Any tricks for making them bugle?

[Toby]

There are days, very long days, when I can't get a response to my locator bugles, and there isn't anything sounding off on their own. I run and gun, I know, I should do other stuff, but I just live for the encounters. But, some days it seems like their isn't a bull within earshot, and cover a lot of ground. Some days are great, and I understand that that is just the way it is.

But, do any of you have little tricks to get a verbal response from a bull other than a locator and advertising bugle? I just need a response, bugle, groan, grunt, anything.

[ctdad]

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[Trophyhill]

Yes, I stumbled onto something 2 years ago. A very loud pleading cow sound from select locations where the sound travels a good distance. A lot of times I'll get just a lazy bugle on days like this but it tells me if elk are in the area. When I hear this bugle I know that elk is in his bed.

[ElkNut1]

Toby, great Topic sir! So many times we hunters get into a routine where we rely on a sound or two such as a Location Bugle or a High intensity Location Bugle with chuckling in hopes of drawing a response from distant bulls. Like Trophyill we like pulling out other stops to get bulls & cows to sound off when the classic bugles aren't cutting it!

I like doing what I call "Shock Calling" --= It's sorta like trying to get an old tom to respond to a disturbing sound out of no where. In order to shock call it has to be your first call not just another bugle or cow call first then followed by this shock call. I've used Extremely loud excited cow calling that would cover a mile in the right open terrain with us above. I've used the Estrus Buzz on high volume as well in an erratic fashion to produce a bugle or cow call to present elk. I've also used these sounds after using a Location Bugle first with no response then ignite them with the high energy cow sounds. Other times it requires a wimpy 3 note raghorn bugle to get bulls bugling back when a mature type bugle you've given gets no response. Other times the wimpy bugle gets nothing back & a good ole raspy lip bawl on course mode can produce a response back. Other times raking a tree with stomping around & rolling rocks with no elk sounds used can produce a vocal response from bulls within earshot. At any rate never give up as you get creative in your calling. Move a 1/2 mile & go through your calling again if needed. Your objective is to get an elks location not try to call them to you! Once located move towards them quickly with the wind in your favor & form a plan of attack as you head towards their response. Depending on their extended bugling or no other bugles heard will help you decide on the best tactic for that bull? --- When all else fails call at night! (grin)

On the photo below we had been bugling for a couple of hours with zero response in a couple of miles & it was one of those off & on rainy days, mostly rain, at one point there I decided to hammer away with loud aggressive cow sounds instead & this guy responded one time, we moved ahead but could get no closer that aprx 350yds away because of the steep draw on the other side & a few openings where we could be spotted that we'd have to move through to get closer. We decided to setup there & try to pull this smaller bull over our way. We knew he was small by his single response. After aprox 20-25min of cow calling in every imaginable fashion along with stomping & pacing back & forth along with rustling lots of brush this guy shows out of no where at 17yds, Paul Jr did his thing & we were packing meat!

ElkNut1

ElkNut1

[Toby]

Great tips, I need to file them away in my memory bank. Thanks for adding a few things to my arsenal.

[elk-n-walleye]

Elknut, I imagine you would also say to use any of these calls regardless of time of day? plus, how long would you recommend hanging out at each spot as you make those calls? I was having similar calling activity as toby last season with bulls responding till about 8 and then all quiet.

[ElkNut1]

Elknut, I imagine you would also say to use any of these calls regardless of time of day? plus, how long would you recommend hanging out at each spot as you make those calls? I was having similar calling activity as toby last season with bulls responding till about 8 and then all quiet.

It depends on weather & time of Sept as far as when we cease most calling! Before the 10th we call much less & will generally cease calling by noon if using breeding sequences, blind cold calling or advertising a bulls existence. If action is slow we do not do a lot of midday calling instead we tame it down & do a lot of listening from vantage areas. We generally do not start up calling again till late evening around 6pm-7pm which gives us 1 to 2 hours before dark.

