Inside 100 yards... mew or bugle?

[welka]

I'll try and describe enough so as to not prompt a bunch of additional Qs. 2 hunters get inside 100 yards of bull with cows. Assume that you have got to this position silently. Shooter was able to get inside 100 yards and caller is back 50+ yards. Since we don't usually get multiple opportunities like this in an individual year, I want to make sure we use the right call to have our highest odds off pulling a bull over. So, for those of you who are fortunate to have had many encounters like this over the years, what is your first "call" in this situation?

Do you mew first and cut him off if he responds?

Since inside 100, do you skip the mew and go right to an aggressive bugle?

Do you do something else - rake first?

Hopefully, we get a common theme to the responses for those of us who don't get lots of encounters each year. Thanks.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Sorry, need a little more information.

1) Is this bull bugling? Time of year?

2) You moved in on him, how did you know he was there? If he initially responded to one of your calls, tell me exactly what sounds you used.

[Trophyhill]

As a solo hunter I have screwed this up multiple times. I've done both that should have worked but resulted in hang ups or elk leaving the drainage. I think what you do after the initial mew or bugle should be addressed as well. I'll be watching this one.

[Wapitibob]

The caller is too close at 50 yards.

[Freebird134]

Inside 100? If this was archery talk guys would already be shooting!

[ctdad]

Inside 100? If this was archery talk guys would already be shooting!

With 3 inch groups!

[RockChucker30]

Gotta know what the bull is doing. But not knowing, I say use a cow call. If he screams at you and hangs up you can always go to a bull or the threat level 2 or even 3. If you start out with an aggressive sound like that then you could push him.

[easeup]

the guys are correct in that we don't know enough about how you got there.
But, I can tell from my experience if you have a non herd bull with just a several cows, he will not challenge you. If he has just been bugling he man every so often while they graze up toward the morning bed area, and you have managed to slip in on him; do not bugle at him as he will round up his little harem and leave the scene. Better off with the cow call to try to turn the lead cow in your direction, hoping the young bull will follow her.

See what develops after the cow call and then decide on the next move if any.

[elkmtngear]

So the caller is 150+ yards away from this bull?

I would not attempt a threat at this distance, I'd personally want to be closer if possible.

If you are not inside his "comfort zone" when you hit him, there's a big chance he will round up the girls and
head out as easeup stated.

[otcWill]

A lil vague but I will say that my calls are often the last thing on my mind if I have moved in on a bull. Yes, calls work but they don't need to be your first option all the time. Nock an arrow, sneak into your effective range, and stick him!

[Vanish]

The caller is too close at 50 yards.

This bull has cows, so he has no reason to investigate a call at 150 yards away. If this was a satellite, I would agree it wouldn't hurt for the called to be more like 80 yards back, but I don't think this is the situation.

So the caller is 150+ yards away from this bull?

I would not attempt a threat at this distance, I'd personally want to be closer if possible.

If you are not inside his "comfort zone" when you hit him, there's a big chance he will round up the girls and
head out as easeup stated.

Agreed. Caller is too far away from the bull for a threat sequence. I'd want the caller to close inside 100, the hunter to be as close as possible.

[cnelk]

Not sure why a mew or bugle at close range as described is even considered at times.
As soon as you make a sound, mew or bugle, your location is known.
You know he is there, does he know you are there?

If the cover is there, use it to get closer.

If you run out of cover, then you will have a decision to make.

Last fall when we spotted my bull out 100yds feeding, I snuck in as close as I could to survey the situation.
And I was pretty much out of cover.
My buddies were back ~60yds ready for my signal.
Once I gave them the 'go ahead', they started with cow calls.
The bull didnt react too much until 'herb' cow-called thru his grunt tube.
That sound turned the bull and brought him in.

If the cow call wouldnt have interested the bull, I guess we would have done something else...

[Trophyhill]

A lil vague but I will say that my calls are often the last thing on my mind if I have moved in on a bull. Yes, calls work but they don't need to be your first option all the time. Nock an arrow, sneak into your effective range, and stick him!

Love it!

[welka]

Never an easy answer! This was not in reference to any particular encounter, instead I was looking to see if all of our responses would be more in the 80/20 rule (i.e if you have successfully gotten inside 100 yards, then a cow call works better most of the time) that might help newer hunters. Doesn't look like this will work with the generic example I tried to give. Personally, from past experiences/failures, if we got in silently (either stumbled on them, moved in based on sight, or moved in based on him bugling), I think I would either rake (I think Paul also mentions this in the Playbook) or mew first (and since I was in close, if he bugled I would cut him off immediately if he responded). Good luck.