Calling Again II

[Swede]

Situation where it is a good idea to call are to numerous to list on any thread, but I want to ask another question along that line. Under what circumstances is a cow call superior to a bugle or other bull sound?

[JohnFitzgerald]

I never think in terms of cow vs. bull sounds. With so many different possible situations, black and white implementation can lead to blown encounters. To call elk successfully you need to think "calling sequence". Pre-season is a great time to think all this out!

So first, determine what situations you might encounter during a hunt.

Example:
a. I will be trying to cold call elk.
b. I will be trying to threaten a bull’s dominance over his cows.
c. I will be trying to call a vocal satellite to me.
d. I will be trying to sound like a restless herd.
e. I will be trying to locate a bull.

Next, for each encounter determine which sounds will make up your calling sequence. Some will have just bull sounds, some will have just cow sounds, and others will have a combination. When you’re doing this, think like an elk, not like a hunter. Example, if I was an elk what would I like and dislike about this calling sequence? Does the sequence paint a picture in the elks mind? Does this sequence make sense?

In conclusion, don’t think cow or bull calls as being superior in a situation. Think which sequence is superior in a situation. There hundreds of possibilities and combinations for you to own. Make one that will work for you and your elk.



Just my 2-cents

[Elkonthebrain]

In what situation do you try and sound like a restless herd? Do you have any sound clips you could post up of you sounding like this? Thank you. Man I really need to keep reading to know the proper call to use for any situation.

[JGH]

John said:
a. I will be trying to cold call elk.
b. I will be trying to threaten a bull’s dominance over his cows.
c. I will be trying to call a vocal satellite to me.
d. I will be trying to sound like a restless herd.
e. I will be trying to locate a bull.

This is put very well. Think "situation", not "vocalization". That will get you to include other things: decoys use, raking, stomping, movement.

To the original question, though, is the question more of "When should I try sweet-talk, and when should I threaten a bull's dominance?"

If so, I don't know. But, I wonder if it really matters. Thinking of "getting close" to a drunk, horny guy in a bar, both the cute girl and the guy looking for a fight know how to do it. Both "flirt" with the situation a little first -- they don't just walk in and expect him to chase them down.

For the gal, "flirt" turns to "tease", and that turns to "hard to get" if "tease" didn't work. Bottom line is she didn't start with "tease".

For the guy looking for a fight, he doesn't start with getting in the guy's face ... he starts low, and turns it up, too.

But they're both effective. I have the feeling that most of the ineffectiveness of out calling is by trying to start out too far down the interaction, not by choosing the wrong one. Even a drunk, horny guy in a bar will know something is wrong if the intensity of the situation isn't "correct."

[ElkNut1]

swede, as you can imagine there are many situations where a selective cow sound will trump a bull sound. (bugle or such) Here's one of my favorites. It's when you have a bull calling back to your cow calling but ignoring your bugle. When interest is for one over the other, in this instance the cow, I will then stick with it. I won't keep adding a bull sound at all & push my luck or force it on him because I want him to get aggressive, yet he doesn't want to. Instead I'm going right to him as he is asking me to cow calling softly as I cut the distance, I mean really soft calling with 1/4 second short mews. This generally anchors the bull to his spot & he's expecting this cow to show anytime as he's asked her to through his bugling! Of course cover & wind are a must to get within your needed bowrange/riflerange. So here's one instance where I'd choose one over the other.

ElkNut1

[>>>---WW---->]

Hunters think! Most hunters tend to over think! Elk don't think, they react! So find what they react to and stick with it!

[JohnFitzgerald]

In what situation do you try and sound like a restless herd? Do you have any sound clips you could post up of you sounding like this? Thank you. Man I really need to keep reading to know the proper call to use for any situation.

What situation can you not use it in? Restless herd sequence is a general term for breeding sequence, battling bull sequence, or agitated herd sequence. If you truly want to understand and implement them, you first need to understand what the different elk sounds mean. Take for example the battling bulls sequence. After getting a good resource, like Paul’s Playbook, think to yourself what sounds should I expect to hear during this battle? If I was a satellite bull, what would it take to get me to come in? Maybe a couple bulls battleing with a cow or two in the outer zone that could be easily snagged…..maybe? Think these things through in the off season and come up with a sequence that you feel will work. Rely on forum advice but also make it yours. Push yourself to come up with something better.

I agree with Paul that in his case soft cow sounds can get the job done. But what if the bull all of a sudden goes silent? What happens when you just can’t get close enough for a shot? What can you do with your sequence to sell it to that bull? Coming up with ideas in the heat of the moment can be tough and challenging to say the least. Even when I use simple and light cow calls, they are still part of a bigger sequence. Define the sequence, even though you may not necessary use all the components for every situation.

JGH is correct, think situation. Any body can answer for themselves when to use sweet-talk and when to threaten. They just need to understand what most sounds mean and they need to think like an elk while playing the devil's advocate.

Just my 2-cents.

jf