Cold/blind calling questions.

[Charina]

I've read through all the various blind/cold calling threads in the archives here (and elsewhere) that I can find, and think I have a reasonable idea of various options, "recipes", timing, etc. Having gone out this past weekend, and tried a few blind calling setups without any success (general herd talk a couple setups, lost calf a couple times, elknut's regathering mew a few setups, etc), I'm left with some questions. The bulls are silent still here as far as I can hear, so we are wandering around completely blind, trying to setup downwind of potential bedding areas.

1) Obviously, setting up in proper locations will dictate success percentage, but I do wonder, on average, how many blind calling setups end up bringing in an elk within an hour's setup timeframe? What should I hope for as a success rate assuming I'm doing reasonable calling setups?

2) Do you have much success in mid-morning or mid-day even if the elk are bedded? Or are they pretty reluctant to get up and investigate something passive, like general herd talk?

3) How close do you setup to where you think the elk are? Twice this last weekend, I tried to get on the edge of what I thought was a bedding area (thick fir patch, on a small steep slope, in middle of vast aspen forest on mild slopes), and right about the time I was selecting a good shooting spot, the elk busted. Too close obviously! How far is too far?

Having never yet called in an elk, I feel a bit lost out there. Feeling like I'm missing something, but not sure yet what I'm lacking.

[Huntrgathr]

It's pretty early to start talking to elk. Calling preseason or pre-rut may actually educate the elk and make your job much harder when the time comes. It's possible to pique their curiosity and get them to sneak in on you before the rut really kicks in but we generally wait to hear elk talking before we start talking to them. It's a lot easier to "say the right thing" when they start the conversation or at least give you some idea what mood they're in. Cold calling works but it's more like trolling ( if you're a fisherman) whereas calling to "located" elk is a lot more like fishing "holes" or sight-fishing...

Early on, we usually go with the advertising sequence or a level 1-2 breeding sequence or just " anxious cow sounds" . Raking, without vocalizations , is a good early season tactic as well.

[nrocchio]

I don't know a lot about cold calling to be very helpful with your questions. I just wanted to give a little advice on your scouting. If you were busting elk out of a bedding area, and calling last weekend. I personally think it is too close to opening day for that. If you were planning on hunting that location next weekend you may have pushed them somewhere else. I like to climb past the timberline on a good high peak in the area I plan to hunt and just glass and be quiet this close to the season. Then you can still find those bedding/feeding areas, and potential set up spots without disturbing any elk you might find.

Hopefully one of the vets on here can help with your cold calling question, sorry I wasn't much (any) help with that. Good luck this year!

[Charina]

I just wanted to give a little advice on your scouting.

Sadly, the OTC archery season here in UT opened two and a half weeks ago. Just a little over one week left until close in many of the units (closes the 4th of Sep).

[Huntrgathr]

I just wanted to give a little advice on your scouting.

Sadly, the OTC archery season here in UT opened two and a half weeks ago. Just a little over one week left until close in many of the units (closes the 4th of Sep).

Oh, didn't realize you were in Utah. My hunting partner hunts the Wasatch and although he's an excellent caller he doesn't even bother calling much down there. The hunt is too early IMO and there's a ton of pressure in a lot of the units. Obviously it varies from unit to unit...

[Pop-r]

1) A reasonable success rate on cold calling setups is a very finicky deal. There are ALOT of variables! I would say 1/6-10 setups result in an actual encounter when things are "good". I've went entire seasons w/o encounters too tho.
2) I have called several up on up into the day. That's part of your ploy is curiosity. Young elk are curious. Old bull elk are horny!
3) Depending on terrain totally. The key is to be somewhere they can hear you but in no way could see you or where you are. Within a quarter of a mile of where you suspect them to be. I can't say how close is too close but I'd rather be a couple hundred yards or more if I thought i knew exactly where they were at & I was gonna try to "cold call" them.
Have patience, get a "sequence" of sorts that you kinda go thru when you set up. Remember what you do & how you did it. One day you're gonna develop a confidence in you're system. I always try to call & move. 80+% will come silent. They will be using the wind. Get out there & hit it! It will work! It's a numbers game.

[Charina]

Thanks for the thoughts Huntrgathr and Pop-r. Packing up now and headed out to hunt. Hopefully a few bulls might start talking by Monday at least.

[ishy]

Ya, Utah's dates suck. I write a letter yearly hoping that they will change there le archery dates before I cash in my points. You will get a little more vocal as the season closes, but it's fighting a loosing battle. Your better off spot and stalk or sitting water at least until you get into September.