Go In With A Game Plan!

[ElkNut1]

I think most folks hit the woods with good intent & high hopes but few have a "Game Plan" -- Some say I will just do what the elk tell me to do for that day. Well, what if they elk tell you nothing? (grin) Of course I know what most refer to with that statement but it's pretty vague & wide open. Here's a Simple Game Plan all can use & be used with great success! The first thing to do is find elk, how? Do this through bugling for location. Once found with bugling, head their way quickly, do not call your way to them! The important thing here is you do not stay put there (unless elk are only 100 yards away) & try to call distant elk to you. Yes, go to them with wind & cover to your advantage. In many cases as you head their way the countryside can change dramatically so pinpointing the bull can be tough to do as things now look different from your new location. If the bull has not bugled on his own to give away his location as you head to him try to get within 200 yards. (to your best judgement) Once there you are going to ask him where he is, you will do this with one soft mew then wait a few seconds & give another soft mew followed instantly with a loud coarse mew/whine. This combination asks this bull "where is he" -- He will generally bugle or chuckle to give her a direction, BAM, you now have him located! I will add that I've had to do this cow calling sequence up to 3 times while waiting a minute between each one.

If bull is inside the 200 yard mark go at him giving those cow whines/mews so he can hear you close the distance. He's asking you to come his way & you are doing exactly as he expects! When he bugles or chuckles you on your approach answer him immediately letting him know you heard him!

Obstacles can occur during approach as some encounters will vary! Any thoughts about this or the "What ifs"

ElkNut1

[BRazz]

That gave me butterflies.

[BRazz]

Assuming you are able to locate a bull, and get to within a couple hundred yards and locate again, one of the main obstacles I expect is other elk. I've spooked the herd bull before by being busted by his cows or another bull. Another thing that's happened is while I go at him, closing ~20-50 yards at a time, he may also be coming at me. What I expected to be an encounter at ~200 yards turned out to be ~80 and off he goes... Maybe I'm being *too* aggressive in that scenario and going all-in, which is sort of a do-or-die move. Thoughts?

[ElkNut1]

Great questions! Those are thoughts that can actually take place yet be overcome with a bit of adjustment in ones thinking & calling! We had to start this Game Plan somewhere with the season so close! (grin) A plan can be had for nearly any situation that can arise from vocal bulls to non-vocal bulls. But I will stay on subject to your questions.

What to do when having "tunnel vision" on bugling bull & you spook a few of his unseen cows but cannot yet see the herd bull? When those cows spook/run where do they run too, a secure position, this means they run back to the herd bull. Game is not over, as cows run the herd bull is alerted to the commotion but doesn't know why they are running? Give him the reason! You immediately scream a coarse bugle or lip bawl bugle, it's intense & to the point, this is trying to call the running cows back to you, this shows the herd bull why the cows ran & can infuriate the herd bull to react!!! With you being so close to him & his harem he will generally storm your way to push this lowly intruder away. If not fast enough to come my way I will inject level II of the Threat!

What to do if you bust an unseen satellite bull as you approach the herd bull. Once again because you are so close to the herd bull & his cows, he hears the running off of an elk & is alerted to a possible threat! Let him know why this elk is running off. The satellite is not welcome in the herd so generally scoots off in a different direction. As satellite runs we will now give a hard grunt or two followed by a coarse throaty bugle/scream, this is an intimidation sound more mature bulls will use to run juvenile bulls off. Of course when you do this odds are very good the herd bull will issue his own warning to this new bull. (you) Now you run right at him with that coarse bugle letting him know you are not going to back off! Get wind & cover in your favor get as close as you dare & start panting & raking, chances are very good the herd bull will confront you in seconds!

How to avoid running into an oncoming bull as you close the distance once in that 200 yard or so range! Generally when this happens you are working a satellite bull that either bugled you originally or he was close enough by that it raised his curiosity & he came to you first. If bull responds to your cow calling note if he's in the same spot or area from where you heard him originally it's likely a herd bull, if you feel after getting a response he is closer it's generally a satellite bull. This bull is coming so locate a good setup spot quickly where he must come into your bowrange before he see the source of the calling, this will avoid most hang-ups! If satellite bugles or chuckles as he comes your way answer him everytime immediately with an excited cow whine! This will raise his confidence you are interested in him.

