Too Crowded to call?

[cohunter]

I posted this question earlier, but nobody replied At what point do you decide other hunters are too close for calling? In Elknut's Breeding and Advertising Sequence video, he mentions that they'll make sure they are alone before trying one of those sequences. I have been called in once and have also heard some pretty crazy calling sequences I've avoided but how close is too close for productive (and courteous) calling?

[Fridaythe13th]

I think what Paul was saying put the odds in your favor. If you walk 200 yards off the trail head with 4 other vehicles parked you might want to hold off from a calling sequence.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

Never been elk hunting but I would say whatever the distance is you can hear a elk on that give day would be a safe bet. Also if it took you a hr to get up to that area it would be a safe bet that by the time you finish the calling sequence and wait your waiting time. If someone did come in you would just about be done anyway. If there is a reason for me to call with a lot of sign I am going to call any. If the distance isn't to far from others I may keep it not as excited for 15 to 20 minutes and see what happens. If nothing happens I figure you don't have much to lose and might go right into a breeding sequence. That's just my 2 cents correct me if I am wrong. As far as distance I would say in most cases a mile is plenty and if it's really rough and thick a half mile or less might be all you need.

[BRazz]

You can never know for sure if you're alone, but my goal is to not call if I think another hunter (either because I saw him or am close to his camp or trailhead, etc.) can hear me.

[nrocchio]

I agree with what has already been posted. It is tough to know if you are alone or not. My first year archery I was the caller and had my buddy set up as the shooter. We didn't see any other hunters where we were parked that morning, and had hiked in all morning before setting up for some calling in the early afternoon. I started calling and around 15-20 mins later 3 hunters came along honking a hoochie mamma on their way in. They were friendly about it and just smiled, waved, and went a different direction. If it seems like you're alone, but you aren't, I don't think it really hurts anything. You can just pick up and start over again somewhere else.

[Swede]

I don't recall what Paul was saying about calling near other hunters, but it must be a situational awareness concern. In other words don't call when you are likely drawing other hunters to you. Closeness depends on the terrain and timber. Where I hunt it is also a timing matter. Opening weekend is a poor time, but mid season during the week you may get away with more calling.

[BRazz]

mid season during the week you may get away with more calling

Good points Swede. Way fewer hunters during the week.

[mongopino915]

Interesting topic.

We were 6 miles from the nearest truck and had two hunters came in fully nocked and with their boots off after 60 minutes into the set up.

Just like elk, sometimes the curious comes in from 700 - 800 yards out.

On OTC public land you never know if there are other hunters within sound distance. If we know that there are other hunters near by, we lower our calling volume and call less.

[cohunter]

Thanks, guys! I kind of feel like the elk lower their volume and call less too. Last season I heard a faint bugle and thought it was way too far to pursue. A few minutes later, a bull stepped from behind some trees about 100 yards in that same direction and whispered (not really) out another weak bugle.

[ElkNut1]

No doubt we as hunters have to consider our surroundings when using setup type calling. This means you plan on a calling sequence where you will stay put for aprox 30 minutes minimum. There is a difference in calling volume & reasons why you would choose a Blind/Cold calling setup over the Advertising or Breeding Sequences. Blind Calling refers to trolling for elk so to speak because you have not seen or heard them but you are trying to induce interest by them coming your way if within earshot of your calling.

Advertising Bugling/Calling is best utilized once you know by sound or sight that a bull or bulls (mainly satellites) are in the area. You would know this mostly because you heard 1 or maybe 2 bugles from them & basically no more! Once this is the case you can now get within 200 yards or so & setup & go through an Advertising Sequence as shown in the DVD. This sequence promotes curiosity & most bulls show up silent so you have to be alert constantly & quiet!

The Breeding Sequence is best utilized when there are multiple bulls bugling in one area or spot, this generally shows there is a herd bull with at least one hot cow, satellites will show up at these times to do their best to call away that hot cow (not just any cow) they do this through an Advertising type bugle as they do their best efforts to sound dominant & a breeder type bull to this hot cow. Moving in on this group & setting up within that 150 yards or so & imitating the same sequence that possibly brought those satellites there in the first place can encourage them to check you out as well as they attempt to scent check the area looking for her. This brings those satellites in fairly quick as you made in convenient for them to come over & check you out. This is mainly a satellite method but has been known to bring in a entire herd your way as well. This is a great sequence!

You'll notice when using any of these methods that you are generally around real elk, if other hunters are around that you are unaware of do not concern yourselves with it, do your thing & go through your sequence! You primary goal is to bring in elk at these times, be believable in tones & if other hunters are around you'll soon find out! (grin) It's not a big deal, move on & locate other elk!

ElkNut1

[cohunter]

Paul, great explanation... I appreciate the clarification. Especially the part about making those calls in response to elk you've previously heard and then stalked in to. i suppose you did say that on the DVD... it's just different in writing! I'm going to give it a go this fall if I get the chance.

[ElkNut1]

Ha Ha, you're probably right about seeing it in writing! (grin) Glad it helped! There's definitely a method to the techniques, right chosen one for the right elk & your odds of success for a close encounter increase dramatically & the wrong method will reduce your odds of close encounters & result in many hangups! Good setup & right sequence can go along ways as we demonstrate in the Advertising/Breeding DVD.

ElkNut1