"Glunking"

[valgor]

Anybody have experience with a bull "glunking" Had a bull do this to me on my last hunt and it took me a little by surprise. I was caught in the middle of two six by's and a raghorn, with my wife cow calling out of sight fifty yards behind me. (I know guys, but I loved every second of having her in the woods with me, and she did a great job of calling. I mean, three bulls withing 60 yds? ya.) After the bulls hung up about 45 yds out for about six minutes there was a lull in the conversation and they seemed to getting more curious because they couldn't see the caller. One of the big six by's let out this loud and guttural "G-LUNK!" he did this three or four times. I was caught a little too far from cover and the raghorn crept in and busted me. I was curious of this sound, having never heard an elk make it. After a bit of research couldn't find a whole lot of information on it, and it seemed to be a debatable topic. So I was wondering what situations you may have heard this in and how the bulls reacted after. Will cows make this call as well? Is it a warning call or a searching call, or what are your opinions on it?

[Gypsumreaper]

My experience it's always been a call used for searching when they didn't want to bugle anymore, almost like they use it when they think you are fake and only an elk would realize what the sound is, I've also seen them doing it when there just walking through the woods in high pressure areas as they are searching and don't want to bugle to alert all the hunters, I have used it before by simply slapping my hand against my grunt tube and had a cow wander in an another time a bull wander in they were calm and just kinda Mosied in

[Heartwood]

I've had bulls glunk when coming to the call, both times were when using "the threat" level 2. I believe these bulls were either showing dominance toward the bull that just stole their cow or trying to call the cow back with their signature sound that the cow would know if part of his harem. These bulls were both very close to the shooter and close enough to the caller to easily hear the glunks but probably couldn't be heard by a human beyond maybe 100 + yards unless very quiet and calm conditions. Definately a cool sound to hear and very exciting because of the close proximity to the beasts. Other times i have heard bulls glug when tending a cow. The bull would be trailing a cow close behind, sniffing and gluging, but i think that would be a tending glug not a glunk. They both sounded the same to me so i'm not sure if maybe it is just a matter of taking the sound in context to the situation.

[jc957b]

I had this happen one time before and it was a rag horn in a high pressured area. What I did was setup and did some blind calling. I did some cow talk with a spike squeal. Heard that grunting/glunking noise like you described. My partner and I looked at each other like "what was that". I waited another 30 seconds or so and did more cow calls with a spike squeal and that's all it took. He came in fired up, running. My partner let him have it at 20 yards.

I'm glad you posted this topic because I have been wanting too, but didn't know how to explain it. I hope we are talking apples and apples.

I believe, with my limited experience, that the spike squeal did the trick.

Just my 2 cents...

[Lefty]

my first close encounter with a bull a nice 6x6 I didnt know what he was doing
seemed like he was charing to charm the ladies he was with (4 cows)

[ElkNut1]

I sorta question what you heard was a glunk or glunking? It sounds more like the Nervous/Popping Grunt than glunks? At any rate here are some examples as to why bulls will glunk, more can be seen under the "Tips & Tactics" Forum.


Examples when bulls Glunk & why?

1--When a Herd Bull recognizes a possible Threat from a hunters bugle or another bull closing in on him & his harem it's common for him to put distance between them. He can be the one leading the escape & in doing so he will give off a Glunking sound to the cows for direction & that he's the one to follow. He may include light chuckling as well if some are not staying close enough to the escaping group.

2--Bulls will Glunk as they come towards a hunters cow calling or a real cows calling. He doesn't use a glunk everytime but it is done in some of the more demanding times when he wants to see this cow NOW! At times this Glunking Bull will stop under 60 yds & start Raking a tree or brush to display for this cow trying to encourage her to join him.

3--Bulls will at times Glunk, Scream a short bugle to usher a cow in. Sometimes he will give a cow mew or two immediately followed by a short scream & then Glunking & Raking! As you see things escalate to these various levels you can read a bulls intensity or aggression as he gets worked up.

4--Bulls will use Glunking as they move in on another Bulls Harem, the Glunking bull would use these Glunks Screams, Mews & Raking/Stomping in an effort to pull the Herd Bulls cows away from him at a distance of 80yds or less & avoid a confrontation with this Herd Bull. This Glunking Bull would be very happy with one or two cows coming his way & off they'd go.

5--Bulls will Glunk in their bedding areas maintaining control & letting his cows know where he is. It's common for bulls to be bedded with the cows or even a 100yds away from them at times, a lot depends on the closeness of cows nearing estrus! At times of Estrus Herd Bulls will stay close by as he keeps Satellites at bay!

These are the more common times you will hear Gkunking & why. If you familiarize yourself with these various times you too will be able to read a situation & come up with a very good game plan that would fit your personal circumstance! This should help you to know when to be aggressive depending on your encounter or just playing the "Curiosity Card" with nearby Satellites!

For example, #-1 & # 5 would be best suited for lone bulls or bachelor groups within earshot, it promotes curiosity & is non-intimidating!

