Bugling Bulls - what should I have done (with video)

[BRazz]

I had a long weekend with my dad and we got into elk every day. I decided to take along a video camera to try and document the trip. Turns out it's difficult to film and hunt at the same time, so when the excitement really picked up the camera was buried in my pocket. But I did get some video on one exciting morning.

Watch the video and see for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wKCPi1zfEg

On our first morning hunt we got up close and personal with a herd of elk. There were three or four bulls screaming pretty good - it was awesome!!! Spoiler alert - we did not have a shot opportunity... The following video is us trying to move in for one. We heard these elk Wednesday evening with only a little bit of light left (that's where the video starts). We heard them bugling all through the night from camp. When we moved in on them the next morning, we misjudged where they were heading so had to really haul hiney to catch up. We made no calls since they were giving away their location so freely, and when we were within a couple hundred yards we spotted a satellite bull sneaking around, spent a couple minutes calling but were too tempted by the frenzy a couple hundred yards farther away. So off to the herd we went. From within 75-100 yards we could hear growling and all sorts of elk noises, as well as thumping around through the woods that sounded like a herd of elephants. My dad snuck in closer with the wind in his favor, and I stayed back and after a minute made a few cow calls. The cow calls seemed to get some responses, but there was too much commotion to know if these bulls were bugling at me or each other. At the top of the ridge we ran into a pickle with the wind starting to swirl, and at the same time we could hear elk moving hard in a circle around us. There was a bull about 20 yards from my dad but he couldn't get a shot through the brush. Then the group that was headed in a circle sprinted out of the trees right on top of me. A spike and two cows came right at me to about 10 yards, then spotted or smelled me and took off. The game was up and the whole herd bugled their way up the mountain. We couldn't keep up so that was the end of that morning's hunt (and the video).

Given the situation, I'm not really sure what we could have done differently. Since we would have been happy with a satellite bull, maybe we shouldn't have tried to get so close to the herd.

I'm looking for your input on what we could have done differently to kill one of these bulls. Thoughts?

[zpd307]

man was that exciting!!!!!

[gdoct]

You did a lot of things right, but when you get that close in this is the secret that has worked for me over and over again!,,,,,"get them to come to you"! You have to be really patient and get set, then call the bull to you; doing "whatever works",,,,bugling, chuckles, cow in estrus! Never are any two scenarios alike, but I'll bet that you could have got that nice bull in shooting range! Hope that helps,,,,remember it's a learning curve every day of the hunt, and we are all in that learning curve when we are out in their territory! Good Luck!

[elkmtngear]

I agree that getting more aggressive with the calling might have worked. You've got to "sell it". Having the shooter out front (keeping the wind right) was the right move, though. Caller having a decoy out might have proved deadly IMHO.

[twinkieman]

My view is that your cow calls, could have had more excitement in them. I also agree, you have to do whatever you can to excite the bull, or bulls. Every encounter is a learning experience, and each time you have a conversation you should learn something.

[Bow4me]

This is where I got lost on my hunt. But some good advice for next year.

[Fullabull]

Be more agressive with your cow calling to get him excited to come looking for you. You had a partner so putting him out from would have been great and I bet you would have seen him and probably got a shot as he sounded like he could have been called in. I was by myself this year in that situation, I had a big bull coming to me and I should have been more patient once he got close and let him look for me. Instead I cow called again once he was closer and he decided something was not right and left to get his cows and move off.

[Stickflicker]

I would have busting all kinds of branches and cow calling estrus calling and then let out a bugle to think there's a bull stealing cows they can't stand it and they come rage in on you

[ElkNut1]

Great video & way to show how you handled it, video can take place of a thousand words! (grin) Now what to do differently! (grin) Like others mentioned you needed to be very aggressive in that encounter. As you mentioned you would have been happy with any bull, I would have went straight to the Breeding Sequence once 150 yards or so away with good wind & a good setup where oncoming elk had to get within bowrange to see source of commotion & calling. You would have had those satellites all over you, no kidding! You do your part in selling it & they will come!

If only after the herd bull, the Bugle is your weapon for highest success when cover doesn't allow to slip in silently & take him with no calling. Get to 80 yards or as close to that as possible & simply Advertise to his cows! What you are doing is letting his cows know there is a possible breeder bull there they should consider when they come into estrus, no doubt from the video there was at least one in at present already, Perfect! Your odds are very good that herd bull would have come right in there! -- 2nd Choice - Get to the 80 yards cow call behind you excitedly 2-4 times then scream a challenge right at the bull, this paints a picture in the herd bulls mind that you this intruder bull is between him & the cow he just heard, add raking & stomping to make it real. That herd bull will show! In most cases the cow call is not needed but there are times we use it for grins! (grin)

Learn how to bugle with confidence & power, it can go a long way towards success in the elkwoods when the rut is in full swing!

ElkNut1