Game Plan #1

[WapitiTalk1]

Allrighty, another series of whaddya do threads It's 0930, 20 September 2014, and you've moved up the sidehill to a well known bench with a meadow. The meadow is a smallish one, perhaps only 200 yards long by 150 yards wide. Thermals are still gently blowing down, across the meadow, directly into your face. You haven't said a peep this morning but an hour earlier, you thought you heard a distant bugle way above you, possible coming from the benchy meadow area. As you get close to the meadow and can see past the brush that surrounds it, you see this guy and two gals standing about 2/3 of the way across the meadow (perhaps 80-90 yards from your position at the edge), probably at the end of their morning feed. Simultaneously, you hear a bugle off to your right and slightly uphill, perhaps 200 yards away in dark timber. The bull in the meadow heard the same thing and looks in the direction of the other bull. You're hunting with a partner today and both of you are pretty good callers. What's your plan/move to try and get a shot? Bull only tag here.

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[Eldonvieira]

New at this but here goes. Move around the meadow to the uphill side staying to the side of the ones I can see it as close as possible send partner to the down wind side on a likely escape route chalupa he bugle and thrash trees. Thoughts the bull we can see will either confront the chalupa get or head out toward partner the uphill bull may come and you still have the wind on him if the visible one heads out to your partner.

[WapitiTalk1]

Bump. Anyone else have a plan?

[elk-n-walleye]

I'm thinking the thermals are going to be changing soon so I don't want to be caught between those bulls. If I get between them and thermals do shift the one above may wind me but if thermals don't change then my smell may drift into the meadow. So I'm considering moving around the opposite side of the meadow to get upwind as the thermals shift. Once shifted I can continue around the bull in the meadow and approach a position where my wind is being taken up valley away from both bulls. Since I have a caller one of us will move 40 or so yds out front. Caller starts in with some cow calls to fish for a response from either bull and judge the situation. If the caller gets them bugling back but not committing then its time to challenge them to get one or both moving in. Once one or both bulls are on the move they will be trying to circle around upwind. That's when the blood bath begins. See below...

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there may not be a blood bath but I feel like that is what I would do to give myself the best chance at one of those bulls.

[Trophyhill]

With a visual on this bull I'm staying in stealth mode and letting the situation unfold. If he's paying attention to the other bull maybe I can get in close enough to make a great shot while his attention is elsewhere. If he starts to leave then I'm gonna try and call his cows away from him

[mrganser]

Great visual elknwalleye!

Caller and I would separate once in the timber using cow/calf sounds, keeping 50+ yards between us. We would approach from either side of the wind as the it is within an hour of changing.

[timberland]

With the other bull bugling in the distance, I think big boy is going to escort his girls into security cover. Hopefully I know where that direction is and that's where I'm going to go to get in between, keeping an eye on the wind. I gotta hurry, things are going to unfold quickly. Once I get a set up in his suspected line of travel, wait a few minutes (if I've lost visual) before a couple light cow calls to "encourage" them to come my way (lost cow call?) I would try to hold back from calling unless it is needed to steer them closer to me. If they are heading in a different direction I will dog them and try to read his reaction to the other bull. this will dictate my next move.

[WapitiTalk1]

And the best graphic aid award of the year goes to...... elk-n-walleye! Love the red spot on the meadow bull I actually kind of like your movement plan if in fact, the thermals tend to switch in "this" area around the 1000 mark and the meadow bull moves in the direction you drew. Not so sure we have that kind of time though as I'm thinking the meadow bull is getting ready to move his squad out of the opening and off to bed. All this said, even though I mentioned the two hunters are pretty good callers, any type of elk noise by the pair may be ill advised in this situation (with the exception of a possible nervous/popping grunt to stop a bull for a shot) IMHO. You have a visual on one bull, and, have sound located another. Just my .02, but I would as Trophyhill mentioned, perhaps go into stealth mode, and work the cover/concealment towards an intercept course in line with where the small herd is moving to and see how things shake out. I would most likely move to the right of the meadow from the start point and work up to where I see and or hear the meadow bull and cows are moving through/to as they exit the opening. I don't think it's a bad thing to even plan an intercept course that may place me between the small herd and the singing satellite (thermals/wind dependent). There may come a time when a caller/shooter setup may be a good move, dependent on what transpires after you get within the comfort zone of the herd bull. At any rate, it's gonna be a good hunt with a potential shot. Anybody else have an initial concept plan for this scenario?

[elk-n-walleye]

And the best graphic aid award of the year goes to...... elk-n-walleye! Love the red spot on the meadow bull I actually kind of like your movement plan if in fact, the thermals tend to switch in "this" area around the 1000 mark and the meadow bull moves in the direction you drew. Not so sure we have that kind of time though as I'm thinking the meadow bull is getting ready to move his squad out of the opening and off to bed. ?

I was just having some fun with the sketch up. Its all guess work how it would play out in reality but if I could make something like my sketch happen it would be worth a shot.

However, I too felt like by this time of day the bull and cows would soon be likely to head toward their bedding area in which case I would intercept or dog them. Bull #2 is an unknown so I'm sticking to bull #1 in that case.

[easeup]

I remember way back when some bow hunter expert made the comment that once you spot your game NEVER let them out of your sight.
I think trophyhill has basically said the same here. so initially lets move to the right in stealth with no calls to close the stage to something much smaller. Adjust the plan if something develops but initially move to the right and up in the timber to cut the distance. A gentle mew is planned to steer the lead cow my way if the go the wrong direction on me.

[JJ Overkill]

EASY, 80-90yds. wait for him to turn broadside, range the bull, settle 80-90yrd pin and send a 612gr arrow his way. wait for it to bury into his vitals and follow blood trail to dead bull

no not really, im not taking a 80yrd shot on an animal.

[WapitiTalk1]

EASY, 80-90yds. wait for him to turn broadside, range the bull, settle 80-90yrd pin and send a 612gr arrow his way.

I was waiting for this...... You're a sick puppy Jeremy

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

At that time of day, I think it is best to stay in silent mode until I'm sure the wind is constant. Then I'd look to get within about 45-65 yards at which point I'd be very inclined to hit him with a nasty bugle, or try to talk his cows away from him (Lip bawl maybe?). I'm such a rookie in this elk calling game.