How to bypass satellites?

[Z Barebow]

I have drawn a very good elk tag this year. From most people who have hunted it in the past say there are LOTS of elk. Although not necessarily a trophy unit, I am still likely to see bulls bigger than any I have killed.

Problem- There are generally larger herds. If I want to go after the herd bull, what are techniques to get past the satellites as I work my way in? I anticipate calling, and having the get by the anxious ones. I want to get past them without blowing the whole set up.

In any other place, I would whack the satellite. But this unit cost me double digit points and it is likely a OIL tag for me. I want to make this tag count. For the first time in my life, I likely won't try and shoot the first elk I call in!

For you pros, how do you get past the teenagers to reach and kill grandpa?

[otcWill]

Z, My best advice is to stick with it until the big boy comes. When I call in a bull I don't want to shoot I simply hold tight and let him wander off. They'll suspect something is up and leave or they'll bust. If you bust one, imitate a big bull chasing him off. Sell the situation. It works! The smaller bull will wander off and a different one will take his place. I've seen this quite a few times. Just remember that when the lil guy busts he's the only one that knows what happened. You still have the advantage. I got your pm and will be in touch soon. I'm pulling for ya on this hunt!

[BrentLaBere]

Z,
Congrats on the tag. Is there a chance to go in the early season before the large bulls have their harems? Possible for glassing wide open areas? Using the time of the year could work to your advantage, being one on one with the larger bulls of the area.

[foxvalley]

Z, My best advice is to stick with it until the big boy comes. When I call in a bull I don't want to shoot I simply hold tight and let him wander off. They'll suspect something is up and leave or they'll bust. If you bust one, imitate a big bull chasing him off. Sell the situation. It works! The smaller bull will wander off and a different one will take his place. I've seen this quite a few times. Just remember that when the lil guy busts he's the only one that knows what happened. You still have the advantage. I got your pm and will be in touch soon. I'm pulling for ya on this hunt!

OctWill is right on here, and this is renforced by Paul in the playbook. I also have first hand experience with this situation with my first bull I killed. If the sattalite blows out of there,scream a bugle, or rake a tree hard,or both,as to let the big boy know why he is leaving.

[Z Barebow]

Thanks Will! The more I research, the more excited I get! I am looking forward to covering some ground on my scouting trip. (I am sure my family will definitely be ready for me to get out of the house by September!)

Brent, I am setting aside plenty of time for this hunt. My plan is to be away from home for a long time and hunt! I hope to arrive on or about Sept 3rd, and targeting to be home by Sept 20th. (If I whack one on the 19th, I am sure I can be excused from work for an extra day or two if I am packing out meat!) I have a great job and it is pretty flexible.

[Pop-r]

Will is exactly right. I've seen several situations where a bull comes in busts out & here comes the next bigger one in the herd & bam he does the same thing & here comes a bigger one or the herd bull! They think you're intimidating the lesser bulls & they are hauling ass! If tight this is deadly as he can't just let it happen. He will haul ass his self if not close tho! "Feel" the herd. If they're aggressive be aggressive. If not then know where they're going beforehand & be there waiting. Try to be as scent free as possible. It can happen.

[Elksniper1]

If you have that amount of time. Watch the herds closely ,the big boys won't bother with all the foreplay until the time is perfect! If you find a smaller for the area bull with a herd that is the one I would watch. The truly big Bulls will actually be satellites before the cows start to come in! And in that scenario! Good luck and I hope it works out. Big point units are well worth the wait!

[ElkNut1]

A question I have is what type of country are you hunting? Is it all open sage brush or timbered with plenty of cover yet semi open here & there?

If country is open, glassing is # 1 if not, Bugling is # 1 for locating! At any rate both are important!

Put away the Cow Call & have your bull sounds be your dominant presence for location & finishing the big guys off if needed. Only use the cow call once in tight to the herd bull if that's what it takes but be ready to rely on your bugle 99.9% of the time especially when in close & it's time to call his cows from him, this is the # 1 way we bring the herd bulls to us that last 80 yards or closer when we cannot slip in silently.

Do not call to the elk when they're in the wide open, leave them be & just watch their direction of travel & hopefully they get into cover where the bull can be slipped in on or called to you once in his face, do not call your way to him from 100's of yds out! The element of total surprise is what can trip his trigger! Pose a threat to him or his cows & good things happen! (grin)

ElkNut1

[ishy]

I am far from someone who has passed on many legal elk, but bears on the other hand I pass all day. One thing I like to do is just carrying a video camera. It will keep your finger off the trigger and keep you busy trying to get good footage. It also gives you a baseline and lets you compare bulls if you haven't tagged out towards the end of the hunt. There are some really decent cameras now for a couple hundred bucks with big zooms that weigh nothing and fit in a pocket.