How to Dislodge a Herd Bull

[WapitiTalk1]

He's right there! You've worked in close to a bull with cows. You've done a good job to this point, working the prevailing thermals and/or wind (yes, there is a difference), moved in on game trails so you could get there pretty quickly before he nudges the group on their way from night time feed to early morning bedding area. The bull has been very vocal, giving away his location several times. You know your time is limited and the opportunity is now for this scenario. You're well inside bullwinkle's comfort zone (70 yards or so) and you and your partner decide to........

It's the 24th of September on that Montana hillside. Your move........

[Trophyhill]

I think there are several tactics that might work as a solo hunter but since there are 2 I'd go with the threat level 2 or 3 or possibly challenge him with a bugle and start a raking sequence if that doesn't work

[otcWill]

You havn't bugled yet? Perfect! I'm sending my ninja buddy on a belly crawl to within 60 yards and cutting off his next bugle with one of my own just like it. I'm confindent that this will bring him my way at least 20 yards but if not I'm my partner and I will know that the next option will be "call and stalk". If he moves too fast or anyting isn't right we let him go and hunt him again later.

[Backcountry]

You havn't bugled yet? Perfect! I'm sending my ninja buddy on a belly crawl to within 60 yards and cutting off his next bugle with one of my own just like it. I'm confindent that this will bring him my way at least 20 yards but if not I'm my partner and I will know that the next option will be "call and stalk". If he moves too fast or anyting isn't right we let him go and hunt him again later.

X2!

[rowdycwby1]

If we have good cover I'll have my buddy move about 20-30 closer if possible and I'll move 10 yards to he's left or right depending where the bull is cow call and try to get him to come looking for me and if he doesn't I'll bugle and scrape a tree to challenge him.

[elkmtngear]

You havn't bugled yet? Perfect! I'm sending my ninja buddy on a belly crawl to within 60 yards and cutting off his next bugle with one of my own just like it. I'm confindent that this will bring him my way at least 20 yards but if not I'm my partner and I will know that the next option will be "call and stalk". If he moves too fast or anyting isn't right we let him go and hunt him again later.

I like this. I'm going one step beyond and using the SLIP System butt decoy / calls to simulate a cow being pushed from the herd (as soon as my ninja buddy gets dug in for the shot)

[Gypsumreaper]

I'd prolly go with a little different tactic I've used before with success, we both scoot in another 20 to 30 yards, I then release a squeaky bugle and rake a tree a little, my buddy gives out a calf call or two an I then deploy the Montana decoys miss September, soon as I feel we have the bulls attention ill walk backwards with the decoy facing the the bull and calf call and squeaky bugle, if I can keep contact with the bull or get eyes on him as soon as my shooter has a shot and needs to get drawn ill take a few steps at the bull to make him feel the cow is coming back and it seems to give him enough focus on me for the shooter to draw

[Indian Summer]

Sounds like a man with a plan. Welcome aboard gypsumreaper.... are you a sheetrock guy or what? Interesting name.

[Trophyhill]

You havn't bugled yet? Perfect! I'm sending my ninja buddy on a belly crawl to within 60 yards and cutting off his next bugle with one of my own just like it. I'm confindent that this will bring him my way at least 20 yards but if not I'm my partner and I will know that the next option will be "call and stalk". If he moves too fast or anyting isn't right we let him go and hunt him again later.

Disregard my post after reading what this great elk killer wrote

[Lefty]

Hunting open country I’m sticking with the herd on the downwind side 200 yards — and more away
Im waiting for them to bed and for the wind to pick up and remain steady. Once the cows start bedding Im making a plan for moving in if possible. If the bulls is active I will try to set up on the perimeter and will keep quiet
I won’t try calling until afternoon if the topography can work in my favor. Ill start with cow calls as the bull makes his rounds. I want hte bull up an the cows down,
If the bull replies with a bugle Ill be ready to fire back and rake the ground or any cover nearby .
I suspect it will be more of a spot and stalk.
If there are other bulls with the herd, Depending on what they are doing, and take a satalite bull

[Fridaythe13th]

Phantom Great learning tool. What would you have done? I like these drills 1 year of archery under my belt and very much a rookie

[JJ Overkill]

personally I would move my shooter 20-30yds closer if cover is good. then I pose to be a threat to the herd bull. id chuckle to his cows and then lip bawl to them. rack a tree and chuckle again. if he and when he grunts and bugles at me id cut him off with a bugle of my own and go back to raking. I want him to know im after his cows. maybe ever start with a cow call and transition it into a bugle followed by chuckles. im sure he would like this and come looking for this bull.

[Olydog09]

If I have a buddy with me I would have him try to slip in 20 more yards then I would let out a challenge bugle. If that did not budge him I would add some tree raking. If he is still not coming in I would try to move up to my partner and do some harrassed cow calls while moving backwards then adding some bull chuckles like I am the bull trying to coerce a cow back with me. If that did not work with my limited knowledge I would probably pull back and try to move to a position where the herd may move through or back out and regroup hoping that the herd stays in the same vicinity and try to slip in ahead of them the next day.

I will add that this is by no means me speaking from experience. My calling knowledge and strategies is a work in progress learned from Reading Paul's works and fellow members posts on here. So feel free to critique my reply.

