElkNut1]

A yodel on the end or near the end of a location bugle is a good quality to be able to use now & then, a yodel generally represents a 3 year old bull or younger. However, yodeling is what most hunters end up doing because they keep it up! Cut out the two & three yodels & now you have a realistic tone to use at specific times but not all the time!

ElkNut1

[JohnFitzgerald]

Ugh, too many definitions!

[simplelife]

(lurking...)

[elkoholic]

Every definition fits what I hear every year! There is always one yodeler out there

[BrentLaBere]

I have to ask a question then because I have been trying to get my locator & locator/chuckle sequence to have a lower (softer) note at the end of it. I have been struggling to do this and by what I am understanding from this thread is don't worry about it? especially if you are imitating a smaller bull?
For most of your sequences would you recommend to just progressively get a higher note and hold that higher note to the end? I have also heard and watched a few hunters drop off into a growl at the end of theirs. I have the elk nut dvds and have only been through them once. The one I struggle with the most is the locator and maybe its because I am just trying to hard on it. I posted it on another thread and I will hopefully get my calls uploaded in the calling thread tonight so I can get some feed back.

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

I think what Simplelife was trying to imply, was that he didn't want to be just another dude out there that runs around tute'n his flute. He wants to be right with his sounds and know when to use each one of them. In other words, he wants to LEARN! Hopefully we got him started off in the right direction.

[Swede]

I have no idea how others do their locator calls, but I generally start of with a couple quieter, short calls, spaced just a few minutes apart. I wait to see and hear if anything is nearby. Then after waiting a few more minutes, I will increase the sound level to reach out farther. My locator calls are two or three pitch and not over two seconds long. They do not end with a chuckle or grunt.

[WindedBowhunter]

In addition to what JohnFitzgerald stated, I would add know how and when to respond to an other elks call.

Along with ElkNut1's response, I have learned from him to mix it up! Don't just keep repeating the "same old song"!

[BrentLaBere]

I think what Simplelife was trying to imply, was that he didn't want to be just another dude out there that runs around tute'n his flute. He wants to be right with his sounds and know when to use each one of them. In other words, he wants to LEARN! Hopefully we got him started off in the right direction.

WW,
After reading through the thread again I believe I understand what he was saying and what you are pointing out. I guess it just brought a question to mind with a few talking about the way the call sounded. It would be better posted with audio on the locator/scream thread.

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

That's a great suggestion Brent. I would like to hear what others are doing. But not me because John won't let me use my computer sound waves. Says it could have a virus?!?!. And I'm not a fan of Soundcloud.

[msd1228]

I prefer a long, single high note for my locators - no grunts, chuckles, or growls. Has always done the trick for me. A non aggressive 2 note works for me too. I honestly think that most people over think the call, myself included - its just a non aggressive call meant to elicit a response, it should be the simplest of calls. Any formulation should work as good as any other so long as it isn't of an aggressive nature.