when its time to bugle

[Drawnandpinned]

Hey guy I new to the forum and have a question. When its time to bugle do u throw out the biggest baddest bugle or try to sound decent size or like a small bull and what has worked for you

[Eldonvieira]

Get elk it's play book different situations call for different tactics

[Gselkhunter]

To answer this question will depend on a lot of things. Time of season, are they talking already, do they have cows, have you seen the bull and many others.
Early in the season being big and bad could work against you. If you have a young bull with cows and push him hard he may round them up and leave. If it is an older bull with cows the only way to get him to come may be to be bad enough to call his cows away.
The safe way is start easy and add intensity as the situation escalates. You can always add more but can't always ease things back down. Understanding the situation take encounters under your belt.
Elknut makes some good stuff to understand what you are hearing and how to respond. My main learning tool was mistakes.

[Trophyhill]

Sound advice Gregg!

[Swede]

If I am old calling, I normally use a medium bull diaphragm and a moderate volume. If I do not get an answer and nothing happens, I escalate the volume. I like to check out what is nearby then try to reach farther.

[tdirks]

Hey Swede, I'm old whether i call or not!

[Toby]

I usually start with a high pitched, whiny, young bull type locator bugle. This has worked best for me.

[Wapiti]

If you just want to hear elk and see if they are bugling then head out after dark and get up on the ridges and let out a location bugle. A location bugle is nothing more than a 2 or 3 note high pitch call with no growl or aggressiveness to it.

Now your question was when do you let out an all out biggest bad bugle and my answer is simple. sometimes elk just will not answer a location bugle so what I go to is a high note bugle ending in a lipbawl !! If there is an elk in the area he will usually answer that and come looking for you.

Your other part of the question was young bull sounds. Now I usually try not to sound like a young bull as I'm not interested in calling in small bulls. About the only time I do young bugles is when there is nothing going on there happens to be a young elk hanging around you. This is where if you call and watch this satellite bull you will learn so much. Be still and just play with him and have fun. That is your best teacher you could ever have !! Trust me that is how I learned !!

Have a great season and most of all have fun !!

Travis