When it comes to staying in one spot it all depends on what we are doing. The above methods I mentioned generally requires a min of a 30 min stay with very little movement on our part because you never know when elk are sneaking in silently. You must be ready with an arrow nocked & very alert. Make sure you're in a position to draw your bow if needed!

If we hear one bugle & that's it then we move in the area pretty quick, we consider time of morning or whatever as this tells us where this elk is or what he's doing. Let's say we hear a bugle at 8am, this means this elk & possibly others are leaving feeding & heading to bedding so they are in transition & this can cover 1-3 miles depending where they bed? Let's say we hear a bugle at 10:30am, this generally shows these elk are at or very near a bedding area & they are not going anywhere! These bulls are very killable! -- If afternoon between 1pm & 5pm these elk are still near bedding area but could be re-positioning because of heat,sun or insects in their bedding areas so they seek out ones where these things aren't a factor, this can put these elk on the move but generally only go a short distance to bed again. After 6pm or so elk that bugle then are leaving bedding areas & seek out their feeding/watering areas & night time activities as well as night time bedding areas, these areas are generally near or in openings big or small so predators cannot slip in on them without being seen or heard.

As you can see an evaluation of things is good so you know what's going on & how to proceed! If you have more specific questions please ask as I could go on writing all night! (grin)

ElkNut1

[kevin_t]

Relaxed elk at least later in the year. I've came across herds in late July that bugled all they wanted and laid out in the sun in broad daylight ..... No one bothering them

[ElkNut1]

Kevin, I'm unsure of what your question is?

ElkNut1

[Blackhorn]

Following. Good info elknut, thanks!

[Swede]

Paul makes some great points. You still need to tailor these calls to the right area. Where I hunt, you will get a response if you go at it long and hard, but it is likely another hunter. Paul's way works well where he and some others hunt. I would rather do more of what is referred to as silent calling, where I have to wait and anticipate a silent bull homing in on me. My experience has been that I am not likely going to be found by a sneaky nimrod if I am reasonably careful, but I have observed a few of them looking for me. When I spot a hunter I stay silent and move enough to get out of sight. Always or almost always they come calling as they approach. They have not read the Playbook or much on this forum, have they?
My point is that if you are hunting to kill elk, and not just hear elky sounds, you need to adapt your tactics to what fits your area.

[Trophyhill]

I know a guy who when no one else can get them talking, can make a select sound (phone call) and the elk will sound off. Don't ask me to describe this sound because I'm still trying to replicate it. I've just about given up out of frustration.

[flystrait]

David, I think it's the 2.5 he is using, or is it the 3.5?

[Gselkhunter]

It is a 3.5 Flystrait but there is a little more to it than that. There is some serious control[years of practice] needed. The call is a serious mix of voice, call and volume. It is my secret patented call and it does get responces when other calls aren't working.
David saw it first hand last year but there are other ways I get elk to talk early in the season. Beating trees and grunting works sometimes, a high pitch single note works too and like Paul I will sound like a herd of cows looking for company.
Things I take into acount are time of day, temp and location. Start small for close in elk and build in volume to reach out. However there are times you just have to go into the timber and dig them out.

[flystrait]

It is a 3.5 Flystrait but there is a little more to it than that. There is some serious control[years of practice] needed. The call is a serious mix of voice, call and volume. It is my secret patented call and it does get responces when other calls aren't working.
David saw it first hand last year but there are other ways I get elk to talk early in the season. Beating trees and grunting works sometimes, a high pitch single note works too and like Paul I will sound like a herd of cows looking for company.
Things I take into acount are time of day, temp and location. Start small for close in elk and build in volume to reach out. However there are times you just have to go into the timber and dig them out.

That's right 3.5's. There is always a little more to it. I only know a few guys that get that type of sound that makes those bulls respond on those no bugle days. It is a very real and unique sound in my opinion. Glad to see you over hear Greg.

Craig