What was that you said? Episode #1

[WapitiTalk1]

Thanks to Beendare for giving me the idea. We'll run a few of these .

OK, in this short You Tube clip, how would you interpret and label the sound this elk is making, and what do you think is going on here? Lastly, is there anything you can do as a hunter in this particular situation to potentially get a shot?

[adamds22]

Pretty cool idea for a thread, I'm a rookie but in my opinion you've been winded or spotted, maybe a lost calf sequence to get a shot?

[Old school]

I'd call it a bark. She doesn't appear to have winded you as she has her head up and licking her nose, like she's trying to smell you, but hasn't yet. I believe she has just seen you and doesn't know what you are.

If it were me, I would give her a bark back at her right about the 30-31 second mark when she is clear of the tree and offers a perfect broadside shot. Plan would be that she stops on a dime when I bark and the arrow is turned loose followed by a very short blood trail.

--Mitch

[Fishinsimpson]

My though was she's trying to figure out where the elk is. I'd imagine the caller had let out a few calls before this video began. She seemed more inquisitive about a noise or the location of the other elk.


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[Lonnie]

I would bark back at her by using a less agressive bark. Then give her a cow sound. I don't think at first she knew what she was looking at. It seems to me that she was moving right to try to catch the wind, and then spooked because she didn't like the figure she was seeing. I don't think she smelled him. Great video keep these up. I can't wait to read the other thoughts.

[Swede]

It is a nervous grunt. She is trying to figure you out. She is not sure. I do not know what the camera person has for cover, but if it was adequate or if there was a different person shooting, I think the distressed calf squeal would be good to try.

[elkaholicid]

It's a nervous bark. the cow is trying to figure out what the hunter is and moving to try and catch the wind. I would bark back at her. If she continued to bark, I would bark back and follow with a cow mew or two. If she barks again, I would bark back and follow with a frustration bugle. I was got into a 30 minute bark session with a cow and kept mixing in mews and frustration bugles. She finally turned and casually walked back over the knob and joined the herd. We waited for 10 minuets and then rolled around the knob where we eventually called in the heard bull and ended up putting him on the ground.

[WapitiTalk1]

It's hard to find a pure alarm bark on videos as the elk are obviously heading out . I would offer that these sounds emitted by this young lady are short, shrill, multiple and her body language particularly towards the end signify, oh hell no.... GET OUTA HERE! Are these nervous barks or alarm barks? As many of you know, I lay em out for you cats to play em out to try to and spark some elky chat.

[Swede]

I consider these nervous barks. When I have seen the alarm barks, the elk leaves immediately. No exceptions. That has been my experience. When they hang around and continue to bark they are nervous and will in a short time leave. I have not timed them, but they only hang around a few minutes at most. They want to clearly see what is disturbing them. I have never seen one come closer in this situation. Did I mention, they are nervous? Maybe someone else knows how to draw them close, but they hang back to avoid me. They maintain enough cover or distance that I have had no shot. If there is another person that is the "shooter", they need to get in position without being detected very quickly.

[adamds22]

It's funny because while hunting the first few years I've heard these noises in the elk woods nervous or more likely alarm barks and didn't have a clue what they were. I've never been able to bark back so might be something I'll have to learn before this season!

[twinkieman]

Nervous barks, she wants whatever is there to show itself

[Beendare]

its a bark from nervous cow for sure. ...She is not sure what you are....but notice that when the cameraman starts fidgiting with the camera she has had enough.
If she was 100% sure on the first bark she would turn a hightail it.

I have no interest in shooting her so I just hunker down not moving. I doubt a call will placate her as she is so close she can see there is no elk there [unless you have a decoy!]