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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: monterey on August 16, 2014, 01:44:00 PM
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3Feathers thread on rattling got me thinking and not wanting to hijack his thread, I'm asking if any here have tried rattling for elk, and if so, how did it go?
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Well, I can't see myself hauling 40-50 lbs of elk antlers into the woods, and deer antlers wouldn't cut it (wrong tones). Try imitating a bull raking a tree instead. That does work, and you can just use a big old branch off the ground.
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I have been to 2 seminars where folks have demonstrated elk rattling. I wouldn't carry them in but if your quad does your hiking for you it will work. A couple of guys I shoot against from NM do it.
MAP
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Ive used sticks against trees while calling. It worked.
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Originally posted by Trumpkin the Dwarf:
Well, I can't see myself hauling 40-50 lbs of elk antlers into the woods, and deer antlers wouldn't cut it (wrong tones). Try imitating a bull raking a tree instead. That does work, and you can just use a big old branch off the ground.
Yep. Works real well. For moose too!
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I have seen raghorn bulls "play" fighting and nothing really happened as far asked other elk showing interest. They were making as much or more noise than I could with a set of rattling antlers.
However, I have twice witnessed two huge bulls fight. Every elk around ran to the commotion. The bulls fighting were grunting like weight lifters as they pushed on each other. They snapped fairly good sized trees, and made more noise than fifteen of me could do. They left a swath of destruction. Every cow around was mewing and chirping like crazy, and all the small bulls were whining and running everyehere. It was total chaos both times.
I've always thought it would work with a lot of noise but I've never tried. I've called in lots of bulls by raking a tree though.
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Tommy, I have seen that same thing with the smaller bulls, so maybe the weight of the gear needed is going to preclude rattling.
I'll be hunting cows only so that is another factor. I don't bugle much just because cow calling has been way more productive on bulls. But, maybe its time to get the bugle call warmed up to call cows?
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Early season, I do it every year. A couple five point sheds on my Kifaru weigh nothing. When things are really quiet, midday, get in high on the mountain and start a calling sequence. Some quiet cow calls for 10 or 15minutes.. Nothing responds, move into some location bugles and the challenging. Ramping up till pure bugling back and forth at yourself. Then, take a break for a few minutes to pique interest... Start to tickle the antlers, then an all out war, slamming them together, make sure to grunt and moan. Any breaks you take have a bugle in them. You gotta make a good deal of racket, for five minutes or so at least. Every year I have quiet hot early middays turn into loud ones while doing this. When the other bulls join in, it's nice to have a partner sitting a ways off so he can hear. When they do, I usually keep at it as long as I'm comfortable. But there's a lot to be said for letting those bulls that are finally worked up come like a bird dog and search.
Be aware that Bulls that come vocally to rattling often stop and rake trees before getting too close. That's you or your partners chance to move in. Good luck!
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I wonder if one could make a "rattle bag" for elk? 3/4" to 2" wooden dowels, sand side or side to make flats, then stuff 10-12 of them into a gunny sack? Viola! Elk rattling bag... :dunno:
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Forgot to say, high plains described pretty well what you are going for! Nothing like the excitement in the woods when you are close to two behemoth bulls duking it out like this. Everybody in that drainage knows about it.
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Rake a small cedar if you can find one. That adds another level with the scent. I rake cedars and firs a lot paw the ground and do it deep to get earth scent and the sound added. Get a little wild sometimes. It works. I don't usually bugle when I do this but add it in after cow talk and a few light bugles and grunts. I have been bless to call a lot of elk. Usually my outriggers kill them but once in a while one gets past them.
God bless, Steve
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Sure would be cool to witness.
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I tried several times, worked great but never did since for some reason.