I cannot make the bull react to me.

[wb]

I need some coaching.

I have run into a few bulls about 0730 and they are screaming away. They are typically lower on the hillside and moving up toward bedding areas. The wind is blowing down, so I cannot get ahead of him to wait. At best, I can get even with the bull on the hill. The bulls will occasionally respond to a location bugle, but their response is usually a scream or chuckles. They too will respond to cow calls, both herd talk and whiny cows. Their response is usually a scream or a chuckle.

I can get very close to these guys, under 100 yards, however, I can never get them to move toward me. If I cow call, they just hold their position and scream or chuckle at me. If I bugle, they tend to move on. (By bugle, I have tried advertising, advertising with raking, and screaming at the cows followed by chuckles, all at different encounters so as not to sound like a confused elk)

It seems that I am not attractive to these bulls, whether it is because I have bad hair, a wimpy bugle, or their plates are full with existing herds of cows. I am pretty sure there are satellites around as I hear multiple bulls bugling, however I have not been able to get anyone to come close. I am not necessarily after the herd bull, though I think he is the most vocal, so I tend to chase him more than the others.

I’d would be great to hear some suggested tactics as these guys have now had a few days of rest and I am about to try again.

[Rangerz]

Might try cow calling and moving towards them when they chuckle. That is what they are asking you to do.

Good luck!

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

A few questions first...
1) do you have elknut's playbook?
2) do you have cover inside of 100 yards?
3) have you scoured the topo for a possible wind friendly ambush spot? By this I mean that sometimes terrain forces animals to travel with the wind for 40 yards or so. if they do, that is your ambush point.

My take is that you aren't getting a reaction because you aren't pushing buttons. This bull is big enough that challenges don't scare him, and bugling at his cows just provokes laughter. He is a big, bad, in control dude, with no real worries other than reaching the bedroom. If you can get inside 100 yards, you may be able to turn the tables by using what Paul refers to as a THREAT level 3. In essence it involves simulating a bull that isn't just after cows, but has actually managed to grab one, and is in the act of hooking her away from the herd. Your calls so far haven't made the bull feel threatened, so it might be time to up the ante.

Others will hopefully chime in soon!

[wb]

Trumkin,
Yes, I do have the play book and I have tried simulating the Threat level 3. I am a novice, no doubt about it, but did gather some cows with it one day (missed though...)

I have gotten within 100 yards in the cover, but got the same laughing. I, however, have not tried being really aggressive by moving at the bull while calling. I will try that if I get a chance.

Thanks for the input.

willy

[elkmtngear]

X2 on the aggressive tact...excited cow calling while running right at him.

Get into position very early if you can contain your scent...way before daylight. That will allow you plenty of time to formulate your attack.

[Wapitibob]

Don't make it harder than it is. Sneak in and kill one.