[Gypsumreaper]

Sounds like a man with a plan. Welcome aboard gypsumreaper.... are you a sheetrock guy or what? Interesting name.

No sir I'm a tire guy but from gypsum, co. And our little club calls ourselves the reapers so that's where the name comes from

[Toby]

Since these opportunities don't happen every day for us, I would definitely try to make something happen now. I'd send the shooter up 20-30 yards and downwind of the path from the bull to me the caller. Then I would give a couple light but sexy cow calls, if he tried to call me to him I would move back away from him adding a few more sexy cow calls as I went. If this didn't bring him in front of the shooter I would move back towards him and use the level two or three threat.

[Deafirishman]

This is why I always have a partner with while archery hunting elk. This deaf guy would not have a clue as to what the elk are speaking nor where to position himself...talk about a very challenging scenario. For example, I could not even hear a bull bugle from under 50 yards in the thick cover while he was charging right at us only to be busted by him because of the sudden change in wind direction...pretty sad story !!

[zpd307]

Sounds like a man with a plan. Welcome aboard gypsumreaper.... are you a sheetrock guy or what? Interesting name.

No sir I'm a tire guy but from gypsum, co. And our little club calls ourselves the reapers so that's where the name comes from

we hunted around there the last two years.

[Gypsumreaper]

O ya? Where at?

[WapitiTalk1]

Phantom Great learning tool. What would you have done? I like these drills 1 year of archery under my belt and very much a rookie

Geesh, you guys are all over this one There are certainly several options including merely working in as close as possible to the herd and try to get a shot at the bull before the group moves on, or, you could identify the direction you feel the group is moving to and plot an intercept course, "but" to get the bull to leave his cows, you've gotta upset him to the point that he will dislodge from his position and come seek you out. Probably isn't gonna happen with just cow calls but stranger things have happened. As several have said, get your shooter closer and allow them to set up (shouldn't take but a handful of seconds if not too open where the herd's eyes are everywhere). Now, the caller becomes a bull, period! He may be just a challenger (challenge bugle) with advertising raking, stomping, pacing side to side, forward and backwards, or, he may be a cow stealing sneak in the herd bull's mind (the threat), using whiny/pitchy cow noises over his shoulder or into the dirt, immediately followed up with a nasty scream directed toward Bullwinkle. It's tough sometimes to get a boss bull to leave his girls but given the right motivation, it can be done

[Indian Summer]

You havn't bugled yet? Perfect! I'm sending my ninja buddy on a belly crawl to within 60 yards and cutting off his next bugle with one of my own just like it. I'm confindent that this will bring him my way at least 20 yards but if not I'm my partner and I will know that the next option will be "call and stalk". If he moves too fast or anyting isn't right we let him go and hunt him again later.

Disregard my post after reading what this great elk killer wrote

That's funny... after I read Will's post I said to myself I guess I won't waste my time typing after that one.

[ElkNut1]

Yes, great thread with great responses! In a situation as was described there can be many variables & correct methods of use that could be used effectively. Like many here we've taken bulls in that same situation with a variety of methods & techniques, so much is depending on the attitude of this herd bull. The more aggressive he is the more aggressive ones can be with him. Closeness is key here for success, the various thoughts mentioned above could all work! By the way, Call & Stalk is one of my all time favorites! (grin)

ElkNut1

[Trophyhill]

I had a hard time dislodging this guy

[WapitiTalk1]

I had a hard time dislodging this guy

Ya, and you darn near hung him up in a tree to ease field dressing Love that picture.. Beautiful bull David.

[Trophyhill]

I had a hard time dislodging this guy

Ya, and you darn near hung him up in a tree to ease field dressing Love that picture.. Beautiful bull David.

Thanks Rory. Just thought I'd break your thread up with a quick pic and a smart azz remark

[zpd307]

I had a hard time dislodging this guy

I wish I had this problem...

[ElkNut1]

Yes sir, great bull David, I'll bet a hard earned trophy like that keeps you grinning daily! (grin)

ElkNut1

[Swede]

I have had a lot more success dislodging herd bulls than killing them. lol They seem to dislodge quite easily. It just takes one bad move or a shift in the wind. What I would do depends on the exact position of the herd bull. If he was on the opposite side with the cows between me and him, I would throw out a advertisement bugle with some chuckles. If he was on my side of the herd, then I would start with a cow call, then when he called to me I would hit him with a challenge.

[Toby]

I use a pretty conservative approach, usually my first action is pretty safe, hence a sexy cow call, then maybe move away and more sexy cow calls, after all, he wants cows. He may think I am a new cow coming in to the herd talk, or maybe one of his cows that wondered off, if that doesn't work I would escalate some, maybe some chuckles, then escalate a little more.

I don't want to hit him with full force right away, because if that doesn't work, then what. By using a minimal approach to start, you can keep a lot of options available.

[Trophyhill]

I don't want to hit him with full force right away, because if that doesn't work, then what. By using a minimal approach to start, you can keep a lot of options available.

I think distance is key. If I'm within 75 yards that bull is getting challenged either by display or calling but his "bull hood" is getting challenged