call when scouting before season?

[the weasel]

Headed out this wknd. I have two "bowls" I want to go check out for sign, should I do ANY calling from the tops? Cow/Calf talk? A short squeal bugle? They are about 2 miles from the trailhead and both look to have water and timber just off an old burn from about 10 yrs. ago. The Elk I have ran across in the past out in this location are very tight lipped!

[Swede]

I never call in my hunting area before the season. I don't know that it will harm anything where you hunt, but where I hunt the elk leave for the ranch shortly after the opening of the season. How much is due to hunters calling I can't be sure. There are other factors like heavy cattle use and vehicle traffic that contributes to the exodus.

[Gypsumreaper]

Don't call don't give them any reason to know your are in the area other than just looking around. The more you alert them to a hunting presence the quicker they are gonna start moving out to private other drainages etc. you should be in full covert mode scouting

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WapitiTalk1]

I personally see no harm in trying to locate with calling "from a distance" during a scouting trip, just do so with common sense. Also, don't sleep on just sitting at a vantage point and listening after dark.... oftentimes, you'll hear them announce themselves without making a sound