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Estrus Buzz/Scream Tactics!

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Re: Estrus Buzz/Scream Tactics!

Postby ElkNut1 » 06 03, 2012 •  [Post 1]

This is a specific sound elk will make & generally only heard within its own ranks! If we can correctly understand this sound exactly as elk perceive it this will put us one step closer to both understand its meaning & what's going on. As many know most sounds we hear in the woods are not actually seen happening by the elk, with this in mind it would be important to know what we should do next just by hearing this sound? This cannot help but make us better elk hunters by defining such sounds as this! This sound is what I call the Estrus Buzz!
What's its meaning? Why is this particular cow using it & what is she wanting? Taking a sound out of context & applying a definition to it could be inaccurate or just guessing, so to know the true meaning the best we can, we must see this sound being used by the elk in many different instances. All these instances should have similar meaning & conclusions as to what it means or we could be off in its definition!

Some say it's a breeding sound used by cows wanting a bulls full attention as she nears estrus? If this were true it likely would be reserved for late Aug, Sept & Oct & parts of Nov are even possible! It most likely would not be heard outside of this time frame or it would not be a true breeding sound since elk do not breed/rut at any other times, if elk do use this sound anytime of year then it must have a different meaning than some feel? Guess what? Elk do use this sound throughout the course of a year, meaning it can be heard any month or season! Does this mean because we want it to mean a certain thing so bad that we should overlook that it's being used in non breeding months too? I think not, it means we need to reevaluate our understanding!
ElkNut1
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Re: Estrus Buzz/Scream Tactics!

Postby ElkNut1 » 06 03, 2012 •  [Post 2]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrW-OAn8VA4


In the video clip above this hunter was cow calling for a few minutes when aprox 1/2 mile away he could hear this very young cow start to respond with this sound or estrus buzz as I call it. The hunter called a few more times as she got closer then finally shut down all calling as she neared, this cow was responding both vocally & physically as she came to his calling or at least where she felt she heard this other cow. She was in "search mode" here trying to make contact with her or the group she felt was nearby but could not locate. Plain & simple this was her motive behind this buzz! There's quite a bit of footage of this sound that can be seen, not at anytime will you see a cow being mounted as she's using it, matter a fact rarely will you ever hear a cow make any sound or whine of any sort as she is being covered by a bull. I've witnessed this many times over the years & have yet to hear any cow make this sound at that time. But elk will use this estrus buzz under situations where excitement or separation is involved within their group or using this sound when there are several nearby groups within earshot of each other. It's not unusual at all to hear cows in different groups as they make contact with one another inviting them their way or just using this sound for direction to other elk that may be lagging way behind as they travel. Like any elk sound it can be used subtly or in a demanding/urgent tone, this is one of those sounds & times! Will bulls respond to it? You bet, but so do the cows, just like bulls respond to a variety of other cow sounds too, it doesn't mean all cow sounds are estrus type sounds to the bulls! (grin) Food for thought! Too, just remember when we ourselves may be able to apply this sound to pull other elk our way or use this Buzz when a bull responds by calling us his way, we can use this sound as we head straight at him keeping the wind & cover in our favor, noise is not an issue as this bull fully expects this cow to come as he urges her too!
ElkNut1
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Re: Estrus Buzz/Scream Tactics!

Postby ElkNut1 » 06 03, 2012 •  [Post 3]

A single or light double reed is your absolute best choice for this sound! I've found the new Closer mouth reed we have is absolutely the best reed I've found to make this sound very well.

The reed should be sitting in a 15-20 deg angle with the open end of the reed itself banked against your gum line where it meets the inside of your top teeth, right where the gums & teeth meet or closer to front of teeth themselves ! You can make a slight adjustment from there for both comfort, fit & call ability. The flexible "tag" on back of call is what sits in the roof of your mouth not the whole call, saliva the flexible tag that surrounds the frame up a bit & even chew/nibble on it to turn it soft like a wet t-shirt, this way it will seal in your pallet very well & not allow any air to escape above the tag part of the call, if air escapes you will get a shooooshing sound & you do not want that at all.

With the call in the right spot, now work on making the nasally or buzz sound, your lips should be pursed together as if blowing a trumpet as you settle the tip of your tongue or the center of your tongue against the front part of the exposed latex, ( I prefer center of tongue) don't push to hard or the latex will not vibrate properly. If too hard you will get a high-pitch type cow sound so relax your tongue a bit & use some voice inflection along with the sound you are looking for! Give short burst of air when imitating the estrus buzz, you do not give a long flow of air at all, it's done in short controlled bursts!

Another way to produce this sound on a lighter scale is to purr like a cat with your throat as center of tongue makes light contact with the mouth diaphragm, by using this purring as voice inflection & making the reed vibrate in a controlled manner you will get some very nice Buzz sounds!
I mention these points because even guys with a gagging reflex or tickling issues can adapt to the reed in this new position! Please give it a try & remember use the proper reed for the job & it will help you out immensely! Good Luck!

There will also be a video clip under Videos to help with making this Buzz!
ElkNut1
ElkNut/Paul
 
Posts: 4673
Joined: 05 11, 2012
Location: Idaho