Rookie Questions

[mramos]

I just got back from my first ever bow elk hunt in a great unit in NM, went with my dad who also has never hunted elk during bow season, to say the odds were stacked against me is an understatement. To top it off I ended up hunting solo most of the time , I had several elk within 100-150 yards but the majority had cows with them and they would not break from the herd with the cow sounds i was able to make. After unsuccessfully trying to call in elk I decided I would try the spot and stalk method. I actually think i made an excellent stalk on a herd of about 10 cows, a spike, and a giant 7x7. I ended up pinned behind some small pines (i was crouched down they were so small) with most of the cows 40-50 yards in front of me, the herd bull to my left at 70 yards, and the spike to my right at about 100-150 and out of sight and the wind in my favor. What do I do in this situation (I have an either sex tag)? silently draw and stand up and risk them all stampeding off? back out and try cow calling? Ultimately i made no decision and got winded somehow but if this happens in the future i would like to be prepared, so any advice is apprecated. It should also be noted that i missed a nice 5x5 from 40 yards, so it was a week of lots of rookie mistakes.

[Sucobowhunter]

When in that close I would get in a shooting position of where the bull would come in..guess.. Blast a big bull bugle.. Draw.. and wait for that bull to come in running!! With a threat being that close he is gonna freak and come running to get you outta there.. When that close or with a herd bull he isn't gonna come to a cow call.. it would just get lost in the other cow talk but a big bugle=big threat and he aint gonna like that.. Hope that helps

[klean1]

When in that close I would get in a shooting position of where the bull would come in..guess.. Blast a big bull bugle.. Draw.. and wait for that bull to come in running!! With a threat being that close he is gonna freak and come running to get you outta there.. When that close or with a herd bull he isn't gonna come to a cow call.. it would just get lost in the other cow talk but a big bugle=big threat and he aint gonna like that.. Hope that helps

So true. I was in the mix of four to six bulls bugling and surrounding the herd and there were so many cows mewing, that my cow calls just got lost in the mix!

[mramos]

Thats a good point, i guess i didnt even think about blowing a bugle. Appreciate your perspective, now i only have to wait another year to see if i even get a chance to execute something like that.

[BRazz]

Have to second all that - I had a chance at a bull during opening weekend, but I blew a cow call to stop him and he didn't even flinch. The cows meanwhile busted me...

[cnelk]

Herd bulls will come to cow calls, BUT you have to be in a place where they cant see the cow [you]

In your situation, of being in fairly open country, you are at a big disadvantage.

Plus, there are times when you can bugle and/or cow call and still nothing works...

[Elk_Addict23]

Herd bulls will come to cow calls, BUT you have to be in a place where they cant see the cow [you]

In your situation, of being in fairly open country, you are at a big disadvantage.

Plus, there are times when you can bugle and/or cow call and still nothing works...

Very true! I had this happen last night. I was in to all kinds of elk and had the herd bull at 70. I tried raking, cow calls, big screaming bugles and he never came! I guess there times when you're in too many elk to pull the big guy away.

Did have a rag 5 at 7 yards but decided to pass, still have 6 days to get it done.