Elk Tactics 101 - Episode #13

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: Early September 2016/0730
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Partner Hunt
Tag: Archery season; any branched bull

Allrighty, you and your partner set out walking on a long, south to north running semi-flat mountain ridge early in the morning (the ridge has two pronounced saddles on it). On the west side of the ridge, there is a pretty large road less/trail less basin that is alder/huckleberry choked with numerous small stands of mature timber patches mixed in and lots of water seeping out of the side hills with a small stream in the bottom. On the east side of the ridge, it has similar vegetation but is much steeper than the opposite basin. As you walk in on the ridge, you hear several bulls spouting off on "both" sides, seemingly advertising from the side hills below the ridge on both sides. Of course this time of the day, thermals are moving down from your position in to the basins on both sides. You didn't have to do any locating (bulls are sounding off on their own) so its time to make a plan and execute. How are you gonna hunt this situation and potentially arrow a bull? Both you and your partner have tags and both are pretty darn decent callers.


Your move. What do you feel you may do in this situation to take a bull home for dinner?

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

I would drop down on the West side were the walking will be easier. I wouldn't drop down directly above them but 200 yards or the next Ridge over from them. Once I get to about the same level I would make my way closer to them. Keeping in mind that the thermals could switch. If they do I could get above the elk. If one of us could sneak in and kill one we would go with that first. If there isnt enough cover we would do some caller shooter setup. Since it's early and there probably no cows in heat I would go with some excited cow talk. With the shooter out in front if one of the Bulls start to call us in we would do just that. If none of that works then would shift gears and start raking a tree with some stomping and bugling.

[Swede]

I agree with Matt. The West side would be my preference in the morning, not because it is flatter, but because the sun will not be shining directly on the hillside as soon as the other side. It will give me a little more time to get in position and "visit" with the boys in the brush.
With the shooter out front about 40 yards if practical I would make a short small bull bugle with no grunts or chuckles, I would then rake a tree and try to draw the bull in closer.
If the first attempt does not work, I would try some cow calling from a different position.

[BRazz]

I'd also choose the easier walking and pursue the bull in the west basin. Swede, didn't think about the later shift in thermal direction - good thought - I am just being lazy. Since they're sounding off on their own, we may be able to just sneak in close and shoot him... but we'd read the situation as we got closer. The plan would be to get to his level or slightly lower, since it's early enough that I've got some time for the wind to likely continue downhill. I always pucker up when we get close, so I'd probably be silent until I had to call. I have a feeling these bulls each have cows since they are bugling to each other and (presumably) not moving closer to one another. If calling is needed I'd do so from within 80-100 yards if possible, once my shooter is 20-30 yards in front of me in a good setup spot. My calls would be some chuckles and tree-raking at first.

That's the plan as I take my first step to the west... fast-forward 10 minutes and I'm sure it's all changed...

[Swede]

Good point Brazz. We should always try to get as close as reasonably possible, under 100 yards normally, before we start calling. Otherwise they will just answer back and talk with us.

[Ryan Conkle]

I would select the bull that I believe is most "huntable" at that time, due to his relative location and mine and I would then focus in on this bull and would approach him accordingly. If he is doing advertising type bugles', this would lead me to believe that he is looking for and is advertising himself to cows' that are in the area, so I would in turn move in as close to him as possible and start with some whiny cow talk. I might transition to some bull and cow sounds', if the situation dictates it, although I would not personally start with bull talk based on my assumption that this bull may not want a confrontation.

[twinkieman]

If he is doing advertising type bugles', this would lead me to believe that he is looking for and is advertising himself to cows' that are in the area, so I would in turn move in as close to him as possible and start with some whiny cow talk.

I agree cows are in this mix, that's why the bulls are advertising. Many different situations may develop, but most likely I would have the shooter start cow calling his way to the bull we have chosen to target, and I'd stay back a bit. Once the shooter got as close as he felt comfortable, I'd him end his calling, then I'd throw in a lip bawl bugle, saying to my cow that strayed too far to get and hopefully he comes to the shooter to hook up the loose cow that strayed too far away from her bull (me), and once the shooter had done his job, we switch it up, and go to work on the next bull, and try to double up

[ishy]

I'm heading east, way too much hunting pressure to the west. I'm staying quiet and closing quickly and quietly. Going in we try to stay just in view of each other with a caller behind as far as possible, but still able to get signals to. Like to get on the same level so when the thermals switch less odds of it ending everything. When we get in the "zone" might have to caller sink back and start super soft mew and then take it to him when he answers.

[BuckyHunter13]

If the shooter is silent and 30 yards ahead of the caller, should he be lower on the mountain? What are the chances the bull tries to slip in downwind of the caller to scent check before approaching? Would this be pressure-dependent?

[WapitiTalk1]

If the shooter is silent and 30 yards ahead of the caller, should he be lower on the mountain? What are the chances the bull tries to slip in downwind of the caller to scent check before approaching? Would this be pressure-dependent?

Yes! As others have mentioned, try to get on the approximate same level as the target bull (although in this scenario, there may be several huntable bulls on each hillside so don't be surprised if a different bull comes in). Before any calling is done, the prevailing thermals "must" be considered. In many mountain states, the thermals move downhill until mid-morningish then start to swirl when they're switching.... You're exactly right Ryan; the downwind side of the caller is where the shooter(s) will set up. The shooter(s) should set up "first" as he/she is needs to determine shooting lanes and "hang up points" as the terrain/vegetation allows (bulls very oftentimes hang up from 20-30 yard out from the shooter to stop, look, listen, and smell for the elk calling to them), then, the caller sets up at the top using the classic triangle method so an incoming bull will be forced to walk by or hang up downwind of the caller in close proximity to the shooter(s).

Caller-Shooter Triangle.jpg (26.23 KiB) Viewed 3141 times

Great discussion on this one folks!

[Lefty]

I'm heading east, way too much hunting pressure to the west. I'm staying quiet and closing quickly and quietly. ,,,,,,,,.

Smart move
And let those above posters push everything to you!