#-2 & # 3--Shows you what to expect or can take place if a bull is responding & coming your way to cow calling!

#-4--Can be used very effectively on Herd Bulls once in close! No Herd Bull worth his salt wants to let any of his cows leave for another bull. This is a slap in his face as you are a real THREAT to his herd, he will generally be on you pronto before any of his cows show your way!

Glunking isn't going to be used on every encounter but when it's needed, man is it awesome !!! (grin) Always watch the wind & make sure ones setup is where Bulls must come to bowrange before they can physically see where the disturbance/sounds are coming from!

ElkNut1

[ishy]

http://youtu.be/IPpFeCGRh-g
Here's some video of herd bull doin' his thing. This clip he is all about herding during a transition area between feeding and bedding. We had bad wind and no cover so had to just sit and watch the show. Little shaky (free hand with a 40x zoom), and you can hear my heart beat through the camera but I like this whole clip uncut so you get the whole picture. I was pumped to get so much glunking on film, I'm as bad as anyone about watching tons of elk videos and you just don't hear much on film.

[bigmart]

Great video ishi really shows the sounds of Glunking. Thanks

[POk3s]

Nice!!!!!! Awesome vid!!!

[valgor]

That was a spectacular video. So I suppose elknut must be right and what I heard must not have been glunking at all if everyone agrees that was what was on the video. Then what the heck was it? It sounded like he was saying the word "G-LunK!" Like a bullfrog on steroids! I was watching him as he made this noise and he did it several times. Maybe just a unique vocalization? It sounded nothing like a bugle, completely without a squeal or chuckle, but it seemed he was trying to get a point across. The two other bulls with him didn't react at all when he did it. I have never heard anything like it on any videos I've seen. Thanks for clarifying my misconception, and thanks elknut for adding another tool to my bag o' tricks.

[POk3s]

Did it sound something like this???? Fast forward to the 1:40 mark and you can hear this cow in the trees. I just dug this video up from a few years ago.....boy do I look young hahahaha.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZhmkp09U7A

[Kiowa1SG]

First video absolutely awesome.Second video kind of sounded like the cow caught wind of something and was barking to figure out what it was.

[ElkNut1]

Yes, very good "glunking" video, no mistaking it there! (grin)

The sound you heard was the Nervous/Popping Grunt, the bull was asking you to show or identify yourself, he wanted a visual or satisfying response, he wanted to make sure you were an elk that they were hearing!

ElkNut1

[POk3s]

First video absolutely awesome.Second video kind of sounded like the cow caught wind of something and was barking to figure out what it was.

Right....I was just sharing the video to see if that was the sound he heard instead of "glancing" like he thought.

[valgor]

right, so I may be a new user here, that doesn't mean I am a total greenhorn when it comes to elk hunting. I do know a barking cow when I hear it, and I did have a direct line of sight at the bull when he was making this noise, and I had a steady air current, so I doubt got winded me at all.

Elknut, I will lean on your expertise here. though there wasn't much popping in the noise, it was a very guttural grunting sound I guess. And I felt like he was trying to get my caller to identify herself, so that makes sense. I really wish I could hear it on a video and say "yeah, that's it."

[WapitiTalk1]

Yes sir, cows do make nervous/popping grunts also (going back to the original post). Here's a short sample of a cow trying to get something that seems "not quite right" to show themselves. If you notice, she's not alarmed but more apprehensive and concerned over the lack of a visual on that something she may hear but not see. I know this VID it titled cow bark but this is not an alarm bark, it is in fact a cow using a nervous/popping grunt to force the suspicious object or noise to show itself. Perhaps the bull in your situation (how cool is that your wife was out calling for you) sounded quite a bit deeper but do you sense that the emotion, and timing, in the bull's sounds were similar to what this cow is doing? HEY! WHAT ARE YOU! I'm outa here if you don't show yourself.

[Drawnandpinned]

Thats usually the sound my can makes after packing a few miles ha ( grin)great topic have yet to have this happen to me look forward to it cause I always love seeing elk up close

[valgor]

Phantom, the attitude this cow displays is a lot like what I saw in that bull. I felt it was a searching type call. yeah, it was much deeper sounding, in an earlier post I said it sounded like a bullfrog on steroids, that was probably the best way to describe it. Well, I leave for Colorado tomorrow, so I will postpone this conversation till further notice and next time I hear that noise hopefully I can get it on film! (My wife is taping for me this year) Good luck all you elk nuts!

[WapitiTalk1]

Go get em buddy! Have a safe trip and knock one down.

[BrentLaBere]

valgor,
Possibly a bull making sound contact with the cow he is hearing? I have heard something similar to this when a bull is a ways off and can hear cows, when he is searching for them and wanting them to keep talking. When and if the bull cant find the cows he will drag it out further into a more demanding type bugle "come over here or where are you!" getting frustrated. Thats the emotional or tone part of the calling coming into play. two cents and good luck on your hunt