ELK ESSENTIALS
From fitness to scouting to calling, everything you need to know to outsmart a wary bugler
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Carry a variety of calls in order to mimic both cows and bulls#7 Bugle early in the morning
I find that bull elk will generally respond to an early-morning bugle, often before the sun has fully risen. While having a bull scream back as he comes charging in is exciting, that seldom happens for me. Instead, a bull will typically only respond once or twice, then go silent. That at least gives me an idea of where he’s located so I can go after him.
While bugling, I try not to sound like a giant bull, as that can cause any nearby bulls to remain silent. If there’s a herd bull in the area with a harem of cows and some satellite bulls, the satellite bulls will sometimes bugle at each other. When that happens, I’ll stop bugling and advance toward them.
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#8 Use cow calls
Elk are very vocal, and often you can hear cows calling softly before you see them. Cow calls will draw elk in, so if you’re hunting with a partner, have that person set up 100 metres downwind of where you’re hiding out. Then start calling using three to five different cow calls to mimic a herd. The chances are good a bull will then sneak in between you and your buddy. When walking through the woods, meanwhile, periodically let out a cow call to give the illusion of an elk on the move.
Years ago, I watched a cow calling as she ran toward a herd bull. Each time the cow chirped, the bull bugled back. Ever since then, whenever I know where a bull is located, I’ll cow call as I head toward him. The bull will often respond, then start moving toward me. When that happens, I keep advancing while cow calling, but won’t bugle back.