Bugled out Elk?

[Rizzy]

Last season while Mountain Goat hunting in Early October there was a Bull below my camp that was Bugling in the evening and morning. He was hoarse and sounded more like a young Bull learning how to Bugle. I never got to get a look at him, but I keep wondering about him.

Was this perhaps a big Bull?
Any of you have experiences with Bugled out Bulls?

[WapitiTalk1]

Ron, 100% yes it could have been a bugled out mature bull. I've seen/heard it many times when I've hunted in early October (as a particular state's season allows). In an area where the bull to cow ratio is good, and, there has been a ton of bugling, the bulls will actually get "bugled out", get very hoarse, and start sounding like braying cattle, almost unable to get a note out.

[flystrait]

Ron, 100% yes it could have been a bugled out mature bull. I've seen/heard it many times when I've hunted in early October (as a particular state's season allows). In an area where the bull to cow ratio is good, and, there has been a ton of bugling, the bulls will actually get "bugled out", get very hoarse, and start sounding like braying cattle, almost unable to get a note out.

Or a growling grizzly bear!

[elk.addict]

I can remember hearing this awful bugle that kept cutting in and out, yet it was non stop. My partner and I laughed, assuming it was some hunter that was just learning how to use their tube and were overdoing it a bit. We decided to clear out because this guy was surely screwing up our hunting. We got to the top of the ridge and could faintly here the bugle. I glassed down into the area, and there was a mature bull bugling like crazy (or trying to anyway).

[nwilt]

My hunting partner and I had the exact same situation happen to us last year! At about 2 in the afternoon, we heard the most awful sounding bugle. We were convinced that it was another hunter, but decided to respond just in case since it seemed like a really strange time to hear someone bugling. He ended up being what would have been a nice 6X6 but had one of his tines broken off. He was obviously a scrapper, and his hide was beat up (it was the last week of September). We didn't end up getting him, but it was a neat experience to have one come in that hot and bothered!

[Indian Summer]

I killed my biggest bull on October 4th. I was on the downwind side of one of the best bedding areas I know. I was being very low key. I let out a subtle cow call to start. Nothing. I started walking and I guess he heard me and let out this little spike bugle. Sounded like a little piglet squealing. Being that late in the bow season I didn't care how big he was so I moved toward him a bit. Then I spotted him. All alone bedded in a wide open burn. I was deciding what to do next when he just got up and walked straight to me. I couldn't believe that little peep came out of him. Like Mike Tyson and his little girly voice. lol Earlier that season I had called that bull in for a client and I can tell you he had a heck of a bugle back then with deep chuckles at the end.

[ElkNut1]

Ron, the answer could go either way as far as was he big or small? Yes, bulls can get bugled out or laryngitis so to speak from tons of bugling as they ward of satellites from his ladies for extended periods of time. Without a sighting there's no 100% accurate response! (grin)

As far as the different sounds a bull can make to call over or attract another elk I think sometimes we get caught up that if it's a big bull then he should automatically have big classic TV bugles. This isn't the case in the real elk world! Elk communicate with various sounds & cadence to their calls which can dictate their mood & desires. The more excited they are the more intensity can be shown. It's very common for bulls of all ages & sizes to give small squeals & cow calls as the situation arises to merely give a direction for an unseen cow or bull, they do not need to give a thunderous bugle to get their message across when the situation doesn't require it no more than we need to yell at the top of our lungs when talking to someone well within our earshot.

ElkNut1