After the shot

[Dr_flash]

This may be a silly question but i wanted to get an opinion. I've watched numerous videos where the shooter, or group, starts cow calling, sounds like social mews after the shot. Is this the right approach? It doesnt seem to do anything and the people on the videos just go crazy with cow sounds after they shoot the bull. Whats everyone's opinion?

Jeremy

[Heartwood]

I have, in the past, used basic cow calls to help calm an elk after the shot and have seen video of hunters doing the same. I think somtimes it works to slow an elk that has been "run through" with an arrow or atleast has a calming effect. I don't think there is any harm done with this approach but there is a better way. The nervous grunt or popping grunt demands an immediate reaction and has worked for me in all but a few circumstances. We learned this from Elknut ofcourse and it has served us well.
For example, last season I called a bull in to 15 yards (I was solo and had moved up 30 yards once I knew he was coming in) at which point I stopped him with a NG. followed by an arrow. He scrambled out to 25 yards and another NG. stopped him in his tracks followed by a second arrow. He expired within my sight and turns out either arrow would have done the job. We have had situations where a bull has been stopped up to 3 times with repeated nervous grunts done just by voice. I don't know about others but my NG sounds pretty bad with just my voice but it still works. My NG with a reed and tube sounds very real but when I'm the shooter, there is no time for a tube to be used. When I'm the caller, I seldom use the NG because I don't have the same perspective as the shooter and so can't see precisely when to stop a bull for the shot. When you use this sound they will stop in their tracks so make sure you time it so the animal is in a shootable location and angle for the kill. One time when the NG did not work was also last season. I had called another bull in during and all out elk party and he stopped on his own at 3 yards. Problem is he stopped broadside with a sizable tree right over his vitals. I chose to wait at full draw until he moved the needed little bit. After a short time he decided he didn't like what he was seeing and blew out like his tail was on fire. The NG did not stop him and the wind was perfect. I was just sure he was a dead bull walking when he came to the call. Guess you can't win em all! Paul also talks about using the nervous grint to stop a bull that has first come to the call but then decides that somthing is not right and decides to exit on the same route that he came in on. Now I watch for good spots to stop a bull as he comes in incase I must shoot him as he leaves. This is a good option as some bulls will be quartering to you coming in but quartering away leaving and the NG. will usually stop them for a shot. Hope this sheds some light and gives you some ideas you can use.

[foxvalley]

X2 on the nervous grunt,by far the best way to stop a bull. I just use my mouth,and try to get the sound from my gut.If you can get him to stop after the shot,and stand for even 5 seconds after being hit,(or a miss),that could mean the difference of an extra hundred yards of tracking,or an extra hour or two of finding the animal,and when it's very warm out,every minute counts on finding the animal,breaking it down, and cooling off the meat.
The very best place to use the NG is when he is comming in,and you need to stop him in a small opening to get the shot,they really do, for the most part(stop on a dime) This is one of the best tips that I have recieved on this site,and in the elknut playbook.(thanks Paul) and have used it many times to stop a bull.

[Fridaythe13th]

I cow called last year, the bull stopped in his tracks for 4-5 seconds after the shot. I did not go crazy like on some videos. and we actually called in another bull, no shot on him. It's not going to hurt anything if don't work.

[Lefty]

An immediate cow call has stopped or brought in bulls closer that I had messed the short on. One bull I shot over 3 times, 27, 21 and 33 yards ( wrong pin) and I watched him slowly walk back to the herd.

Call calling may not stop an elk if it has smelled you.

[Dr_flash]

Thanks for the inputs everyone. I meant to ask about the nervous grunt as a better option, but i am somewhat sleep deprived at the moment with a new daughter born a week ago. I just didnt see any videos where the cow calling was making a difference and wanted to see if everyone thought either (a) it is just a waist of time or (b) a nervous grunt would be the way to go. I appreciate the responses, i think i am on the right track.

Jeremy

[Trophyhill]

I usually start silently fist pumping

[ishy]

I've seen more times than not that it will slow or stop animals. Especially you get a full pass through with the first arrow, or it's a younger bull or one that's still confused. Lots of second shot opportunities are due to some quick calls after the first shot.

[Dr_flash]

fist pumps are always appropriate!