Critique my approach/call

[Scoot]

My favorite thing in the world to do is to get a bull that I think will play with me, sneak up close, get him to call (either through patience or by dropping a soft cow call), then cut him off with a screaming/freaking out/your mama wears army boots kinda bugle. To me, there's absolutely nothing like getting in a bull's face and ticking him off and having him come charging in, looking for a fight. But I have a question about how I go about this: am I using the best bugle I can be in this situation?

Here's the best way I can describe how I bugle in this situation-- I fill my lungs completely full of air, and simply put, I blast away as hard as I possibly can. Sometimes I growl really hard at the end, sometimes I grunt at the end, sometimes I just end the bugle when I run out of air, but I'm sure I don't fade away- it's full force until I quit the call. ...and when I say I blast the call as hard as I can, I really mean it! I try to put as much emotion and anger into the call that I am able to, both through the abrupt violent feel of the huge, loud call and, when I add something on the end, by making my grunts or growls sound really, really mad.

So far, this has worked very well for me. I know some may respond to this with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". However, is there a better response I could be using that might work better? I spoke with Cory Jacobson about this and he sometimes uses a similar approach, but responds with a fairly different call. However, he is sure to use the same kind of "feel" in his call and always makes them aggressive and "in your face" in this scenerio.

Thoughts? Comments? Feedback appreciated!!!
Thanks,
Scoot

[WapitiTalk1]

Welcome to the forum Scott! Yes sir, there's nothing like throwing a warm glass of screw you at Bullwinkle when you're in close. I like your style.

[Trophyhill]

No 2 bulls are alike just like no 2 hunters are alike. If you ask 5 different Corey's of the world the same question, you'll get 5 different variations. I like the approach and am working on getting better at getting in a bulls face and challenging his elkhood! I say keep up the sound tactic and and stay versatile

[ElkNut1]

Scott, welcome to the Forum bud! That's a hardcore approach alright! When you say you've done very well with it, just what do you consider very well? Are you killing bulls or are you getting into some great screaming matches? No doubt when in the right situation a high energy challenging bugle will work but I detect some hesitation & doubt in your results or else why would you be asking for a different sound or approach? We've talked on the phone in the past & I sure don't remember you being a big bugler as this?

In a nutshell, you will push a lot of bulls away if you tried that approach on the wrong bull such as ones that are not deep enough into the rut or have no reason to get defensive. Calling is a timing thing, right bull right situation right sound for best results! When I say best results I mean calling 8 out of 10 bulls in not 2 out of 10, your approach will net the low end, you need a lot of elk around before you find the right one in the right frame of mind. (grin)

ElkNut1

[Scoot]

Thanks for the replies fellas! Paul, to answer your questions, by "had very good luck", what I meant was the vast majority of bulls I've done this with have come in within bow range as a result of my calling. Most have come in after one bugle and on a string. I've been foiled by wind several times in this scenerio (partially the nature of the beast, partially me not waiting long enough for the thermals to fully swap around- stupidly, I've done this several times). If you remove problems with wind, I can only think of one bull I chased off using this approach. He was bugling up a storm and I moved in on him- I cut him off with a wicked scream and instead of moving off, he backed up 100 yards. I moved back in to about 70 yards and tried again, he backed up 100 yards. We played this game for about 1/2 mile and finally I cut him off and he started a response bugle, but literally mid-bugle he stopped, turned, and ran away, never to be seen by me again.

Anyway... with the exception of that one bull, it's worked great! However, wind has ended some of these encounters badly, a couple times we've had bulls well within range but couldn't get a shot, a couple times my brother and buddies have missed, and we've killed a few bulls using this approach too. As far as getting bulls within bow range, this approach has been great for me. I'm not a one trick pony though- I don't always use this approach. I only do it when I have a bull that I believe is really fired up and willing to come in to fight for cows (his or mine). When I have a bull that is looking for company and not a fight, I don't aggressively bugle at him at all (I first learned that from you, Paul, then I relearned it on the mountain when I unintentionally didn't listen to your advice from your DVDs/playbook).

You're mostly right about my hesitation and why I'm asking the question, Paul. I think the real reason I ask about it is because the way I aggressively call back and cut off bulls isn't a "text book" call (I'm talking about the call it's self, not the scenerio/set up I'm describing). It's not a call that I've heard you describe on your DVDs and it's not the same one that Cory Jacobson uses in this scenerio. However, it definitely has the same tone and emotion as the calls you guys use- it's a ticked off, challenge, "your mama wears army boots" kinda call. That's why I was wondering about it, because it's not quite the same call as what I've heard some of the calling gurus (you and Cory would definitely fall in that category for me) use.

[ElkNut1]

Scott, great explanation! I hear you about the Challenge you are using is encounter specific! That's how we try to use all our calls, so much depends on the variables that we are faced with. Is it a herd bull? Is it a satellite bull. If a herd bull does he have hot cows so he's aggressive or does he have cows but none are showing signs of estrus so his aggression is lacking? The list can go on! When I'm challenging a bull it's generally done so because I've got his dander up or I hear him being harassed by other bulls so I get in close & know when I unleash my fury in his face so to speak I feel he's coming & coming hard & fast! Bulls in this frame of mind do not generally seek a down wind approach they are coming at you out of reaction! I love those bulls the most! (grin)

I like your style, as you know I'm a pretty aggressive caller when the encounter calls for it, using a raspy growl at the end with ones voice is a pure challenge to a bull, I mean a serious bear like growl where you can see stars at the end of your bugle because you are giving it everything you've got! I also will add panting & voice glunks, this really helps to sell we are one of his own rank. When in close & you use those two additional sounds it can really help turn the tide on an apprehensive bull! -- One thing to note is if he hangs up then you were either in a bad setup where he can see source of sounds & sees nothing, or he caught movement that doesn't represent the species, of course the wind is also killer. With a good setup & being close to him & use of the right sounds he should come on a string, we make sure we do our best to line those 3 things up in our favor, this gives us the advantage & puts the bull on the defense. One other thing too is we try not to call him up to us, we like being even with him elevation wise or below him a bit as this has him feeling he has the leverage advantage if push comes to shove. Thanks!

ElkNut1

[ctdad]

Last year I had a herd bull at seventy yards but no shot. He was thrashing a tree and angry. I didn't get aggressive and he lived. Lesson learned

[Scoot]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the replies! Paul, I'll add in some glunking and panting- that should up the realism factor even further.