The Situation

[mjblowers]

So I bought the book, read it through (forced my partners to read it, too)

Here's my standard situation I feel like I run into every year. Tell me if this is the appropriate way to respond.

Wake up, starting walking around 4 AM. Get to a set up spot before light comes up, let out a location bugle. Let's say this time I don't hear anything for 15 minutes (this time). I get up, walk another 1/5 of a mile. Location bugle. Light is starting to come up. BAM - I hear a fainnnnnnnt bugle. Sounds like he's a mile off.

Stay. Sit and wait 15 minutes. Let off another bugle and he responds. He sounds closer, but still just sounds like a location bugle. Pick up and "charge" towards him (aggressive). So I move about 1/5 a mile again. Sit, bugle, and he responds, this time with a chuckle at the end (this is where I always get the hang up, as I alluded to in a previous post)... He's rounding up cows and/or saying get close?

So now I know he's not aggressive, he's in defensive mode. This is where I need to get up in his beef and try to blow a challenge bugle once I can get within 100 yards. I Hear him crashing around, don't see anything, no elk is coming out... blow a nervous chuckle and wait for him to show himself and offer him my arrow?

[WapitiTalk1]

Try less conversation between you and Bullwinkle until you're very, very close and can pose a real threat. When you receive an answer to your locater, or, hear an unsolicited bugle make a best guess on where he either is, or, where he may be heading and either go to him or plot an intercept course to where you believe he’s moving to. Once you estimate you're within 125 yards or less, and haven't heard him sound off again, you may want to set up and start with some brush/tree raking and ground pawing before you make a vocal elk noise. This can oftentimes solicit a reaction from old snotty. Stay put, watching identified shooting lanes, and be watchful for silent elk to sneak in. Next, try some pretty soft, pleading cow sounds and again, listen, watch and wait for a handful of minutes. By this point, you may see or hear some type of reaction. OK, if he finally responds vocally or with tree bashing, determine what he's communicating, recheck the wind, determine if he's a herd bull, and respond accordingly. If he chuckles at you, he wants you (the cow he heard) to come to him. Give him what he wants. If he gives a warning bugle with grunts (perhaps finally reacting to the close brush raking you did, or, he's figuring the bull he heard way off is in his house), he's telling you to piss off. If he wants to play that game, confirm the wind is favorable, move in another 50 yards or closer (terrain dependent), set up, and make him believe you (now a bull again) have taken one of his cows, aka, the threat. Off the chart, pitchy, whiny, "holy hell, he's taking me" cow sounds thrown behind you followed by a short scream, perhaps with chuckles, directly at the bull to paint the picture you're between him and one of his girls whom you are stealing. Just throwing out a couple of scenarios that may play out as you move towards a vocal bull. Hope this makes sense and helps at least a bit. Bottom line, you usually have to take the action very close to a bull to get his dander up.

[mjblowers]

Reading your response has me so amped to get out there...

Thank you for the information - it all makes sense and affirms/redirects what I read. Thank you!

[Bullnuts]

Dang Phantom16! That was a very nice read! I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see if that bull comes all the way in or not. Totally amped!

[elkmtngear]

Good stuff RJ

[Trophyhill]

this is where I've changed my tactic out of necessity. at that distance or any distance really, if I hear a bugle I want to cut that distance in half before I sound off again.

[easeup]

awesome....there will be a play at the plate in that scenario. Bring the infield in and get ready!