Elk Hunting is similar to Turkey Hunting. Lessons?

[CurlyTail]

I have been Turkey Hunting for many years and have pretty well honed my tactics and techniques for success. I am newer to Elk Hunting, but am struck by the similarities in the behavior of Bull Elk and Tom Turkeys, and their reaction to calling and decoys.

I have seen my Turkey Hunting tactics evolve considerably over time, and I wonder if my Elk hunting tactics will follow suit.

For instance, when I first started Turkey Hunting, I always used some variation of Hen yelps and excited Hen sounds to fire up and bring in the Toms. I almost always had a Hen decoy or two deployed as well. We shot quite a few Toms. But results were somewhat inconsistent - some days they would come, others not. Then over time, I noticed that Toms would often start to come, but then hang up or perhaps even spook when they caught sight of my decoys. I found that I enjoyed better success without a decoy so that the Tom was searching as he came in and kept searching when he did not see something where the calling was coming from. I then learned to keep quiet once I knew for sure that the Tom was coming and starting to get close so he could not pinpoint the exact location of the calling. The Toms finished better and I got more shot opportunities. I never was smart enough to get a buddy to call 40 yards behind me and draw the Tom past my location - a common Elk tactic that I am sure would work in the Turkey woods. Maybe I'll try that this spring. Next step in evolution - I got a stuffed Strutting Tom decoy. Very bulky and delicate - but I overnight became the best Turkey caller in the world. Toms would spot that decoy from across the field, and literally sprint towards the decoy to exert their dominance over the intruding Tom. Now Jakes were afraid of it and Hens totally indifferent, but it sure was fun to see those big mature Toms in full aggressive mode. So -- the Strutting Tom decoy is highly effective, but hen decoys are inconsistent to counterproductive. I now use way more Gobbler calls and Fighting Tom calls than I ever used to, and we shoot our Turkeys in far fewer days hunting. In other words, the attraction of a male to a female is an effective lure, but the jealousy, competition, and pecking order of male vs. male is an even stronger lure. I wonder if this is true with Elk?

I frequently see multiple Toms strutting together in the spring. They are usually not very callable. One Tom will not let the others out of his sight for fear the others will find breeding success and he will get left out. The fact that these Toms are adversaries (competitors) and not companions is obvious by the reaction when one is shot, the others usually turn and attack their fallen comrade rather than spooking at the sound of the shotgun. I wonder if the same is true for bachelor groups of Elk during the rut? Maybe they should be scattered intentionally, then called back - which is what I do for Turkeys.

Currently, there are no Bull Elk decoys that I am aware of. Too dangerous you say - just like Turkey hunters 10 years ago. But maybe a possibility for those with exclusive access or private land, and maybe OK for archery hunters. I think a Bull Elk decoy would be highly effective during the rut and archery season, and will react just like a Tom turkey to a full strut decoy. I probably should commit to more Rattling sequences during the rut than I currently do.

Anybody else see lessons in Turkey hunting that can be applied to Elk Hunting? Do elk " shock bugle?" Boy I must be bored at work today!!!!

[Wapiti]

CurlyTail,

Great post !!

In all honesty I use mostly bull sounds when working a bull ! I love low chuckles and raking tree's !!

Now about your bull elk decoy............I carry a small 3-4 point antler with me a lot while out hunting solo. I have found that with an antler I can hit a tree and rake with the proper elk sounds !! Also in bow season I will put that antler above my head and in the bush you can sneak right up to elk and they will be calm !

Try it and you'll see ! It will even work in an open field. Now add in some elk sounds and the bulls will literally follow you into the bush and want to be friends.

Trav

[Pop-r]

U are very correct in alot of your assumptions/theories. Are u sure ur name isn't really TBM?

[pointysticks]

i had a old timer turkey hunter tell me:

"if a turkey had a good sense of smell, we would never kill one"

i think that is the big difference in elk and turkey.

the same turkey hunter also said, "a turkey's brain is the size of a peanut". hahha..

two more weeks for me, and i am going to kill a bird. i cannot wait.

[TheBuzz]

[quote="pointysticks"]i had a old timer turkey hunter tell me:

"if a turkey had a good sense of smell, we would never kill one"

So True of a statement....

I have killed my share of Jakes and Long Beards, every hunt was different from one day to the next, some on a string, some quiet and stealthy. And my share of " Busted" Too.

I'll keep those experiences in mind, but, my challenge this coming fall is being keenly aware of the mountain wind and breeze's. And work a plan.

[zpd307]

I have also seen the strong similarities between turkey and elk hunting. I love turkey hunting and that's why I love elk hunting even more!

[Pop-r]

Joe, whatever happened to TBM? I saw a guy say "now that he's gone" but never knew where he went. He always seemed to be difficult to get rialed or so I thought so I doubted he got too far out of line on the site. ??? Maybe he's just getting ready for turkey season. Lol

[Indian Summer]

The guy never knew how to respect others and got "poofed" for good. All of the sudden the sky is so much bluer!

[pointysticks]

TBM? Never heard of him. Weird.

[msd1228]

TBM? Never heard of him.

Consider yourself lucky

[pointysticks]

Haha. Okay!