Elk Hunters - What do you do?

[Butts2]

Had a blast this year hunting Elk though I took nothing home.....the journey. 3 bull Elk situations in particular stand out. Heard some Elk making a ruccous across a canyon at dark thirty in the morning. According to the topo map I had to drop down  1,000 ft. and go up 1/2 way the other side. Half way down into the canyon I stopped numerous times to cow call no need for bugling. I can see a couple of cows with a bull in the distance chasing off another bull.One or both would scream at me throughout the next 1.5 hours.Each time I stopped for only 10 minutes I would guess and then continue up the hillside constantly checking the wind with the powder stuff in the bottle and give a light cow call. Everything  good keep going. As I got closer I kept telling  myself to be patient take a seat but 10 minutes later I would start stalking in again. JUST before the wind changed on me while I was hunkered down in front of some pines cow calling I was actually close enough to hear what I believe was the bull gasping for air, presumably from running off other bulls.Thats pretty close. Anyway, other stories are the same. Question is do you keep pushing the odds trying to get closer as I do trying to also beat the wind currents or once you get a response  hunker down and attempt to let them come to you ?

[durp]

to make a long story short i do niether...these two bulls were calling u to them...i would have stoped calling and made a beeline for them...ever mindfull of the wind as u were...when i get in close ill try a couple soft cow calls...the bull with the cows will probly scream at ya telling you to get over to him...but the other one might come in...it works for us most of the time...the one were eating this year fell for it...

if this doesn't work try making the bull with the cow's think u are a small bull that just got off with one of his cow's


DON

[Steertalker]

Butts2,

One thing you've got to be aware of is that once you've made your presence known by cow calling, you need to sit still and be patient, especially if you've had a bull respond and then shuts up.  You need to get yourself set up and ready for action and be looking for the bull in all directions.  Continue to cow call occassionally for about 30 minutes and see what happens.  Now...this is all contigent upon you being pretty close in to a bull, say....150-250yds away.

I can't tell you how many times I've had them shut up and then show up at my doorstep 30 minutes later without ever making a sound.  You can't always predict which direction they're going to come from but you just have to make a split second decision and find your best spot and then wait.  I haven't killed a lot of elk but I darn sure have called a lot in and this is what seems to work for me.

Brett

[San Juan Slim]

The longer I hunt elk, the more aggressive I get.  As a rule, if the bull is bugling regularly I push in as close as I can get before calling anymore.  I have squandered too many opportunities over the years trying to call the bull into me.  The herd bull will usually have no interest in coming to any of your calls unless you are close enough to make him mad.  You do have to keep your eyes peeled for cows and satellite bulls though.

Mike

[overbo]

Mike is exactly right.Too many years I hunted elk like whitetails.

[Whip]

Yep - go at 'em!  By far your best chance is to get as close as you possibly can before calling.  100 yards or less is great if you can.  Sure, it's possible to call them to you from long distances, but you will really up the odds if you can cut the distance.  Terrain and cover will dictate what you can do.  But if you can get closer - do it!

Always, always, always make sure you have the wind in your favor.

[wingnut]

Every situation is different.  The main thing is are you hunting a bull with cows or a satellite bull?  The sat bull will come to you but you have to go to the herd bull.  This year we had sat bulls try to run us down while we were trying to work the herd bulls.  one thing for sure 10 minutes in a set is not long enough.  If you stop to set with response you better wait for the elk to come and they don't carry watches.

Mike

[denny]

Lot's of good advice above and all pretty much in agreement, personally I think one of the best things a beginning (or not) elk hunter can do to increase he odds and enjoyment is get a hold of Paul Medel's instructional tapes. Google Elknut and it will bring up his site. I've had about every screwball thing he describes happen to me, it can make you feel pretty foolish.

  web page

[Dave2old]

It sounds like you're lucky you didn't kill an elk across that canyon. How would you have gotten the meat out? On the question of aggression vs. caution -- it depends on whether you're just passing through, or will be hunting that same terrain, and the same elk, repeatedly. I too have doubtless been overly cautious over the years. But I generally hunt the same few square miles for a month, getting to know the individual bulls quite well. Thus, my first concern is not to spook them, and not to leave scent all over the place, and overall, not to let them know they're being hunted. If I were doing a walk-through hunt where I wouldn't be pounding the same area over and over, I'd be more aggressive. In my experience, even cow calling is starting to backfire as often as it works. My most common reaction is to be ignored. If I can't find a wallow or spring or other feature that's being visited daily, my preferred stalking strategy is simply to move in on the bugling without calling at all, maneuvering constantly to stay downwind. Ain't it great fun? dave