Question - sitting water & wallows

[Ridge Ghost]

I usually run and gun all day for elk, but may switch it up and sit on a spring or wallow for the afternoon- especially on warmer days when they may stay closer to water. For those that are experienced with sitting water, do you call much to bring animals in? Or is it better to keep quiet and just wait for something to come in on it's own?

[Lark Bunting]

Following! With 10 days in the elk woods approaching, mostly solo, I am very interested in hearing some alternatives to hiking around all day, every day at 11,000 ft.

[WapitiTalk1]

Probably not the best idea. The water, or wallow, is the attractor... let it be just that . Not always, but oftentimes, a bull will announce his presence while on his way to a water point or wallow in essence checking to see if any other elk are there. If he receives a response, he may very well not stop by and move on to an unoccupied water feature. If in an area where there may be elk within ear shot, perhaps a bit of light water splashing or even light cow calling can create some interest but again, the water hole/wallow is the attractor being sat/watched and vocalizing from this area may not be the best idea. Just my .02.

[wawhitey]

If its a hot wallow they show up on their own, any time of day or night. Last sept i was hunting bear at an elk wallow 2 days after elk season, sept 16th, and a 6x6 bull walked right by me at spitting distance and rolled around for 20 minutes. Really cool experience, but very frustrating having that bull so close, with a loaded rifle in hand, and not being able to do anything but watch. Starting daybreak on saturday ill be sitting under that same tree, 25 yards from the wallow, just quietly waiting. Had at least 6 diff bulls hitting that wallow last september. They need no encouragement.

[Ridge Ghost]

Thanks guys. Sounds like I should put my bugle away and just let things happen on their own.

[BRazz]

Couple years ago I tried various tactics making noise at a wallow that showed lots of pics on the game camera. Nothing ever came in except for one night I was silent...

[Lefty]

I bugled on Monday right before I left the wallow. I thought if anything might be approaching it was an ok thing to do in the woods.
When I sat at water tanks in the desert I never called from the water,.. however the mistakes and learning was endless out there

[Raghorn_Reaper]

Last time i sat a wallow I bugled once upon my arrival and got a response from a bull. I heard him start moving about 45 mins later but it sounded like he was moving away from me. So I went after him only to have him meet me on the trail. I was leaving and he was coming. I presumed he bugled from his bed and then thought what the hell, I will visit the local watering hole tonight when he got up.