How far can you hear an elk bugle

[elknturkey]

Just got to thinking about this and was curious. I know the terrain, weather, ect can factor in but under ideal conditions what distance can you hear one? In Idaho in the thick conifer forests we can hear em just a fuzz over a mile if they are straight across a valley from us. I can hear gobbles at about that distance as well

[Swede]

I would say it depends on how good your hearing is too. I have never measured the distance, but I don't think I have ever heard one a mile away. Wind can be a factor, so I would suppose on a clear still cold morning, across a canyon maybe a mile is possible. Usually when I hear one it is within a quarter mile, and often less.

[kevin_t]

I have heard them at about a mile given the right conditions

[MTLongdraw]

Its important to remember if you're hearing them, they are probably a lot closer than you think. Be ready!

[Gypsumreaper]

I agree, seems to carry a little further on colder mornings, but also where you are I was watching a bull in an opening In the bottom of a gulch roughly 700 yards downhill, my buddy was going in for him and I was seeing where he was going in case he bumped him, if I could get in position or find his escape route. He bugled a couple times and I heard it, my buddy was about half way to him in some timber and never heard him. But he ended up gettin nervous and left the country we never seen him again, my buddy made the opening and glassed me up. When we got back together I asked if he heard him bugling an he said he never heard anything at all beside squirrels

[ElkNut1]

Yep, with good conditions (quiet) & elevation you can hear bulls a mile away! In thicker stuff it's common to 100's of yards to 1000 yards.

ElkNut1

[Swamp Buck]

So if you can hear one, odds are that you should think about going after it.... I heard one last year that sounded a long way off. As I was getting my pack on to go chase it, here he comes, busting through the pines and ended up 8 yards away from me in a very short time.

[Fullabull]

This is why I send out a location bugle every 100 yards or so when I'm hunting. Sound only travels so far, a bull might not hear me in one spot but another 100 yards are so may make the difference and then I know where he is at

[Lefty]

Its important to remember if you're hearing them, they are probably a lot closer than you think. Be ready!

I learned that one through experience.
My hearing isnt that great but Ive seen and heard them 3/4 mile away in open clear near windless conditions

I heard a few cow mews yesterday and could not see the cow in fairly open range. There was cover and terrain change starting about 400 yards
Crawled out of my tent, taking the morning pee and hearing cow talk,.. I love Idaho
So how far can cow and calf talk be heard????