The passive- aggressive aproach

[foxvalley]

Last year I spent 3 weeks hunting elk, and although I heard at least a hundred bugles,I never once heard a cow call the whole time out there. Where I hunt it's all dark timber, and even the big bulls don't seem to have more than one or two cows.With a lack of large herds of cows, and not hearing lots of cows,I use the cow call very sparringly,but instead have had better luck with what I call the passive aggressive aproach.
This is a very simple method,and being close to the elk most of the time,is very effective on letting the elk think there is an elk nearby.I still hunt thru ereas that I know hold elk,but it's easy to hunt right past the elk,as you are more like a cat than an elk.
Snapping a branch every once in a while,doing the foot stomp dance,and the best way to get a bulls attention before the rut is tree rakeing.Foot stomping is something that seems passive,and can be only heard by elk close,but in fact this can be heard a very long ways by the elk,and is an elk sound,not made by any predator or deer,and is not made on pupose by the elk,they are just big,and sound like thunder when they run or chase.(Or quiet as a chuch mouse,if they want to be)And by raking without bugling,the bull has no idea "which" bull is in his bedroom.
In a nutshell, sounding like an elk, as you still hunt thru an erea,will get the attention of any elk,and they will consider comming up to you if they are looking for company.Extreme patience is needed here, as we are all in way,way WAY to much of a hurry in the elk woods.By NOT calling all the time,you are not giving yourself away,as a bull or cow,and gives the elk even more reason,and more curious as to weather you are a cow or bull,but done right,there is no question in there minds that you are an elk.You still need to bugle, and this does not take the place of that,just a different option.
It's easy to tell an elk hunter in the mtns.,as you hear a cow call or bugle every 50 yards,and the dead givaway is they are going up or down the hogback, and if we can tell the difference,you know the elk can too.
This is a method to consider when you know the elk are close but not bugling.

[Swede]

I agree with you on this. I would call it smart hunting.
I got in a little argument with a fellow on another forum. He made it sound like you are either hunting aggressively, or you are just letting things happen. Patience is not just letting things turn out the way they might. Patience is waiting for the right opportunity, or it is a part of a hunting strategy, such as stand hunting or spot and stalk. Good hunters know when to wait as well as when to get aggressive. A part of being a good hunter is knowing your hunting area and the animals that live there. One size does not fit all.

[Luckyman]

Great info!! Insight much appreciated!

[Mike_Parson]

great insight. thanks for sharing!!!

[foxvalley]

Thanks guys,the season is comming at us like a freight train,and now is the time to think of options,especially if you are hunting public,and your only plan is bugling bulls.Some years there is only a couple days of bugling activity, if any,so you really need to have plan b,c,and d.
This works great with a partner, the guy (or gal)upwind does the sounds,and the partner would be downwind,just within sight of the sounder,wether it be 50 yds. or 300,depends on openness of terrain. The elk most likely will scent check first downwind of the sounder.
My bro in law and I had a bull come in the first 10 min of the first day one year,Eric had him totally convinced as he came right up to me without any hesitation,just as I was about to draw my longbow at 18yds,he turned and came staight at me, I was hopeing he would walk past me,but at about 5 yds. he saw me, and if you have had elk this close, you can see there eyes get real wide and big with disbelief,just before they stampede for the next county. (me) (elk)

[GobbleFarmer]

You make a good point on sounding like an elk when walking. I realized that it helps if I sound like a deer walking to/from a stand, instead of a human stomping along in extra crunchy leaves-than I sound like one of them, and they feel free to take a look, come out see whats goin' on maybe grab some food-instead of hiding in the thick brush, and then BAM dead deer!

[Huntrgathr]

If I can move in silence I will almost always go silent- sneaking like a ninja, trying to remain undetected and try to hear or see the animals first. The element of surprise is underrated. If i can choose between an elk that is totally unaware of my presence than one that is looking for me, I'll take the unaware elk almost every time. If they're bugling and the conditions are quiet I really enjoy spot and stalk or still hunting the dark timber. It's a hell of a rush when you creep around the woods all day, chasing elk sounds , until finally you see the ivory tips of a bedded bull and he has absolutely no idea you're there. Most of the time though, especially moving with a hunting partner, there's no hope if being silent. Then you had better sound like an elk moving SLOWLY. Elk don't move fast typically unless there's something wrong. Elk don't move fast typically unless there's something wrong.Using non-vocal elk noises can indeed be really effective to "call" them in, but once herd bulls cow up they're less curious and you get mostly satellites and spikes in my experience. We also like to use decoys while moving, sometimes just elk/deer hats. It gives you that extra second when an animal first spots you to spot them back and freeze before they make out your shape...

Bottom line, you'd better sound like an elk or nothing at all...