It's still elk hunting but you are trying to evaluate & raise your odds towards a close encounter by adjusting to a situation as it occurs in front of you!

ElkNut1

[ak32]

I'm wondering, how many times have you bugled and heard a reply but it was another hunter that you closed the distance on?

[ElkNut1]

It's been so many years I couldn't even say! Seriously once you know what to listen for it's fairly easy to tell the two apart. First off when a bull responds to cow calls it's a unique sound & 2ndly not many hunters if any respond with a come over here bugle if they hear a cow at 200 yards or so! (me) A quick evaluation of sounds used & place I'm hunting can relay into a quick decision whether it's a hunter or bull.

ElkNut1

[BrentLaBere]

Paul, do you ever use a cow call to locate and make initial contact? And how often would you call before moving on or using a bugle?
Next part of the question would be if you are hiking in mid day, early afternoon, would you call to "elky" spots and expect an answer? Or would it be better to walk passed these areas and leave them be?

[ElkNut1]

Yes, there are occasions we will use a few cow calls to locate with, this is especially so with the Contact/Estrus Buzz, that sound requires assistance or action from other elk so for location purposes it can work well on high volume to carry a distance. But 95% of the time it is bull sounds that we rely on to get it done.

As far as midday bugling goes we sorta take it with a grain of salt, bulls can respond to a bugle anytime of the day during the various rutting phases or weather patterns/changes so heck ya we will bugle into elky areas at those times. There is absolutely no reason for a bull to turn tail & run because he heard a bugle in the morning, midday or evening, generally the real issue is hunters being seen, winded or wrong sounds for a particular situation giving oneself away as an impostor. Bulls don't run into another zipcode from one another so they are not going to run from you unless you give them good reason to do so. Bulls can move to different areas from an aggressive bull but do you really think their plan is to out run one another, not likely. (grin)

Bulls run from cow calling too, do you think all cow calling should cease? (grin) Of course not, once again it's hunters who are screwing up in their setups or being seen.

ElkNut1

[vertical limit]

Paul, I assume most of these situations are geared towards the archery hunter. How do these scenarios change for someone hunting with a muzzle loader? I know the location bugles and closing the distance will be the same, but what about when I get inside that 200 yard window and I WANT him to come to me. Or do I want him to come to me? Obviously, the closer the shot the better, especially with open sights as we are required to use in Nevada. More particular to my situation, I am comfortable making a 150-200 yard shot with my muzzle loader. It is well within my comfort/accuracy zone.

[BrentLaBere]

Yes, there are occasions we will use a few cow calls to locate with, this is especially so with the Contact/Estrus Buzz, that sound requires assistance or action from other elk so for location purposes it can work well on high volume to carry a distance. But 95% of the time it is bull sounds that we rely on to get it done.

As far as midday bugling goes we sorta take it with a grain of salt, bulls can respond to a bugle anytime of the day during the various rutting phases or weather patterns/changes so heck ya we will bugle into elky areas at those times. There is absolutely no reason for a bull to turn tail & run because he heard a bugle in the morning, midday or evening, generally the real issue is hunters being seen, winded or wrong sounds for a particular situation giving oneself away as an impostor. Bulls don't run into another zipcode from one another so they are not going to run from you unless you give them good reason to do so. Bulls can move to different areas from an aggressive bull but do you really think their plan is to out run one another, not likely. (grin)

Bulls run from cow calling too, do you think all cow calling should cease? (grin) Of course not, once again it's hunters who are screwing up in their setups or being seen.

ElkNut1

Thanks for the response, ElkNut! Its kind of the response I was expecting, but wanted to bring it up for discussion purposes. Ive really been working on my mid tone bugles and think it will help in soliciting a response. To much tongue pressure was creating a higher tone and more demanding bugle IMO. Cant wait to hit the elk woods.

[zpd307]

thanks paul!

[Passin Thru]

What Elknut said but look behind you once in a while. I've been followed several times. Don't know the reason but have had deer and Elk come up from behind.