September Rut Elk Hunters, Calling Status Roll Call

[WapitiTalk1]

Well friends, it's right around the corner. There's nothing more exciting than hunting vocal wapiti during the rut. Yep, I know that there are folks who hardly call at all during the September elk season, but, there is always times and places that the proper elk calls, deployed at the proper right time, can maximize your opportunity to bring an elk home for dinner. At this point in time (3 August 2016) how would you rate your readiness level to use effective calling when needed?

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[js80138]

I'll let you know after the hunt. LOL

[Elkhunttoo]

I feel I'm pdg... I know I'm not top notch because I've hunted and heard those that are and I don't think I'm there. If I practiced more maybe, but I am confident that the sound I want to come out is going to come out. Just ordered elknuts new DVD tonight so maybe by the season I'll be top notch

[BrentLaBere]

Getting better at understanding the situation and what calls need to be used and how aggressive to be with them. I feel like I can make any call needed but with the right emotion? Top notch? Aspiring to be

[Ryan Conkle]

Thanks to being dedicated to resources' such as this and elk nuts dvds' and publications', coupled with a strong desire to constantly learn...I feel that I have a fair understanding of the meanings' of differnet elk vocaliztions' and am proficient in producing most of them via my mouth reeds'...I am looking forward to putting them to work in just a matter of a few very long and drawn out weeks' ahead! lol

[Fridaythe13th]

I'm descent at calling, just don't know what to say and when. I purchased Paul's videos tons of information. It well defiantly help put elk on the ground.

[Charina]

I'm thinking I'm PDG. But I'm going to need the elk's feedback on that here in a couple weeks in order to confirm.

[twinkieman]

I call everyday, and put more emphasis on the calls that I don't use all the time in the elk woods. They all have there time to be used. Like everyone else, the elk are my judges.

[Lefty]

I think I sound pretty good. But I dont always have the right response. So I mayu be a bit conservative and use cow calk sounds

[nrocchio]

I think I fall somewhere between I'm ok and pretty damn good. I call a lot, and have all the Elknut videos and sounds of the elk CD etc. I always think I sound better than I do, until I record it and play it back. I feel more confident calling this year, and will probably try calling more than I have in the past (which has not been much at all). The funny thing is, last year, the only response I got was to a location bugle that I botched. I slept with the diaphragm in my pocket. It bent the call and stretched out the latex, which I didn't realize until my horrible attempt at a bugle. It was first thing in the morning and I got an answer from the bottom of the ridge I was calling from.

[lamrith]

I almost voted for the last option, just because....

I am bouncing right between the middle options. I feel like I was calling better a year ago the 1st Day Phantom showed me how to call. /facepalm He will probably agree. Spent a few hours prepping for our trip last weekend and did some calling. I felt like a middle schooler on the 1st day playing the clarinet, Squeek, SQUAK, Mee-ooww, SQUEEK.

Switched to a different diaphram out of desparation and working better now, still frustrating to have what works change so much in a year..

[VT Sasquatch]

I'm a rookie so I can't contribute to the poll but I am going to be elk hunting for the first time in September. I just bought an OTC archery tag online for Colorado. I was going to wait until I got out there but I didn't want to drive 26 hours and then run into a problem getting a tag. My wife also tries to talk me out of trips whenever she can. Now that I am $600+ out-of-pocket on the tag, she is much less likely to try to talk me out of going.

It should be an adventure. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being a disaster since I am going solo and camping. I am also taking a truck with some mechanical issues. I'm looking forward to it. Even if the trip is a series of problems, I'll at least get to see some things and hopefully learn something.

[ishy]

Not to toot my own horn, but my wife swears she hears elk calls when I'm on the pot. Her words not mine!

[Swede]

I am one of the mediocre callers, but I make up for it by not practicing. That way I have an excuse.

[stringunner]

Swede is way to modest. A couple years before I actually met him, he called my buddy and I in so close, his son and I ran in to each other. A couple years later when we were comparing stories we realized we had met. Both of us were dogging a herd opening weekend and ended up calling each other in while the herd ran to private. He can call with the best of them, practice or not.

[TurkeyBowMaster]

I can call the enamel off their teeth!..so ready to get out there....homemade bugle ready and making do with leftover turkey calls. Might order a mellow yellow before I go .

[Tigger]

Solid, but not spectacular. Compared to guys on this site, I would probably rank pretty low, but compared to the average guy in the woods I am pretty darn good. Called in elk last year. cow sounds are good, nervous grunt is good, still need a little help holding that high note on the bugles.