Need some in the field help. ASAP!

[Backcountry]

Me and MTLongdraw are currently sitting on a ridge a few hundred yards above a bedded bull. We followed him this morning while him and another bull exchanged bugles. We through some in as well. Almost noon and he hasn't sounded off for a few hours. Wind is good. We do not know if he has cows or not. I am suspecting no.

Do we sit and wait for him to make a bugle from the bed? If he doesn't do we try to illicit a response in a few hours? Thanks

[TonyOI]

Does he have cows with him?

[MLayden]

If you know his probable travel route I'd move in and close the distance and try to get within 100-150 yards if the wind is right. Let a few mews out and see if you hear anything. If nothing, I'd hang tight in that spot for him to get moving and make sure the wind is always headed the right way!

Good luck!

[ElkNut1]

one of the bulls has cows, hopefully you are sitting above the one that does! Don't bugle him anymore. If you can locate where both bulls are you will have a good chance at the satellite easiest. Get between them, if you can locate a trail that's best. There's a good chance when done resting the satellite will move towards the bull with cows again, you may be able to intercept him by his bugling or by his walking. Both bulls will pick the bugling back up but hard to say when. Keep the wind in your favor & don't call at this time & give yourselves away. If no sounds are heard by 5pm then it's time to get them riled up. Odds are you will hear them again by 2pm when they get back up to stretch & feed/water a bit. Once you hear them again get to that herd bull fast while still in the cover that's your chance to kill him but you need to be close! If no calling is needed sweet but if it is you may want one of you to hang back & keep him vocal while still in the bedding area & the other be the shooter slipping in on him silent like. The bull will generally be slow moving from bedding so you have some time knowing he's rooted around there! Watch that wind it could get swirly!!

If all else isn't cooperating get close & scream a bugle at him or give a few excited cow calls & head right at him, your opportunity can happen fast so be ready!

ElkNut1

[MTLongdraw]

What a day! We ended up bugling about noon. We got a response but a long ways away. Figured we had no shot at that bull so we left. Right when we got to the top of a ridge a bull started going nuts on his own. Dave exchanged a few bugles but for the most part we slipped into less than a hundred silent...unfortunately he had cows and they were about 40. They left. Ended up bumping them again about 400 yards down the drainage...he bugled again. This time we left them alone and let them head back up the draw where we want them to stay. Best we can tell there are 2 heard bulls and possibly 1-2 satellite bulls in the same draw...had to leave for anniversary dinner bit pretty good idea where well be in the morning

[mjblowers]

I'm excited to hear if you get to one of them... that's pretty intense.

Where on Earth do you guys hunt that allows you to have reception while hunting/camp.

I thought Burgdorf in McCall was pretty close to reception, and even there I couldn't get a bar :p

[Indian Summer]

The Bitterroot valley has pretty good phone reception in lots of places as long as you aren't down in a hole. In the south part of the valley Verizon put what was to be a temporary tower during the massive fires in 2000 But they left it and over the years reception down there has steadily improved.

Sounds like you guys are on em. Doug (my brother) has been having a good week with two clients further to the south. Called in 5 bulls on day one to within 50 yards but no shots. The next morning was pretty active but then it heated up into the 80s and things shut down. Yesterday he called in 5 bulls! Some to within 20 yards including one hog.... but no shots! Sounds like the Bitterroot bulls are cooperating this season. I'm getting texts so I don't know anymore details. Had another buddy shoot at a 320+ bull and hit a branch possibly up near where you guys are. Good luck next time out boys!

Happy anniversary Longdraw.

[MTLongdraw]

In my four seasons of archery elk this was the most bugling action I've seen/heard. Incredible day. I want to have a bitterroot bull in the worst way. Well be back at it Fri through Monday then I'll be off all next week up until the 1st. Thanks for the congrats.

[Backcountry]

Heading back out. Time to get aggressive and in his face!

[BrentLaBere]

Good luck guys. Hope you guys are coming back out heavy

[ElkNut1]

Well, since saving him for another day get within 100 yds of this bull. Once there be prepared for one of you to bugle this bull, as soon as he answers back send the shooter forward cow calling excitedly on mid volume right at the bull. Make sure you have good wind & keep cover between shooter & the bull where he last heard him. As the shooter goes forward calling the caller needs to stay back & bugle for his cow to get back over to him with short screams! This should hold the real bull there as he awaits this cow who is choosing him over this other bull. As shooter gets to aprox 40 yds stop cow calling & anchor an arrow & now slip in silent for the kill, don't worry about snapping something unexpectedly as the real bull will think it's the cow still coming! Listen for the real bull to start raking anything as he tries to coax her over! Good Luck!

ElkNut1

[Backcountry]

UPDATE: We have been chasing this bull on and off the past week with little to no success. He seems to always run circles around us! This morning we moved in on our usual path and were greeted by the sounds of the "blank creek beast". He did his daily ritual of throwing out a few tending, I assume, bugles and moved his herd up the draw. We moved up the valley and were unfortunately listening to nothing but squirrels for the next hour. At this point we decided to climb to a high point and send out a few locators. We picked out a likely spot on an active ridge and sent out a bugle. Nothing. We sat down for a snack to plan our next move. Finally, a very faint, very distant bugle. I bugled back and was answered by another, coming closer. The bull sounded to be in the bottom of a flat floored canyon below us.

We began to drop in elevation while talking back and forth with the bull. Halfway on our quest to the "beast" we bumped a satellite bull. Shit! Nothing left to lose at this point so we rushed the young satellite while screaming our way down the ridge and into the valley that now housed a very pissed off herd bull. We reached the bottom and were blasted by a challenge bugle followed by chuckles. I immediately cut off the bull and we again rushed him to what we figured about 100 yards. At this point we hit a shallow creek and an opening about 30 yards across. We had run out of cover and the bull was coming, praying for the wind to hold! I let out one final bugle and heard Josh say "here he come's!". We looked at each other and his final words before he comes to full draw is "pray for me Dave" The bull finally emerges into view and I almost dropped my bow..

A true giant! A dark horned, nasty, brute of a bull. The biggest I have ever been on or called in. The bull kept coming in 60, 50.. At 40 he turned behind a small patch of trees and looked like he may enter my shooting lane broadside. Unfortunately, the cold creek and flat bottom had different plans with the wind. The bull stopped abruptly, turned around, and calmly walked away. I screamed one more challenge in hopes that he would turn around. No luck.

We waited around a few more hours then decided to back out and save the bull for another day. I didn't want to over pressure him. Am I disappointed we didn't get a shot? Definitely, but I couldn't be more stoked about the whole situation. After a years worth of maps, scouting, and day dreaming we moved in and called in a true once in a lifetime bull on public land. All of our hard work the past few seasons have finally started to pay off. The season has been a success, a kill will only sweeten the pot, or crock pot

[zpd307]

sweet story!!!! after a couple days of rest, I am anxious to go back to the mtn all ready!

[Backcountry]

sweet story!!!! after a couple days of rest, I am anxious to go back to the mtn all ready!

Even after a total ball busting day of hearing ZERO bugles I always long to be back in the hills just after I point the truck home.

[Ghost]

Are you guys still out after them?

[Backcountry]

Are you guys still out after them?

Trying. Things have gone quiet.

[MT_Nate]

Even after a total ball busting day of hearing ZERO bugles I always long to be back in the hills just after I point the truck home.

I hear you there. That's probably the single best statement I've heard regarding "leaving" a hunt/hunt area. I've actually 'listened to the call' and stopped for some sideline hunts in strange areas on my way home as a result. Two of them this year alone resulted in some great action I would have otherwise not have stumbled upon.

Well done Backcountry.