Advertising Bugles

[WapitiTalk1]

The vast majority of the bugles in this clip are advertising bugles. Let's talk about these types of bugles.

Do advertising bugles have the same meaning as locator bugles?
Are advertising bugles confrontational in nature?
Will a herd bull advertise even though he already has a harem?
What non-verbal elk sounds may be heard when a bull is advertising?
If you hear a bull advertising, how should you respond vocally or physically to maximize your chance of ending up close to the bull?

Gotta love advertising bulls

[chiledog]

I'll take a shot at this one.
BTW - nice videos of advertising.
Ad Bugles are not the same a Locator Bugles.
They are non confrontational. Bulls are looking for any cow or more cows.
Yes they will do Ad Bugles while with a cow or harem. Showing the cows he is worthy and looking for more.
Along with Ad Bugles he could also scrap brush and trees and stomp.
What would I do? Depends some on distance and other elk around. Likely cow calling and moving in his direction. Once cover and wind had me stopped and I couldn't bring him in with more calling (hung up), I would think about 1 - tossing a rock over to one side to get his attention 2 - Cow call behind me and then turn around with a small bull scream in his face, and then throw a rock to one side.
All of this may be possible if I can hear over the pounding of my heart.
Actually had a similar situation last year but was not able to score. Turned out to be smarter than me.

[Raghorn_Reaper]

Just to add onto what Chile dog said...if after doing the above the bull stays hung up and I cannot move in closer I may try and take the cow (me) away. If he still doesn't bite, then I would try moving back in but this time putting the cow in between the 2 bulls.

[ElkNut1]

These are the most common bugles heard in the woods. If trying to guess what you heard after a bull bugles choose Advertising & you will be correct 90% of the time.

ElkNut1

[twinkieman]

I would move at the bull, since he is advertising, he's giving me his location, making sure I had the wind. I would get into at least the 100yd zone, and then give him what he wanted, cow sounds. I would just call and let him know he had achieved his goal , and gotten a new girl ( me ) to show up in his neighborhood. If he responded to me, I would give excited calls back to him, and move towards him, always being aware of whether he was advancing to me as well, if he just stays put, I'm "calling my way in".

[Charina]

I'll readily qualify my responses as lacking in real experience identifying and observing the purposes of bugles in the woods. Most of what I think I know is from books, videos, websites, etc. With that said, here's a few thoughts.

Do advertising bugles have the same meaning as locator bugles?
No. One theory shared by Joel Turner in a webcast resonates with me in regards to location bugles. His thought was that bulls are keeping tabs on one another. Buy sounding off, they can spatially space themselves and their herds, and avoid herd 'collisions' and the chaos that can ensue, and avoid physical confrontations. One could contort that to mean a form of 'advertising', e.g. "advertising location", but the purpose as I understand it is precisely as named: Location. In contrast, advertising is not just about location, although it also conveys that information. It is about advertising one's dominance.

Are advertising bugles confrontational in nature?
Yes and no. The way I view advertising bugles, a bull is advertising his dominance. He's advertising to the ladies he is the dominant bull they want to be with, and he's 'advertising' to other bulls, he's the master and someone they don't want to even bother messing with. A dual advertising message. Yes, they are vocally confrontational to other bulls in the fact they are a 'warning' (advertising his dominant status and confidence), but not confrontational as they provide a means to avoid physical fights, and not confrontational in that they are to impress the ladies he is the one to be with.

Will a herd bull advertise even though he already has a harem?
According to the hypothesis above, absolutely. And it shows in at least one of the clips in the video posted, as well as many other videos out there.

What non-verbal elk sounds may be heard when a bull is advertising?
Raking.

If you hear a bull advertising, how should you respond vocally or physically to maximize your chance of ending up close to the bull?
Does he have cows or not? If not, cow calls. He'll want to round you up. If he does have a harem already, I would sure like to try slipping within 50-75 yards and try an advertising bugle. At that range, clearly his bugles have not kept me at bay, and he will have to physically do something about this intruder. Make sure you are closer to his cows than him though, so he doesn't just push them away. I read plenty of comments saying "sound smaller than him". I'm not sure I buy that completely. Sure, don't blow is socks off, but really . . . who of us can really make a bugle half as impressive, loud, and big as a real bull? Some big bulls sound smaller. Some small bulls sound bigger than they are. Your bugles are going to represent a "stranger in the woods". He knows the other bulls in the area by their individual voices just as we could identify coworkers we have been around for a few years by their voices. Presuming he isn't between you and his cows, and he has to come across the cows to within sight of you anyway to be able to push them away, he is likely to want to see who this "new guy on the block" is, and how physically mature you really are. He will want to see you.

I would move at the bull, since he is advertising, he's giving me his location, making sure I had the wind. I would get into at least the 100yd zone, and then give him what he wanted, cow sounds.

One caveat I would add . . . If he has a harem already, this could backfire. Think of how your wife/girlfriend would react if an unknown female came within range and gave you signals. Would she be just fine with that? Now, this can't be carried too far since elk are not jealously monogamous, but there does seem to be some tendencies in cows to react harshly to yet another cow wanting their bull's attention. They are ok with their group, but don't react well all the time to additional cows trying to get their preferred bull's attention. And they just may pull him away and not let him come to investigate.